Excellencies,

Colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Many famous writers and philosophers from the past have helped to shape the present as we know it. They once imagined space flights, wireless calls, high-speed travel, and cures for numerous diseases. Such things are now just a part of everyday life. Their dreams came true. However, not all of them.

Despite modern civilization's achievements, their dream of a peaceful, safe, and secure world has yet to be realized. Today's world is still full of atrocities, injustice, and insecurity.  However, it should not undermine the efforts of civilized nations to address this challenge. And make our planet a better place to live.

To this end, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Peace Formula, which called for comprehensive, just, and long-term peace in Ukraine as well as global security. 

One of the elements of the Peace Formula is the restoration of justice. After all of Russia's atrocities in its aggression against Ukraine, we remain convinced that there can be no lasting peace until justice is established.

When we talk about individual accountability for international crimes, we refer to the International Criminal Court (ICC). This Court has already established itself as a well-known and reputable institution dedicated to serving justice and combating impunity.

We are all witnessing countless examples of crimes that fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the ICC these days, as Ukraine faces the greatest aggression since World War II.  We place a high value on the ICC, and we appreciate its involvement in investigating the situation in Ukraine for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Ukraine іs one of the countries that voted in support of the Court’s Statute at the Rome Conference back in 1998 and became a signatory thereto. We had to overcome certain domestic legal obstacles to proceed with the Rome Statute, but we did it as our reiteration to our commitments to the ICC. Ukraine amended its constitution in 2016 to allow for ratification of the Rome Statute, which will inevitably occur at a convenient time.

Meanwhile, in response to Russian aggression, Ukraine filed two declarations in 2014, recognizing the Court's ad hoc jurisdiction. We are also grateful to the 43 ICC member states that referred Russia's full-scale invasion to the Court throughout March and April 2022.

On our end, we are working closely with the ICC and have introduced a whole package of amendments to our national legislation, in particular the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, to ensure the proper functioning of the ICC within the territory of Ukraine.

Ukraine recently signed an agreement with the ICC to establish a country office.  Another step toward facilitating cooperation in investigating and prosecuting the aggressor's crimes.

Without a doubt, the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the war crime of unlawful deportation of over 19,000 Ukrainian children from occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation is a watershed moment.  Not only to our soldiers on the frontlines, who witness Russian atrocities on a daily basis; not only to the many families who have lost loved ones; not only to those who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the aggression; and not only to those who are living under the occupation regime. This decision sends a powerful message to the entire world that justice is unavoidable.

We urge all 123 countries that are members of the International Criminal Court and have ratified the Rome Statute to comply with the Court's demand that Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova be arrested.

This, however, is insufficient. Ukraine urges the International Criminal Court (ICC) to step up its efforts and issue more arrest warrants for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Mariupol, Bucha, Hostomel, Borodyanka, and Izyum. The names of those once quiet and peaceful suburbs and towns are now known all over the world as a result of Russian atrocities committed there.

Along with the ICC's arrest warrant for Putin, he and other Russian political and military leaders must be held accountable for the crime of aggression, which is the root cause of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Unfortunately, the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the crime of aggression against Ukraine. For this reason, we have proposed to our international partners to establish the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The creation of a Special Tribunal closes this gap.

The establishment of a Special Tribunal will not impede the International Criminal Court's investigation of the situation in Ukraine.

Finally, I’d like to revert to the dreams of the writers and philosophers of the near past. It is possible to establish a peaceful, safe, and secure world. Just as a cell phone, a space shuttle, or the Internet were unthinkable just 100 years ago. We must strive for it and go all-in on it. We must work together to remove all impediments. And Ukraine's victory over Russia's unjustified, genocidal, neocolonial war of aggression is a cornerstone of that.

Thank you.