Statement by Ambassador Trishala Persaud, Deputy Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at Security Council meeting on "Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine"

Thank you, Mr. President,

I thank Ms. Doughten for the comprehensive update provided and note the contribution of Mrs. Caitlin Howarth to our discussion. I also welcome the participation of the Representatives of Ukraine, Germany, Estonia, Poland, Denmark and the European Union in today’s meeting.

Mr. President,

Despite the many calls by this Council for full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law, and for the parties to the conflict to comply with the legal requirement to protect civilian objects, they continue to be destroyed almost daily.  

Guyana is deeply alarmed by the unrelenting attacks on residential buildings, schools, medical facilities, grain ports, and energy facilities since the start of this war in February 2022. We are also concerned that these attacks were often unrelated to frontline engagement and appear to have little regard for the requirements of proportionality and military necessity.

International humanitarian law is clear in its prohibition of attacks targeting civilians and objects indispensable to the survival of civilians. Yet, we continue to witness large-scale coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure, including dozens of energy facilities resulting in disrupted access to electricity and water supply for millions of people in multiple locations.

The damage, destruction, or loss of functionality of energy facilities are having direct and reverberating effects on civilians. They are not only causing incidental civilian harm through the disruption of access to critical services but are resulting in loss of civilian life and injury to those living near target sites.

There have also been attacks against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine. Despite the many calls for an end to attacks on or near the site, the IAEA team of experts stationed at the ZNPP continues to report hearing military activities, including artillery and rocket fire in areas near the plant. This cannot and must not continue. Greater care must be taken to eliminate the persistent dangers posed to the safety of the ZNPP and to adhering to the Five Concrete Principles and Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety at the site.

Guyana reiterates its call for the parties to respect and adhere to international humanitarian law. We also urge them to commit to a serious political and diplomatic process toward ending the conflict, and call for the withdrawal of Russian military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.

We maintain that prolonging this war poses increasingly grave risks for all concerned and for international peace and security.

We further call for scaled-up humanitarian support to Ukraine and for humanitarian workers to be granted unhindered access to all areas including the occupied territories.

In closing, Guyana, once again, encourage the continued engagement of the international community to end this war peacefully.

I Thank You.