Statement by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at Security Council meeting on "Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine"

Thank you, President

I thank Acting Under-Secretary-General Joyce Msuya for the update provided and welcome the participation of the representatives of Ukraine.

We note with alarm the recent escalation in hostilities since the Council's last briefing on Ukraine. The past two weeks, in particular, have seen harrowing reports of multiple civilian casualties across several regions in Ukraine.

These continued attacks against critical civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, represent a persistent pattern of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL).

According to OHCHR, August recorded the second-highest number of civilian casualties for the year, no doubt exacerbated by the large-scale coordinated attacks that struck Ukraine during the week of 26th August. Attacks that not only resulted in the killing of 8 civilians but also caused widespread damage to energy facilities in 15 regions.

We also note the reports of civilian casualties sustained in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation and the notable increase in attacks on schools and hospitals in Ukraine.

Mr. President,

Innocent civilians must not continue to pay the ultimate price in this war.

Guyana reiterates its demand for an immediate end to the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks and calls for full adherence to international humanitarian law. We also reiterate that every Member State of the United Nations has an obligation to uphold the UN Charter and the wider body of international law.

We further call upon the parties to the conflict to take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects from harm and to take all necessary measures to minimize the risk of civilian injury, death, and damage to civilian infrastructure.

Mr. President, Colleagues,

This Council continues to meet month after month to discuss the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Yet, each month we leave these chambers without making any meaningful progress that would stop the bloodshed and bring relief to civilians. Today, the death toll has reached almost 12,000, and is expected to climb even higher in the months to come.

It is worth reminding that this Council has the responsibility to maintain international peace and security. It is simply not enough to acknowledge the horrors of this war, including the rising death toll. This Council must do more to stop the carnage and avoid normalizing the suffering of innocent civilians. Civilians are not collateral damage!

As we have done before, Guyana demands an immediate end to the hostilities and urges the parties to commit to a serious political and diplomatic process toward ending the conflict and to engage in good faith.

Mr. President,

This war will leave behind a legacy of destruction and prolonged economic and social challenges. The psychological trauma and residual effects will also be acutely felt for generations to come. This is why it must end.

Guyana, therefore, reiterates its call for the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and find a peaceful end to this conflict.

We further call upon the Russian Federation to allow unfettered humanitarian access to the people in need of humanitarian assistance in the occupied territories and to sign an action plan with the United Nations to end and prevent grave violations against children.

The international community must also scale up support for the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and Winter Response Plan.

In closing, Mr. President, I once again reiterate Guyana’s support toward all efforts aimed at ending this war and achieving sustainable peace for the people of Ukraine.

I Thank You.