“No compromises on sovereignty and territorial integrity” — Mariana Betsa at the UNGA

During the resumed 11th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa presented the draft resolution and emphasized in her remarks:

▪️ Russia’s aggression has shattered peace in Europe and posed a direct challenge to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter – sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the use of force.

▪️ Russia’s war against Ukraine is a fundamental challenge to the rule of law, as it seeks to legitimize the use of force as a principle of international relations.

▪️ This is not merely a war against a state – it is a war against Ukrainians and against the very idea that rules, law, and human dignity matter.

▪️ In February 2022, Russia expected Ukraine to fall within days. It did not. It expected us not to resist. We do.

▪️ No UN member state should be left alone when under attack. Ukraine has not been left alone. We are sincerely grateful to all countries supporting us – militarily, financially, humanitarianly, and politically. Your support contributes to global stability and is an investment in peace.

▪️ Despite peace efforts led by the United States and supported by Europe, Moscow has shown no readiness to stop its aggression. Between February 8 and 15, 2026 alone, Russia launched around 1,300 attack drones, more than 1,200 guided aerial bombs, and 50 missiles against Ukraine, most of them ballistic.

▪️ Russia has turned winter into a weapon, striking Ukraine’s power plants and energy grids with the clear aim of leaving civilians without electricity, heating, and water in subzero temperatures. This is deliberate Russian state policy – using winter, darkness, and cold as weapons to break a nation and undermine our resilience.

▪️ Ukraine has demonstrated its readiness for peace, including through difficult compromises – but not peace at any cost, and not peace disguised as capitulation. This will not happen. Ukraine will not surrender. We will never accept the occupation of our territories or impunity for crimes against Ukrainians.

▪️ The international community must speak with one voice – clearly and unequivocally – in support of a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire and a genuine peace process based on the UN Charter and international law.

Following the consideration, the UNGA adopted Ukraine’s resolution “Support for lasting peace in Ukraine”. A total of 107 UN member states voted in favor, 12 voted against, and 51 abstained.