Mr President,
I thank Ms Di Carlo for her presentation.
For almost three years, Ukraine has been facing large-scale aggression launched by Russia. There is indeed, in this conflict, an aggressor, Russia, which violates the Charter of the United Nations, flouts entire sections of international law and adopts a posture of escalation. And there is an attacked, Ukraine, a sovereign state which has, under the Charter, the right to defend its independence and territorial integrity.
France calls on Russia to stop its war of aggression and withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
It condemns the intensifying indiscriminate strikes against cities, against civilians and against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, in violation of international humanitarian law. Also on January 8, Russia carried out a bombing on the city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 13 people. The toll of this conflict, which continues to grow, is catastrophic.
France denounces war crimes committed in Ukraine. Russia does not back down from forced transfers and deportations of children. The International Criminal Court considers that these constitute war crimes, and that there is enough evidence to establish the involvement of Russian authorities at the highest level.
Mr President,
Russia continues its work of undermining the international non-proliferation architecture by sourcing drones and ballistic missiles from Iran, and munitions and ballistic missiles from North Korea. The increase in North Korean military support, with the direct commitment of troops, reflects the growing difficulties encountered by Russia. It is being done in violation of resolutions adopted by the Security Council, which Russia itself supported. This is a direct threat to the security of Europeans and international security. Russia must respect its obligations as a permanent member of the Security Council.
-France urges all states to refrain from providing Russia with military equipment, dual-use goods, and all components that fuel this war.
Mr President,
Russia continues to ignore the order of the International Court of Justice, which asked it, as of March 16, 2022, to immediately suspend its military operations. It ignores the resolutions of the General Assembly, which condemned this aggression seven times, by a very large majority, and called for respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The perpetrators of war crimes must not go unpunished. We reiterate our support for the International Criminal Court and the Ukrainian courts, in order to guarantee accountability. The work of the international and independent Commission of Inquiry remains essential.
France remains determined to continue and strengthen its support for Ukraine, in order to give it the means to exercise its right to self-defense and to thwart Russia's aggression. We will continue to work for the return of a just and lasting peace, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
Thank you.
