9 December 2025
Thank you Mr. President.
I also thank the briefers for their input.
In the course of another winter, the scourge of this illegal war of aggression ravages Ukraine.
The calls of the overwhelming majority of this Council for an immediate ceasefire remain unheeded by Russia, as our briefers’ accounts have made clear. Since our last meeting, almost 20 days ago, Russian attacks have intensified and civilian casualties have numbered in thousands, following strikes in residential buildings and other civilian facilities in densely populates areas.
Amid plunging temperatures, Russia continues its strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts and leaving homes without the essentials for survival. Such actions constitute clear violations on international humanitarian law and may account to war crimes.
Children are also of major concern to us. They should be particularly protected, as the Convention of the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol recognize them as uniquely vulnerable victims.
In this regard, we welcome the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution on the Return of Ukrainian Children, deploring Russian actions, demanding their immediate, safe and unconditional return and providing the Secretary General with a comprehensive mandate to ensure their return. We urge Russia to respect the UN embership’s call.
At the same time, we are fully aware that in Ukraine, the rights of children to life, health, psychosocial development, education and identity are violated on a daily basis. According to UNICEF, 4,6 million Ukrainian children continue to face major disruptions to education.
There have been more than 340 attacks on school this year alone, while more than 4.300 educational institutions have been affected in total.
Mr. President,
Despite soon entering the fifth year of war, Ukraine and its people persevere. They defend their freedom and independence with courage, conviction and resilience. This Council and this Organization should not fail them.
In that respect, Greece welcomes the progress on a peace plan made at the Geneva and Florida meetings between the US and Ukraine delegations. We reiterate that there can be no agreement about Ukraine and Europe without Ukraine and Europe. We also call on Russia to engage in good faith and abandon its maximalist demands.
Greece will always side with international law, the UN Charter and the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined therein. We unequivocally reject any change of borders as a result of the use of force. There can be no recognition of borders changed by force. That would constitute a blatant violation of international law and set a dangerous precedent.
This principled stance guides our position on the war of aggression against Ukraine, along with our strong belief that the guns should be silenced for the voice of peace to be heard.
In this respect, Greece joins the call of the wider UN membership in support of a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as the primary goal and a first step of a process leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
Lastly, Mr. President,
We reiterate that Ukraine must have the final word for its future, equipped with credible security guarantees.
I thank you.