Statement by Foreign Minister Wadephul on the Security Council meeting regarding Ukraine

Once again, we gather here as Ministers to discuss the unprovoked, unjustified, illegal and utterly brutal war of aggression that Russia is waging against Ukraine.  As well as Russia’s campaign of hybrid warfare.  Since the last High-Level Week, two things have changed.  First, Russia has intensified its brutal war of aggression.  I travelled to Kharkiv, where air raid sirens sound every hour. And yet, the people – the brave women and men of Ukraine – continue to live their lives as best they can.  I was in Kyiv, where residents are now essentially living on the front-line, as missiles and drones rain down on them day and night, attacking ever more civilian targets. In the fifth year of the war, Russia’s goal remains to break Ukraine’s resistance.  But the will of the Ukrainian people to defend their freedom is unbreakable. And so is our support in their defence. The second thing that has changed is this:  Russia’s hybrid attacks against those who support Ukraine, support international law, have reached a new level. On the 4th of August, Russia attempted to blow up two cargo planes at Leipzig airport using a drone rigged with explosives.  ...