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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2025.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Colleagues, we convene today to address the situation in Ukraine, as we collectively mourn the lives lost due to Russia’s recent attacks.

This weekend saw two of the largest mass air attacks of the war, back-to-back.

Over three days, Russia launched over 900 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, reportedly resulting in the deaths of 30 people and injuring a further 150.

And these deaths were not an accident. Russia’s missile and drone strikes struck major urban centres and densely populated regions.

Over the night of 24 May, among those killed were three children, specifically, three siblings: Stanislav, aged 8, Tamara, aged 12, and Roman, aged 17. Each of them on the edge of a new chapter of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, all of them robbed of life too soon.

Such acts are a stark reminder of the urgent need to bring this war to an end.

Russia’s attacks are not only sustained, they are worsening. As OHCHR has verified, in the first three months of this year alone, there have been 2,641 civilian casualties. That’s nearly 900 more than during the same period in 2024, and over 600 more than early 2023.

The increased killing of civilians is an affront to our shared values of human dignity and peace.

Values which President Putin claims to share, yet continues to violate.

Putin’s priorities are demonstrated by his timing. These attacks were launched days after talks in Istanbul, in which Russia, yet again, refused to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

Presented with another opportunity for meaningful progress towards peace, Putin chose war.

President, while Ukraine stands ready for an unconditional ceasefire, Russia sustains its aggression. And once again, innocent civilians are paying the price. Russia’s actions speak much louder than its words.

So we call on Russia to comply with international law, including the UN Charter, and to stop the killing of innocent civilians.

Russia’s unrelenting invasion of its sovereign neighbour will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine defend itself and to use the necessary measures to restrict Putin’s war machine.

We will work in unison with the US, Ukraine, our European and international partners until a just and lasting peace is no longer an aim, but an enduring reality.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2025.

Ambassador Holland briefs on the outcomes of the UK/EU Summit, which took place on 19 May in London, including the leaders’ commitment to the Helsinki Decalogue and resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Thank you, Chair. On 19 May the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer welcomed Presidents Von Der Leyen and Costa and High Representative Kallas to Lancaster House, for the first ever Summit between the UK and the EU.  It was an important forward-looking discussion at which our leaders confirmed our steadfast dedication to the fundamental tenets of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. They restated our commitment to the Helsinki Decalogue and to the rules based international order, with the United Nations at its core.

Our leaders stressed our resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and underlined our commitment to hold Russia accountable for its aggression.  Our leaders also offered continued support to Moldova and reaffirmed our commitment to the stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans.

Europe faces a generational threat to our shared security and against this backdrop the discussion included global and strategic priorities of joint concern and agreement to strengthen cooperation across a range of issues for the security, safety and prosperity of all people across the UK and EU.

During the Summit the UK and the EU reached agreement on a Security and Defence Partnership.  The Partnership is broad and ambitious and will upgrade our cooperation on areas ranging from defence industry, mobility of military material and personnel, maritime security and space security, to illicit finance, irregular migration and working together to protect our critical infrastructure. These are issues relevant to the work that we do each day here in Vienna and our partnership will contribute to our shared security.

Madam Chair, this Summit underpinned the importance of UK and EU cooperation and our new geopolitical partnership that drives closer coordination, builds on our OSCE principles and commitments and will underpin our comprehensive approach to security.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2025.

The UK and Maldives held a second Strategic Dialogue on 28 May 2025 in Malé, Maldives, where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

The Second Strategic Dialogue between the Republic of Maldives and the United Kingdom (UK) at the Senior Officials level was held on 28 May 2025 in Malé, Maldives.

Building on the outcomes of the inaugural Strategic Dialogue in 2023, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Maldives-UK partnership through structured and regular engagement. Discussions focused on key thematic areas including economic and trade cooperation, security and defence collaboration, governance, human rights and the rule of law, higher education, visas and immigration, environment and climate change, and regional and multilateral co-operation.

Acknowledging the importance of enhancing economic links to elevate the bilateral partnership, the Maldives and the UK reviewed progress on trade and investment since the first Dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral economic ties. Both sides celebrated the growing trade and investment relationship and discussed further avenues to advance collaboration in fisheries, tourism, renewable energy and financial services. Cooperation on customs matters were discussed to facilitate trade.

The UK and the Maldives reiterated their shared commitment towards maintaining regional security, countering terrorism, violent extremism as well as serious and organised crime. The UK reaffirmed its support for capacity-building initiatives, including technical assistance and joint exercises in policing, defence, and maritime security.

Both sides reviewed UK support to governance, criminal justice reform and judicial independence in the Maldives. The UK reiterated its commitment to continue supporting the Maldives in its endeavours to consolidate democratic governance and strengthen human rights, and, welcomed continued dialogue on shared values.

The Maldives and the UK reaffirmed the importance of educational exchange and agreed to explore increasing opportunities for higher education through Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships. Recognising the increasing number of Maldivian students travelling to the UK for higher education, the Maldives raised visa and immigration matters, and both sides agreed to continue discussions to facilitate smoother processes for visa issuance.

Both countries recognised the importance of people-to-people exchanges in promoting mutual understanding between the 2 countries. They recognised the increasing numbers of visitor arrivals from the UK to the Maldives, and agreed to explore opportunities to strengthen collaboration at local levels, promote cultural co-operation, and conduct friendly exchanges between the 2 countries.

The UK and the Maldives discussed ongoing collaboration under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme and agreed to strengthen co-operation in marine conservation and climate resilience. Opportunities to co-operate in multilateral climate fora including the forthcoming COP30 were discussed and the key role that Maldives plays amongst Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) was recognised.

The Maldives and the UK exchanged views on regional developments and multilateral co-operation, including within the United Nations and the Commonwealth. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to leverage international support towards global issues impacting SIDS.

The Second Strategic Dialogue was convened in a hybrid format. The Dialogue was co-chaired for Maldives by Dr Hala Hameed, Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for the UK by Ben Mellor, Director, India and Indian Ocean Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with delegations comprised of senior officials from both governments. The Dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to continue the Strategic Dialogue on an annual basis and to explore other opportunities to support a continued deepening of the bilateral relationship.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2025.

Ambassador Holland welcomes new Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo Gerard McGurk to the Permanent Council, underlining continued support for the work of the Mission amid the difficult political and security context in the last six months.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Firstly, I would like to welcome Ambassador McGurk – dear Gerard – to the Permanent Council for the first time as Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. Thank you for your informative presentation on the Mission’s recent work, so soon after your arrival, and to your team for the comprehensive written report.

The United Kingdom welcomes the peaceful and competitive parliamentary elections held in Kosovo in February, and the important support provided to the Central Election Commission by the Mission. We continue to underline to Kosovo interlocutors the urgency of government formation.

Mr Chair, the United Kingdom shares the concerns highlighted in the Mission report on the level of tensions in the four northern municipalities during the reporting period. We are particularly concerned by the uncoordinated nature of closures of institutions and facilities in northern Kosovo which provide vital services to Kosovo-Serbs and other non-majority communities. The UK will continue to encourage the Government of Kosovo to ensure that non-majority communities can play a full and equal role in the country’s future, and to uphold Kosovo’s commitments as an inclusive and multi-ethnic state.

The UK also underlines the importance of ensuring justice and accountability for all acts of violence. We continue to call on Serbia to cooperate fully with efforts to hold to account those responsible for the 2023 attacks on KFOR troops and in Banjska, and to fulfil its pledge to cooperate in the investigation of the attack on the Ibar-Lepenc Canal.

We urge both Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and to deliver on their respective obligations, including establishing an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities. It is vital that Kosovo and Serbia abide by their commitments and not renege on Dialogue agreements. Failing to meet these commitments has negative implications for the daily lives of ordinary citizens and for wider stability in the Western Balkans.

The UK commends the work of the OSCE Mission during the last six months across the three core pillars of its mandate. We particularly appreciate the Mission’s focus on electoral support, and continued prioritisation of monitoring and early warning functions. We also value the Mission’s support on human rights and inter-community relations, including on interfaith dialogue and assistance to the Kosovo-Serb community in language and documentation. We welcome ongoing efforts to address challenges to the right to freedom of religion or belief and the preservation of cultural heritage.

While we recognise Kosovo’s progress in tackling corruption and its improved score in Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index, we note with concern the issues highlighted in the World Press Freedom Index on the protection and independence of journalists. We share the concerns highlighted in the Report over political influence in media institutions, and welcome the Mission’s planned activity to advance media freedom and journalist safety.

Mr Chair, the United Kingdom is a longstanding and strong supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. During his visit to Kosovo in early April, my Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and its development of an inclusive, diverse and multi-ethnic democracy. The UK will continue to support stability, security and economic cooperation in the Western Balkans, including through the work of our Special Envoy, Dame Karen Pierce, and hosting the Berlin Process Summit in London this autumn.

Finally, I wanted to again thank you, dear Gerard, for taking on the leadership of the Mission at this critical time. We highly appreciate the continued hard work and expertise of your team, and wish you every success during your time in the role.