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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 April 2025.

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the UN Security Council meeting on UN peacekeeping operations.

The UK remains a steadfast supporter of UN peacekeeping and of the unique contribution it makes to international peace and security.

Mr President, implementing and monitoring ceasefires has been a key function of UN peacekeeping from its very beginning and UN peacekeeping operations continue to effectively support ceasefire agreements around the world.

The UN will not always be the right body for this, but in many cases it is, with a unique status and legitimacy for monitoring ceasefires effectively.

This has historically been an important part of UN mandates across the world, for example in Cyprus or the Golan Heights.

We must consider each mandate on a case-by-case basis.

Today, we would like in particular to address the situations in Lebanon and the DRC given the briefings we’ve had.

In Lebanon, the UK has welcomed the US’ announcement of talks to resolve key issues between Lebanon and Israel.

This is a big step forward.

We urge all parties to use the talks as a pathway towards securing lasting peace and security for the citizens of Israel and Lebanon, rather than returning to conflict.

UNIFIL is playing a key role in deescalating tension and monitoring the cessation of hostilities across the Blue Line.

The UK welcomes UNIFIL’s role in supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces deployment to southern Lebanon, consistent with the November ceasefire agreement and with resolution 1701.

We welcome UNIFIL’s adaptation plan and urge it to be ambitious in implementing it.

The UK encourages consideration by this Council on conditions under which MONUSCO should be tasked to monitor a ceasefire.

The UK encourages an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue via the EAC-SADC process, in line with resolution 2773.

Once agreed, we believe that MONUSCO would be well-placed to provide ceasefire monitoring as part of its mandate.

However, this also requires restoration of MONUSCO’s freedom of movement.

The UK condemns continued restrictions on MONUSCO which have constrained the mission’s ability to deliver key tasks mandated by this Council, including on the protection of civilians and the facilitation of aid.

Mr President, let me finish with two more general comments.

First, the safety and security of peacekeepers is essential to the successful monitoring of any ceasefire agreement.

The UK strongly condemns all attacks on UN peacekeepers, who must never be targeted.

Second, enhanced technology such as early warning systems and improved surveillance can help mitigate threats, including those arising from misinformation and disinformation, while allowing peacekeepers to carry out their mandates safely.

And technology must be harnessed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ceasefire monitoring capabilities.

So as we look ahead to the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin next month, and building on the Pact of the Future, the UK reaffirms our commitment to strengthening peacekeeping operations, so that they remain capable of addressing the challenges they face in a changing world.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 April 2025.

Mr Ajay Sharma CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to Malaysia in succession to Ms Ailsa Terry CMG. Mr Sharma will take up his appointment during April 2025.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: Ajay Sharma

Year	Role
2024 to present	FCDO, Director and pre-posting training
2023 to 2024	Cabinet Office, National Security Secretariat, Director International
2022 to 2023	Ankara, Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires
2021 to 2022	FCDO, Cyprus Settlement Co-ordinator
2020 to 2021	FCDO, Deputy Political Director
2015 to 2020	Doha, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2013 to 2015	FCO, Iran Co-ordinator and non-resident then resident Chargé d’affaires to Iran
2012 to 2013	FCO, Head of Iran Department
2008 to 2012	Paris, Deputy Head of Mission
2007 to 2008	Tehran, Deputy Head of Mission
2005 to 2007	FCO, Deputy Head of Security Policy Department
2003 to 2005	Ankara, First Secretary and Head of Political Section
2002 to 2003	Moscow, First Secretary and Head of Economic/ Energy Section
2001 to 2002	FCO, Pre-posting training (Russian)
1997 to 2000	Ankara, Second Secretary (Political/ Press)
1996 to 1997	FCO, Pre-posting training (Turkish)
1995 to 1996	FCO, Central European Department
1995	Joined FCO

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 April 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

As we’ve heard on Friday, Russia’s ballistic missile attack on Kryvyi Rih struck a residential area in the city, resulting in the deaths of 20 people, including nine children, the youngest of whom was just three years old.

At least 70 people were injured.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described this as the deadliest single strike harming children since the start of the full-scale invasion.

As High Commissioner Türk said, this attack was an unimaginable horror, nine children killed, most while playing in a park, as a military weapon exploded into shrapnel above them.

We also saw Russia’s attacks this weekend on Kharkiv and Kyiv, resulting in at least 5 more civilian deaths and many more injured.

So we find ourselves here once again to condemn yet more Russian attacks that have killed and injured many Ukrainian civilians in violation of the UN Charter and in violation of Russia’s responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

President Putin continues to stall the ceasefire proposal, dragging his feet and insisting on maximalist conditions.

While intensifying drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Which have now resulted in the deaths of nine more innocent children.

The Kremlin’s actions reflect no desire for peace that I can detect.

They are the actions of a government that remains hell-bent on destroying Ukraine; a government that disdains mediation efforts, and holds cheap the lives of civilians.

Under US leadership, a ceasefire proposal is on the table.

The ball has been in Russia’s court for weeks now.

It’s time for the Kremlin to stop stalling.

It’s time they show that they are committed to peace as they claim to be.

Because President Zelenskyy has made Ukraine’s will clear.

He wants to see the war end and has agreed to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, subject to Russia’s agreement.

It is time for the killing to stop.

It is time for the Kremlin to end its aggression against Ukraine and to uphold its obligations under the UN Charter.

It is time for President Putin to agree to a full and immediate ceasefire, as a vital step towards negotiations to end the war for good.

So our message to the Kremlin is that we will not be deterred by your reckless and barbaric actions.

The UK will continue to stand resolutely by Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, in line with the principles of the UN Charter.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 April 2025.

Minister of State Stephen Doughty congratulates the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association for its efforts to protect democracy and human rights for Georgians.

Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty, said:

“I congratulate the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) on winning the prestigious Democracy Defender Award gifted by the UK and seven OSCE partners. The GYLA is providing essential support to human rights activists and civil society organisations in Georgia who are coming under increasing pressure from repressive legislation.

“After months of democratic backsliding, arbitrary arrests, and the use of excessive force against protestors, politicians and journalists, Georgian Dream has shown no indication they will return to their European path and uphold the democratic wishes of its own electorate.

“I urge the Georgian authorities to reverse this isolationist behaviour, and I thank the GYLA for their important work protecting the fundamental rights of Georgian people.”