Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2022.

Ian Stubbs (UK delegation to the OSCE) thanks Belgium as OSCE FSC chair for focusing on Russia’s unprovoked, barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr Chair. I would like to start by thanking you for your stewardship over the past trimester, and your dedicated team who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) has remained relevant and able to fulfil its mandate during these extraordinarily challenging times.

It is absolutely right that this Forum has focused on Russia’s unprovoked, barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Russia has attempted to break the foundations of European security, violating the UN Charter and flagrantly disregarding the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force. Under Belgian leadership this trimester, we have shown that these principles and this Forum matter, and that we will stand up to defend both.

Mr Chair, the Security Dialogues conducted under your chairpersonship focused different thematic lenses on Ukraine. On Children and Armed Conflict, we discussed the harrowing impact that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had on Ukraine’s 7.5 million children – on their health, education, family life and futures. On Women, Peace and Security, we saw how Ukrainian women have constituted a large majority of the victims of the heinous atrocities committed by the Russian Forces. And how they have been instrumental across the breadth of humanitarian, political, and security efforts in the defence of their country – a sad reminder of the need for full, equal and meaningful participation of women during and after conflicts to achieve better outcomes.

Mr Chair, it is nearly 300 days since the world watched in horror as Russia conducted its attack on Ukraine. Since 24 February, we have seen the extraordinary determination of the Ukrainian people as they defend their homeland. With support from their partners, Ukraine has shown that agility, ingenuity, mission command, and effective operational and tactical planning can have a devastating effect against a so-called super power.

In response, we have seen an out-manoeuvred and frustrated Russian military unleash horrendous amounts of violence on civilians and critical national infrastructure. We have watched Russia resort to blunt edged attrition to reduce entire cities, towns and villages they could not take to rubble. We have watched Putin and his military leadership attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to deprive families of shelter, light, and heat this winter. These actions are a great moral stain upon the Russian military, and one which will never be forgotten.

Here in Vienna, we have watched our Russian colleagues use this Forum as a mouthpiece to try to justify the unjustifiable. Despite their privileged ability to watch uncensored news from around the world, they have perpetuated a campaign of lies, threats and propaganda. They have concocted increasingly ridiculous false claims and made allegations of an epic scale, which do not stand up to the scantest of scrutiny. They have shattered the trust and belief that all of us in this room seek a secure and stable region and work in good faith to achieve it.

In the face of Russia’s lies, we have highlighted the truth:

That Putin made a grave miscalculation when he chose to invade a sovereign neighbour.

That Putin and his Generals have sent thousands of Russia’s own citizens to their deaths, poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly led. Mobilising amateurs and convicts to the battlefield to provide numbers and mass in place of fighters and effective leadership.

That the persistent and institutional poor decision making by the Kremlin is having a terrible impact on the Russian people – needless deaths; grieving families; discontent; and isolation. Millions of young Russians will bear the cost for years to come for an invasion they did not choose, nor vote for.

Mr Chair, no one can deny the Belarusian regime is an active supporter of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. However, Russia is increasingly attempting to use Belarus to distract from its own failures. We call on the Belarusian regime to recognise this, desist from supporting Russia’s attempts to stoke further instability in the region and stop its support of Russia’s illegal invasion, which itself constitutes a breach of international law.

Mr Chair, we hope that your focus and approach to the FSC this trimester will be a legacy that continues. The UK looks forward to working with the incoming Bosnia and Herzegovina Chair in what will continue to be a challenging period for the FSC, the OSCE and European Security writ large.

However, none of it measures against the challenges our Ukrainian friends face as they fight for their homeland in a war they did not choose and against an enemy who has demonstrated a disregard for international law, sovereignty, and human rights. This must remain at the forefront of our minds and efforts throughout the winter and into the next trimester. The UK and the international community will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 December 2022.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on South Sudan.

Thank you President, and thank you also to SRSG Haysom and our briefers for their updates.

I welcome the update from the Permanent Representative of Gabon. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan in our meeting today.

President, I will make three broad points:

First, four months have now passed since South Sudan’s Government announced a two-year extension and subsequent roadmap to implement the peace agreement ––progress remains woefully slow.

The United Kingdom welcomes the passing of the constitution-making bill, as well as the continued graduation of the Necessary Unified Forces.
Such progress is long overdue and we urge the Government to capitalise on this momentum and meet the remaining benchmarks within their agreed timelines. This is essential in order for free and fair elections to take place before the end of the agreement.

Second, the need for Government action to protect their civilians is no clearer than in Upper Nile State; there, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

The United Kingdom condemns these attacks on civilians. We are gravely concerned by the potential implications of this conflict for the already severely overcrowded Protection of Civilian site in Malakal and on the wider peace in South Sudan.

We call on the Government to protect civilians and create the conditions for an inclusive dialogue to stop the violence.Military intervention must not aggravate existing tensions or pose additional risk to civilians.

We also reiterate our call for the Government of South Sudan to immediately remove obstructions, and address violence against humanitarian workers and civilians.

Third, the situation in Upper Nile and rising levels of insecurity across South Sudan, require an urgent response from the international community to help save lives.

The United Kingdom commends the efforts of UNMISS to provide protection to civilians and its coordination with South Sudan.

A coherent, whole of UN approach across humanitarian, development and peace priorities is needed and we endorse the Secretary General’s encouragement for the Government and partners to apply a similar endeavour.

In closing, President, the United Kingdom remains committed to the South Sudanese people’s quest for peace, prosperity and democracy. We once again call on the leadership to deliver real change for its people. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 December 2022.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UNFPA Humanitarian Action 2023 Overview.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 December 2022.

UK announces a new package of sanctions in response to Russia’s continued strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

• Sanctions targeted at high-level Russian officials for their roles in the Russian military and its inhumane, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine
• Commanders of military units implicated in missile strikes on Ukrainian cities among those sanctioned
• Designations also focus on Iranian businessmen and a military official involved in the production and/or supply of military drones used to carry out attacks.

The UK has today (13th December) announced a new package of 16 sanctions targeting senior Russian commanders for their involvement in the Russian military, and Iranian businessmen and officials involved in the production and/or supply of drones to the Kremlin.

The announcement comes as Russia steps up its campaign of terror against Ukraine, striking at crucial energy infrastructure and plunging its people into the dark and freezing cold of winter.

Twelve senior commanders of Russian military forces, including units implicated in attacks on Ukrainian cities, have been sanctioned. Major General Robert Baranov, identified by a Bellingcat investigation as the commander of a unit responsible for programming and targeting Russian cruise missiles, is among those targeted.

More than 6,000 Ukrainian civilians are estimated to have died since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, primarily as a result of Russian missile and artillery strikes. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects is a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law – those responsible must be held to account.

Iranian-manufactured drones have played a central role in these evil attacks on civilians. On 9 December, the US released information showing Iran has become one of Russia’s top military backers, sending hundreds of drones to Russia in violation of its international legal obligations, which have been used to attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and kill civilians.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The UK stands with Ukraine. Russian forces’ calculated attacks on cities and innocent civilians in Ukraine will not go unanswered.

The Iranian regime is increasingly isolated in the face of deafening calls for change from its own people and is striking sordid deals with Putin in a desperate attempt to survive.

Putin wants to break Ukraine’s spirit, but he will not succeed. Ukraine will win, and Ukraine will rebuild.

The Iranian regime’s brutal repression of its own people and the threat it poses in the Middle East have left Iran isolated internationally and in desperate need of support from Putin. Today’s sanctions include individuals facilitating the production of these drones, including the co-owner and Managing Director of MADO, the company responsible for manufacturing engines for the drones which have been used by Russia in Ukraine.

UK sanctions are taking the wheels off the Russian war machine and forcing its military to compromise on vital weaponry and equipment. Defence Intelligence reports suggest that Russian armed forces are struggling to replenish their missile reserves, while they are increasingly forced to rely on second rate drones supplied by Iran to keep up their inhumane bombardments of the Ukrainian people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2022.

Statement by Chanaka Wickremasinghe, UK Legal Adviser at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

Thank you Mr President,

Let me start by welcoming President Gatti Santana to the Council for the first time – we are confident that she will be an excellent leader for the Court. We also would like to thank the President and Prosecutor Brammertz for their reports and informative briefings today. It is clear that under their stewardship the Mechanism will continue to play an essential role in ending impunity and implementing international justice.

Their briefings demonstrate that this is a good opportunity to look forward to the Mechanism’s future.

First, this summer we will see the conclusion of the final appeal relating to the crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. The final decision in the Stanišić and Franko Simatović case is a defining moment and one of which the Court should be proud.

Second, we note that Félicien Kabuga’s trial is progressing on schedule and is due to conclude with judgement in 2024. His trial is a testament to the international community’s continuing dedication to accountability for the genocide against the Tutsi.

And third, we are pleased to see the efforts that the Mechanism is making to be agile and downsize in line with the tasks that it now has, including by looking for new headquarters in The Hague and by reducing its presence in the Western Balkans. We look forward to collaborating closely with the Mechanism and to all colleagues on the Council to ensure the Mechanism remains efficient, while securing its critical legacy.

But while there are positives for the future, we have continuing concerns.

It is high time that Serbia arrested and transferred Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta to the Mechanism following years of requests, considerations and discussion.

Separately, while the Mechanism continues to engage in important work to assist with justice at the national level in the Western Balkans, the blocking of cooperation by some in the region represents a critical and growing risk to meaningful reconciliation and long-term stability. This has direct implications for achieving justice for victims and we call on all States to meet their obligations and increase their efforts to provide justice for these heinous crimes.

And finally, we are saddened to see that glorification of war criminals and the denial of genocide continue. This is unacceptable and it increases the suffering of the victims. The United Kingdom condemns such denial and glorification in all its forms and calls on all Member States to do so.

While we regret these continuing issues, they serve as an important reminder that the work and legacy of the Mechanism remain as important as ever.

Before closing, Madam President, I would just like to say a word in answer to the concerns raised by our colleague from Russia. Let me assure the colleagues on the Council that Mr Karadžić is treated exactly the same as other convicted prisoners, with the same rights, privileges, and restrictions. He is not being mistreated in any way. Whilst his access to certain telephone contacts with certain members of his family and wider circle were temporarily suspended, those controls were legal and in line with prison service policy and were intended to prevent his continued abuse of that access, and to protect the victims of his crimes.

We also understand that despite Russia’s concerns, Mr Karadžić himself has raised no complaint. We consider that these types of spurious complaints are an attempt by Mr Karadžić’s supporters deliberately to undermine the Mechanism, the UK as the enforcing state, and also the victims and survivors of his terrible crimes.

Thank you Madam President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2022.

The recipients, considered among the most accomplished undergraduate university students and recent graduates in the United States, were chosen following an intense selection process.

Washington, DC (12 December 2022) – The 40 winners of the 2023 Marshall Scholarships have been unveiled today by the British Government. The recipients, considered among the most accomplished undergraduate university students and recent graduates in the United States, were chosen following an intense selection process. The 2023 class will begin graduate studies at universities across the United Kingdom next year, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the scholarship.

The incoming class are the latest cohort of the seven decades-long program created by an Act of British Parliament in 1953 as a thank you to former US Secretary of State General George Marshall and the US for assistance under the Marshall Plan. Since that time, the British Government has provided scholarships for over 2,200 Americans, many of whom have gone on to play leading roles addressing global challenges facing society. Marshall Scholars currently sit on the US Supreme Court, serve in local, state and federal governments, and have played key roles in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s class includes accomplished authors, astrophysicists, human rights advocates and COVID-19 researchers among other disciplines. 85% of the 2023 class intend to pursue public service careers in the US following their time in the UK, including representatives from the US Military Academy and US Air Force Academy who will take up active duty service upon completion of their studies.

“Whether it is the War in Ukraine or global challenges from the effects of Climate Change, Marshall Scholars continue to work to help address global issues head on,” said Dame Karen Pierce, British Ambassador to the United States. “The British Government is excited to support these future leaders of American society as they begin the next stage of their lives studying at some of the UK’s top academic institutions.”

“Marshall Scholars continue to embody the spirit of the scholarship’s namesake in their commitment to making the world a better place. They are powerful advocates for excellence and progress in an impressive range of disciplines.” said John Raine, Chair of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission.

The program received 951 applications from candidates representing academic institutions across the United States. Of the 32 US universities represented, over a third are state or public universities and military service academies. The University of North Dakota, Pitzer College (CA) and Wayne State University (MI) will send Marshall Scholars to the UK for the first time ever. Morehouse College (GA) – one of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States – received its first scholarship award since 1996. Wabash College (IN) will send a Marshall Scholar to the UK for the first time in over three decades.

The program is principally funded by the British Government, but also benefits from generous support through partnership arrangements with world-leading British academic institutions, allowing winners to pursue graduate degrees in almost any academic subject at any university in the UK. The 2022 class will take up their studies at 21 different institutions across the UK starting next September, ranging from London institutions such as King’s College London to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

The scholarship program also continues to receive generous support from the Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS), the official alumni organisation of the Marshall Scholarship. The British Schools & Universities Foundation (BUSF) also provides generous support and funds for a scholarship.

The full list of 2023 winners are:

Recipient	US University
Abdelhamid Arbab	Princeton University
Dominic Arzadon	Pitzer College
Rachel Chae	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Michael Chen	Yale University
Daniel Chen	University of Washington – Seattle
Assata Davis	Rutgers University
Carson Eckhard	University of Pennsylvania
Beatrix Frissell	University of Montana – Missoula
Bayan Galal	Yale University
Kyrolos Georgey	United States Air Force Academy
Hannah Gillespie	University of Notre Dame
Cyril Gilman	Columbia University
Alexis Harrell	SUNY – Buffalo
Clare Heinbaugh	College of William & Mary
Ricky Holder	University of Chicago
Alex Hu	Yale University
Sihao Huang	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lauren Jarvis	Baylor University
Kyra Jasper	Stanford University
Sarah Kane	University of Pennsylvania
Aaron Keathley	Wayne State University
Grace Kim	Harvard University
Amy Krimm	University of Pennsylvania
Laura Lewis	California Institute of Technology
Sarah Marze	University of Connecticut
Sydney Menne	University of North Dakota
Natalie Moss	University of Georgia
Nathan Mudrak	Johns Hopkins University
Katie Pascavis	Arizona State University
George Antony Pratt	Morehouse College
Max Pushkin	Brown University
Maggie Sardino	Syracuse University
Kavya Shah	Harvard University
Cooper Smith	Wabash College
Banks Stamp	University of Alabama – Birmingham
Rose Summers	University of Colorado – Boulder
Aristotle Vainikos	Harvard University
Marley Wait	United States Military Academy
Lauren Wilkes	University of Georgia
Samara Zuckerbrod	University of Texas – Austin

About the Marshall Scholarship

Named for Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the Marshall Scholarship Program began in 1953 as a gesture of gratitude to the people of the United States for the assistance that the UK received after World War II under the Marshall Plan. Since that time, it has remained uniquely positioned among national scholarships for its prestige and scope: offering talented young Americans the chance to study any academic subject at UK universities of their choice for up to 3 years. This has given rise to an unprecedented breadth of expertise in almost every academic field, producing numerous university presidents, six Pulitzer Prize winners, one Nobel Laureate, fourteen MacArthur Fellows, two-academy-Award nominees, two US Supreme Court Justices and a NASA Astronaut.

With over 2,200 scholarships awarded to date, Marshall Scholars are leading the conversation and direction of some of the most critical issues of our time. Notable winners of the scholarship include:

• Supreme Court Associate Justices Stephen Breyer and Neil Gorsuch
• William Burns, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
• Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Anne Applebaum, Tom Friedman, Jeffrey Gettleman and Dan Yergin
• Dr. Dan Barouch, Leading COVID-19 vaccine researcher and William Bosworth Castle Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
• Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, White House National Security Council
• Reid Hoffman, Philanthropist and founder of social networking platform LinkedIn
• Lisa Cook, Economist and currently the first African-American woman and first person of color to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
• Anne McClain, NASA Astronaut who served aboard the International Space Station in 2018
• Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State for the State of Michigan
• Roger Tsien, 2008 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry
• Ray Dolby, Founder of Dolby Laboratories and 1997 winner of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation
• Rebecca F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel and The Poppy War book trilogy

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2022.

Mr Darren Welch has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union in succession to Dr Alastair McPhail CMG OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Welch will take up his appointment during January 2023.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Darren John Welch

Married to: Lucille Welch

Children: 2

Year	Role
2021 to present	FCDO, Director of Global Health
2018 to 2020	Department for International Development (DFID), Director of Policy
2017 to 2018	DFID, Director of Strategy
2016 to 2017	DFID, Head, Migration and Modern Slavery Department
2015 to 2016	Home Office, International Team Leader, Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme
2011 to 2015	Brussels, United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union, Counsellor for Development, Trade, Africa, Asia and The Americas
2008 to 2011	DFID Tanzania, Head of Office
2007 to 2008	DFID, Head, Information and Community Partnerships Department
2003 to 2007	DAI Consulting, Deputy Director for Governance Reform
2000 to 2002	Government of Bermuda, Senior Consultant
1998 to 2000	Cabinet Office, Performance and Innovation Unit (later the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit)

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 November 2022.

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food.

We strongly believe that this right, not a privilege, is inalienable for all people, for all countries along with the right to life and liberty. Every country must be reliably protected from famine.

At the same time, any state that provokes famine and tries to make access to food a privilege must face the toughest reaction from the world.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the world market has received 10 million tonnes of agricultural products less than in the same period last year. This means that the food security of millions of people around the world is seriously threatened.

These are just the initial consequences of the Russian blockade of the Ukrainian ports and Russia’s attempts to use missile strikes to prevent Ukraine from building new export logistics. Moscow’s actions deserve strong condemnation and must result in bringing those responsible to account.

However, even in such conditions, Ukraine in cooperation with international partners is actively engaged in search for ways to provide agricultural products to those in need. In particular, by supporting Somalia, Ethiopia, the Republic of the Sudan, Yemen, Kenya and Nigeria, and continuing grain exports to Africa, Asia, Europe, and the American continent.

Ukraine has always been and remains a reliable contributor to global food supplies and partner of the UN World Food Programme, supporting, in the spirit of global solidarity, efforts aimed at achieving food security and improved nutrition throughout the world.

Taking into consideration that approximately 70 million socially unprotected people, particularly from Africa and Asia, are at risk of hunger according to the UN statistics,

noting the fact of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which will cause food insecurity for millions of people around the world, with Africa suffering the most,

pointing out the deliberate months-long blockade of Ukraine’s ports by Russia, which has put hundreds of millions of people around the world on the verge of hunger, as well as Russia’s repeated attempts to block the Black Sea Grain Initiative to continue blackmailing the world with interrupting the food supplies to achieve its aggressive and revisionist aims, emphasizing the role of Ukraine as an essential guarantor to the global food security and the effective operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has sent more than 10 million tonnes of grain worldwide, including the countries that were most affected by hunger,

We underscore the necessity to act persistently and in coordination to achieve the goals of the 2021 Food Systems Summit, as well as to respond to immediate humanitarian needs and build more resilient agriculture and food systems.

We recall the United Nations General Assembly resolution “State of Global Food Insecurity” adopted on 23 May 2022 that called on the international community to urgently support countries affected by the food security crisis through coordinated action.

We welcome the initiative of the Secretary-General to establish a Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, and Finance; and call upon Member States and other relevant stakeholders to support the functioning of food, agriculture supply chains and keep trade channels and markets open for the deliveries of food.

We welcome the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, which have facilitated the export of over 17 million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural goods since May by road, rail and through Black Sea and Danube ports. Together, the Solidarity Lanes and the Black Sea grain initiative have taken more than 28 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain, oilseeds and related products to world markets, including to the countries most in need. We welcome the further boosting of the Solidarity Lanes by the European Commission, working with partner Financial Institutions (the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank), which have mobilised EUR 1 billion of additional funding.

We condemn Russia’s aggression aimed at the destruction of the civil infrastructure of Ukraine and global food security.

We strongly urge the Russian Federation to stop its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and to restore its territorial integrity by fully withdrawing all military units from entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

We call for support of attempts of Ukraine, Türkiye, and the UN to prolong the Black Sea Grain Initiative and continue to provide food supplies for the countries that are most affected by hunger.

We welcome continuous joint efforts of the international community to prioritize global food security and to support multilateral efforts in finding acceptable solutions to the crisis.

With this aim, today we support the initiative of Ukraine and we are launching the Humanitarian Program “Grain from Ukraine” which will establish the framework to deliver Ukrainian food to the countries of Africa and Asia, which are most affected by hunger.

We set an ambitious and important goal for ourselves and invite other states and socially responsible businesses to support the implementation of this Humanitarian Program, particularly by financing the shipment of grain for the needs of Africa and Asia.

We are convinced that we will jointly overcome the grave humanitarian and economic consequences of the global food crisis caused by Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2022.

The United Kingdom is contributing an additional £4.5 million to sustain the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, lifting its funding from the start of the crisis in August 2017 to a total of £345 million. This additional support to WFP (£3m) and UNICEF (£1.5m) will provide food, water, sanitation, and child protection to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson said

“The UK remains committed to supporting Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh. This new UK assistance will provide vital food, water, sanitation, and protection to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

“The UK continues to push for a long-term solution that will enable the Rohingya to return to Myanmar on a safe, voluntary and dignified basis, when the conditions there allow. We will continue to provide support to the Rohingya whilst they remain in Bangladesh.”

This new UK support will provide

• Food assistance to 219,000 Rohingya refugees
• Water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for 46,000 Rohingya refugees
• 8,500 menstrual hygiene kits for Rohingya women and adolescent girls
• Protection support to 1,500 children and adolescents from the refugee camps and host communities

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

Statement delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on Ukraine.

Thank you President and I thank the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs for her briefing.

President, I will be brief because we discussed Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine just three days ago.

During that meeting, we heard Under-Secretary-General Griffiths’ harrowing account of the horrific consequences of Russia’s war and his deep concerns about the impacts of systematic attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and civilian centres, particularly ahead of winter. We have just seen further OHCHR reporting on potential atrocities against civilians committed by Russia.

The irony, given the topic of this meeting, is that Russia is perpetrating this war with weapons sourced from Iran in violation of resolution 2231, and is almost certainly seeking to source weaponry from other UN sanctioned states like North Korea as its own stocks dwindle.

We note that despite the resounding calls in this Council again on Tuesday for a ceasefire, and for peace, meaningful dialogue and diplomacy, the Russian President on Wednesday doubled-down, confirming that the invasion would continue and that it would be protracted. He also reaffirmed the neo-imperialist nature of the campaign, claiming that unlike Peter the Great, he had made the Sea of Azov a Russian internal sea.

President, in the face of Russia’s relentless effort to seize Ukraine’s territory in breach of the UN Charter, and to dehumanise, kill and subjugate its people, Ukraine has no choice but to exercise its right to defend itself. If it does not, it would cease to exist. In a similar situation, all of us would do the same. And due to the deep determination to live, Ukraine is prevailing.

The UK is proud of the support it is providing to the Ukrainian people in the face of this aggression, be it defensive, humanitarian or assistance to rebuild critical infrastructure destroyed by Russian attacks.

President, Russia can end this suffering immediately by ceasing attacks against Ukraine, including critical national infrastructure and innocent civilians, and withdrawing all of its forces illegally present in Ukraine.

We welcome and support Ukraine’s initiative for a just and sustainable peace. We again join the international community in calling on Russia to similarly commit to meaningful dialogue and negotiations based on upholding Ukraine’s rights under international law and the UN Charter.

Thank you President.