Ukraine wants peace, but not 'at any cost' - Kyslytsya at UN Security Council
Serhii Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine seeks an end to Russia's large-scale military aggression and the establishment of a just peace. Simply freezing the war while ignoring the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter will only encourage the aggressor state to pursue further expansion, states Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, Serhii Kyslytsya, during a UN Security Council meeting.
"Ukraine, like no one else, wants peace – but we will not accept the concept of "peace at any price", as it will bring no real and lasting peace at all," said the Ukrainian diplomat during the UN Security Council meeting on January 16, which focused on Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.
Kyslytsya added that such an approach would only encourage the aggressor to continue violating international law, not just in Ukraine.
He pointed out that Russia's geopolitical ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine.
"For those who may have forgotten the ultimatums Russia issued before the invasion, I would remind their core demand: "NATO must revert to its 1997 borders,'" said Ukraine's permanent representative to the UN.
Kyslytsya added that this should be particularly remembered by the citizens of those countries that joined the North Atlantic Alliance after the aforementioned date.
The diplomat emphasized that if we want to live in a safe world, the international community must not spare any effort to counter Russia's aggressive imperialist policies.
"The implementation of the concept of "peace through strength" is the only effective tool to stop the aggressor and ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the principles of the UN Charter," Kyslytsya stressed.
According to Ukraine's permanent representative, the diplomatic path to such peace lies through the realization of the Peace Formula, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"We are also ready to consider other nations’ peace ideas that take into account the need to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, do not equate the victim with the aggressor, and are based on the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine". They can be discussed in the formats offered by the Peace Formula,'" Kyslytsya said.
The UN Security Council meeting on January 16 was convened at the request of Slovenia and the US, who had previously consulted with the Ukrainian delegation. The topic of the meeting was the discussion of the situation in Ukraine in connection with Russia's military actions.
The day before, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that for Ukraine to return to the negotiating table with Russia, it needs security guarantees. The head of state emphasized that this would help deter future Russian aggression.
Also, Zelenskyy previously mentioned that one of the best security guarantees for the country, in terms of strengthening Ukraine's position before negotiations with Russia, is an invitation to NATO.
Additionally, during a briefing with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Kyiv on January 16, Zelenskyy pointed out that currently, there are four countries that, for various reasons, do not want to see Ukraine in NATO: the US, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia.
