Russia cannot change Ukraine’s borders after 1,651 days of war — UK

The United Kingdom has told the United Nations General Assembly that Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory and attempted annexations have not altered Ukraine’s sovereignty or borders, while calling on Moscow to accept a full and unconditional ceasefire.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly meeting on Ukraine in New York on Tuesday, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, said Russia’s continued military actions amounted to violations of the UN Charter and Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

“It is 1,651 days since Russia began her illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” MacIntosh said, adding that it had also been “twelve years since her illegal annexation of Crimea.”

According to the full speech on the UK Home Office website on Tuesday, she said Russian attacks had escalated, with at least 429 missiles launched into Ukraine in July alone, “more than double the month before.”

“And Ukrainian civilians are paying the price,” the ambassador said.

MacIntosh said almost 17,000 Ukrainian civilians, including 820 children, had been killed since February 2022, while more than 51,000 civilians, including 3,000 children, had been injured.

She also highlighted the impact of the war on global food supplies, saying Ukraine had accounted for 12 per cent of global corn exports, 10 per cent of wheat exports and 50 per cent of sunflower oil exports before Russia’s 2022 invasion.

“But Russian strikes on Ukraine’s ports and civilian shipping have also escalated,” she said, adding that the attacks were “Blocking vital food supplies, contributing to driving up food prices worldwide, and killing seafarers from UN Member States from Africa to Asia.”

The UK envoy said Russia’s actions in occupied Ukrainian territories were a violation of fundamental international principles.

“Mr President, Russia’s war in Ukraine is a clear violation of our UN Charter and of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said.

“These are key principles; principles that bind every United Nations Member State.”

MacIntosh listed Crimea and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as territories invaded by Russia, accusing Moscow of using violence to consolidate its control.

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“And uses violence to consolidate its control within them,” she said, citing the separation of families, alleged forced deportation and indoctrination of children, forced issuance of Russian passports, arbitrary detention and disappearance of Ukrainian civic leaders, torture and ill-treatment.

She also said communities had been left without water or humanitarian assistance, while Ukraine’s cultural heritage and language were being targeted.

“Russia’s occupation and attempted illegal annexations are inflicting a terrible toll on the Ukrainians living in these territories,” MacIntosh said.

“But these actions do not change Ukraine’s sovereignty; nor do they rewrite her borders.”

The UK called on all UN member states to defend the principles of the UN Charter and reject Russia’s territorial claims.

“And so today, we call on all States to uphold the UN Charter; to reject Russia’s illegal claims; to press Russia to allow humanitarian access; and to support accountability; to help get Ukraine’s children back home, and her civilians released,” she said.

MacIntosh reaffirmed Britain’s support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself under international law.

“The United Kingdom will stand with Ukraine as she exercises her lawful right to self-defence, in accordance with Article 51 of our United Nations Charter,” she said.

“Today, and for as long as it takes.”

She said the UK also supported Ukraine’s demand for an immediate end to the fighting.

“We support Ukraine’s call for a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and a just and lasting peace,” MacIntosh said.