Russia Is the Aggressor and the One That Must De-Escalate, UK Tells UN Security Council on Ukraine

The United Kingdom told the UN Security Council on Monday that Russia is the aggressor and “is the one that must de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue,” as London renewed calls for a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.

The statement was delivered by Ambassador James Kariuki, the UK’s chargé d’affaires to the UN, during a Council meeting in New York. Kariuki said the Security Council had convened because Russia “continues to violate the Charter it is bound to uphold” and described Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as “a deliberate act of aggression intended to erase another state’s identity.”

He said Russia has continued to subject Ukrainian cities to drone and missile strikes in civilian areas in recent weeks. Referring to a major attack last Wednesday night, Kariuki said 17 civilians were killed and at least 98 others were injured in a Russian strike involving 659 drones and 44 missiles.

Despite discussion of an Easter ceasefire, Kariuki said Russia had launched more than 200 drones a day on average so far this month, exceeding even March’s record levels. He argued that a “full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire is essential,” echoing calls made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN General Assembly.

“A full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire is essential – that is what the Secretary-General has called for, and that is what the General Assembly called just a few weeks ago.”

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Kariuki also accused Iran of helping sustain Russia’s war effort through military cooperation that has spread weapons and weapons technology beyond Ukraine and into the Middle East, in defiance of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions.

He warned that the outcome of the war would have consequences far beyond Europe, saying that if Russia succeeds in changing borders by force in Ukraine, it would set a dangerous example for the rest of the world.

“So what we say in this chamber matters,” Kariuki told the Council. “In Ukraine, Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the one that must show restraint, that must de-escalate, that must engage in meaningful dialogue.”

He added that the way the Council responds will shape not only the outcome in Ukraine, but also “the rules that govern our collective security.”