Madame President,

Tomorrow, 19 November, we will mark a solemn milestone - 1000 days since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, it bears remembering that Russia’s war of aggression actually commenced in February 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea. For more than a decade, a permanent member of this very Council has perpetrated atrocities, bombarded civilians, and committed egregious human rights abuses in blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, causing immeasurable death, destruction and suffering.

Let me state it loud and clear that Russia continues to violate the basic principles of the UN Charter system, such as territorial integrity and national sovereignty, through its naked attempt at land grab.   

Madam President, Czechia is gravely alarmed by the recent escalation of DPRK's direct involvement in this war of aggression. Not only is Pyongyang supplying ammunition and ballistic missiles to Russia, but it is now also deploying its troops in Russia to be used against Ukraine. Russia is brazenly violating the very Security Council resolutions for which it voted, undermining both the global non-proliferation regime and the authority of the UN Security Council. Moreover, the DPRK’s direct involvement in Russia’s war of aggression poses a dire threat to the Indo-Pacific security with dangerous implications for regional and global stability.

We have repeatedly urged  fellow UN member states, including China, to cease enabling Russia´s aggression against Ukraine by providing Russia with political and military support. We are deeply concerned by credible reports that Chinese companies have been supplying goods with clear military applications, including one-way attack drones and engines for military UAVs. China’s ongoing delivery of tools that Russia needs to continue its aggression against Ukraine and its people represents an intolerable perpetuation of this conflict. This military cooperation directly threatens European as well as international peace and security.

Distressingly, human suffering in Ukraine continues to worsen amid alarming reports of daily attacks on innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure. Russian deliberate attacks on the energy facilities ahead of the coming winter are yet another breach of international law by Russia, relentlessly pursuing its strategy of intimidation against Ukraine and its population. Furthermore, Russia's intensified efforts to disrupt the Black Sea humanitarian grain corridor through attacks on civilian port infrastructure and international vessels is clear evidence of weaponizing food security by Russia. We reiterate our call on Russia to immediately halt these systematic strikes conducted with total disregard for civilian lives and international law.

Madame President, As we mark 1.000 days of Ukraine’s unwavering resistance against Russia’s full-scale invasion, Czechia reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the Russian war of aggression. We remain fully committed to providing political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine and its people as they exercise their legitimate right to defend their homeland.

To conclude, I remain convinced that our common goal now must be to intensify efforts to ensure that Ukraine emerges victorious from this horrific war and secures a just and lasting peace in accordance  with the UN Charter.

Thank you.