United Nations Watch
ORAL STATEMENT FROM INGENIEURS DU MONDE TO THE UNHRC URGENT DEBATE ON UKRAINE
Mr. President, we welcome this urgent meeting on Russia’s aggression against the people of Ukraine.
On the 24th of February, the Ukrainian Ambassador requested this council to meet “as urgently as possible.” Now, in other, past situations, the council convened within a day. Why this time, on Russian aggression, did it wait a full week? For the men, women and children under attack, every day of delay by the international community is lethal.
This Council just heard from the Russian Foreign Minister. He said President Putin has “an unwavering respect for the Ukrainian people,” and that “we do not intend in any way to infringe on the interests of the citizens of Ukraine."
Mr. President, the opposite is true.
The truth is that Russian forces invaded Ukraine, in flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.
The truth is that Russian forces are bombing cities indiscriminately, killing and wounding innocent civilians, a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
The truth is that Russia’s assault on Ukraine has turned more than half a million people to flee their homes for neighboring countries, killed an estimated 2,000 people, and injured many more. The truth is that Russia is committing war crimes.
And so question before us today is this: Will the international community defend the rules-based international order?
Dictators around the world are watching. If they see that Russia succeeds in its wanton aggression, they will draw the lesson—that anything goes. We will see more invasions, more tyrannies attacking their neighbors, and more terrorism. Thank you.