UK reaffirms ‘Ironclad commitment’ to Ukraine

The UK has reiterated its unwavering support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, according to a speech delivered by Mungo Woodifield, the UK Spokesperson to the UN, at the United Nations Security Council on 25 July 2024.

Woodifield began his remarks by recalling the onset of the invasion on 24 February 2022, describing it as an “illegal and unprovoked” act by Russia.

He stated that Ukraine has been exercising its right to self-defence under the UN Charter since that day. “Ukraine has defended its sovereign land and it has rejected Russia’s vision for a world where states can change borders by force. It has stood up for the principles at the very heart of the UN Charter. The UK’s commitment to support Ukraine is ironclad,” Woodifield said.

Drawing attention to the human toll of the conflict, Woodifield highlighted the devastating impact on both Ukrainian and Russian populations. He cited recent attacks, including a missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv, as examples of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

“Just a few weeks ago, we met after a Russian missile reduced a children’s hospital in Kyiv to rubble… over 34 thousand civilians confirmed killed and injured since the invasion began, and which have left over 14.6 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance,” he noted.

The conflict has also inflicted severe losses on Russian forces, with nearly 70,000 soldiers killed or wounded in the last 60 days alone.

Woodifield criticised Russia’s efforts to sustain its military campaign through external support, specifically pointing to the procurement of drones from Iran and weapons from the DPRK.

“It is absurd, but frankly no longer surprising, that Russia criticises legitimate Western support for Ukraine’s self-defence while it procures weapons from the DPRK in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions that it supported,” he said, urging all third parties to cease material support for Russia’s aggression.

Reaffirming the UK’s commitment, Woodifield mentioned the recent NATO Summit where the UK, along with 22 other countries and the EU, signed the Ukraine Compact, which underscores a long-term pledge to support Ukraine.

“The UK has committed to sustain current levels of military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. And we will continue to support Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression until a just and lasting peace is secured, in line with the UN Charter,” he affirmed.

In his concluding remarks, Woodifield stated that any negotiations and decisions regarding Ukraine’s future must be determined by Ukraine itself. “Ukraine is a sovereign country making sovereign decisions about the defence of its sovereign land and the sooner Russia understands this, the better,” he concluded.