Statement of the Delegation of Ukraine at the UN General Assembly meeting under a.i. 63 entitled “Use of the veto” delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine Khrystyna Hayovyshyn

Statement of the Delegation of Ukraine at the UN General Assembly meeting under a.i. 63 entitled “Use of the veto” delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine Khrystyna Hayovyshyn

(11 April 2024)

Mr. President,

Delegation of Ukraine aligns itself with the EU Statement and would like to make few remarks in our national capacity.

Ukraine strongly condemns Russia’s veto of the UN Security Council resolution that would renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the Sanctions Committee 1718.

For the past 14 years, 1718 Committee Panel of Experts has provided fact-based, objective, independent assessments, analysis, and recommendations on the implementation of UN sanctions on the DPRK.

The Panel’s reporting has been a crucial source of information for all UN Member States to better understand the DPRK’s sanctions evasion and their violations, as well as implement UN Security Council resolutions.

As a result of Russia’s veto, the Panel of Experts’ mandate will expire on April 30. This action gravely undermines the international non-proliferation regime and poses a threat to international peace and security, as well as deals a serious blow to the overall sanctions mechanism against the DPRK.

Ukraine denounces the DPRK’s ongoing unlawful pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. Only for the past few months Pyongyang launched a number of ballistic missiles, endangering regional peace and stability.

We call on the DPRK to refrain from conducting any ballistic missile tests, fully implement and respect all UN Security Council resolutions related to its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs.

Ukraine categorically rejects the narratives that sanctions cause humanitarian crisis in the DPRK. Let us be clear, the only cause of Pyongyang’s humanitarian crises is its decision to divert resources from its humanitarian and economic needs towards its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs.

It is also clear that the rejection of the draft resolution will only encourage the DPRK to further develop its nuclear and missile programs, thereby increasing threats to global and regional security, as well as delaying a peaceful and diplomatic solution leading to stability and security on the Korean peninsula.

Mr. President,

Russia vetoed the resolution at the very time when the Panel of Experts was investigating Moscow’s violations of the arms embargo imposed on the DPRK by purchasing arms and ammunition from Pyongyang, including ballistic missiles used by the Russian aggressor in its war against Ukraine.

We would like to stress that continued procurement of arms and related material from the DPRK is a flagrant violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.

Therefore, Russia should be held to account for flagrant violations of international law, including the UNSC resolutions.

No doubt, Russia aims to lift the sanctions regime, which is obviously seen as an obstacle to deepening its military and technical cooperation with the regime in Pyongyang.

Russia’s track record of the use of the veto on resolutions on sanctions matters already speaks volume. In addition to the vetoed draft resolution on the DPRK’s Panel of Experts, last year Moscow terminated UN Mali sanctions. What is also alarming is that it threatens to cast additional vetoes of UN sanctions mandates in the future.

We call on all UN Member States to condemn Russia's veto of the draft resolution on the extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the 1718 Sanctions Committee and the gross violations of UN Security Council resolutions by Moscow and Pyongyang. To take decisive steps to put an end to the supply of arms and ammunition from the DPRK to Russia for the needs of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Thank you.