New York, 24 February 2025
Three years to the day after Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly, on February 24, 2025, reaffirmed its support for Ukraine, its sovereignty, and its territorial integrity. The Assembly adopted two successive resolutions emphasizing these principles and the primacy of international law.
It called for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
Diplomatic debate intensifies as world marks three years since full-scale Russian invasion
February 24 marks three years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thousands of civilians have been killed and injured, the economy shattered and energy infrastructure destroyed. As the General Assembly and Security Council debate how peace and security can be restored in eastern Europe, we’ll bring you full coverage as competing resolutions from Ukraine and an amended US resolution both passed – despite the US abstaining on its own text – during an eventful morning in the Assembly.
Invasion undermines ‘foundations of international order’
Rosemary DiCarlo, the head of UN Peacekeeping and Political Affairs, briefed the members on the current situation in Ukraine, saying today marks three years to the day since the full-scale Russian invasion, which “undermined the very foundations of the international order”.
Ms. DiCarlo reminded the delegates that, since 24 February 2022, at least 12,654 Ukrainian civilians, including 673 children, have been killed and that “the numbers only continue to rise as Russia’s brutal attacks persist across the country.”
She went on to detail a litany of consequences of the invasion, from the largest displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War, to the destruction of medical facilities and a “decimated” education system, to attacks on humanitarian workers and a documented increase in human rights violations, including the execution and mistreatment of prisoners of war.
The senior UN official also noted the escalation of the war into Russia, and reports by Russian officials of increased civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in the affected regions, due to alleged Ukrainian attacks. She also referred to the 14 February drone attack on 14 February that caused a fire in the building confining the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chernobyl accident, which “underlines the persistent risks to nuclear safety in Ukraine.
Referring to the Security Council resolution adopted earlier in the session, Ms. DiCarlo insisted that peace in Ukraine must be “just, sustainable and comprehensive, in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and resolutions of the General Assembly”, including those adopted this morning during the General Assembly emergency special session.
1.5 million people receive World Food Programme emergency assistance in Ukraine
Every month, the World Food Programme (WFP) provides emergency assistance to 1.5 million people in war-torn Ukraine. As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, an estimated five million Ukrainians are facing food insecurity, with the greatest needs concentrated in areas near the frontlines. According to data collected by WFP, millions of people are resorting to coping mechanisms, sacrificing their own meals so their children can eat. Others are going into debt to buy sufficient food supplies to feed their families.
WFP continues to provide food and cash assistance to nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians each month, mostly in the frontline regions. Despite these efforts, more than half of the people in the Kherson region in the south face severe hunger, and two out of every five individuals face hunger in Zaporizhzhia as well as the Donetsk region in the east.
“Families in frontline regions are struggling to put food on the table, forcing them to make heartbreaking choices just to get by,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Ukraine. “As we look forward to sustainable peace in what is considered to be one of the world’s historical breadbasket regions, we must face the reality that humanitarian aid continues to be a lifeline for millions.”
According to WFP monitoring, 72 per cent of those who receive food assistance reported having to cut back on food, buy less nutritious food, skip meals, or borrow money to feed their family. Across six frontline regions almost a third of all people are food insecure.
Read more about how WFP is helping here.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia says new resolution is ‘a starting point’
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia regretted that the amendments his delegation proposed were not adopted and that the European nations tried to make the text unbalanced and disingenuous in their proposals. The adopted text is working towards a path to peace and “is also a starting point”, he said. “But, let’s not fool ourselves,” he continued, emphasising that the “party of war in Ukraine” continues to distort efforts to find peace.
US Ambassador Dorothy Shea: Resolution is a crucial ‘first step’ to peace
Following the vote, United States Ambassador Dorothy Shea said Washington sincerely appreciated Council members’ support for the resolution. She also applauded the action, which she said was the first the Council has taken in three years on Ukraine to firmly call for an end to the conflict. “This resolution puts us on the path to peace,” she said. “It is a first step, but a crucial one, one of which we should all be proud. Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community,” she said.
Security Council adopts resolution calling for end to war
The Security Council voted in favour of US-drafted resolution 2774 (2025) to end hostilities in Ukraine. Prior to the vote, Council members rejected all proposed amendments.
Russia says US draft resolution is ‘step in the right direction’
US urges Council to step up to end the horror in Ukraine
United Kingdom introduces amendments to US draft
Security Council rejects France’s request to postpone Ukraine vote
Happening now: Security Council expected to vote
Source – United Nations
EU Statement at the UN Security Council: Briefing on the Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine
President, colleagues,
I address you today not just as the Foreign Minister of Poland, but also on behalf of the High Representative of the European Union, Kaja Kallas, to present the view of the European Union on Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war against Ukraine.
No one wants and needs peace in Ukraine more than the Ukrainians. No one has a larger stake in European security than the Europeans. And no one has a greater power to end this conflict than the Russians – all they need to do is stop the killing and leave territories they illegally occupy.
Only with these facts in mind can we work to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, consistent with the UN Charter.
On this tragic anniversary, our thoughts go out to the countless Ukrainians who have suffered. Their resilience is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of people who seek nothing more than their rightful place in the community of free nations. We must never forget the crimes committed by Russian troops in Borodianka, Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol and many other places across Ukraine. The perpetrators must be held fully accountable.
We should also acknowledge the far-reaching repercussions beyond Ukraine’s borders. Russia’s war has disrupted global food and energy markets. It has affected countries in Africa, in Latin America, in Asia, thousands of kilometres away from Ukraine.
And people in Russia, too. Russian government has spent an estimated $200 billion of their taxpayers’ money to launch and continue the invasion. It will likely cost Russia over $1 trillion in previously anticipated economic growth through 2026.[1]
“Imagine how many kindergartens, schools, and hospitals could be built for Russian citizens — or, for that matter, for countless other citizens in developing countries around the world — with this fortune. But instead of building them in Russia or elsewhere, the Kremlin prefers to bomb them in Ukraine, while treating its own people as collateral damage. As of this January, about 170,000 Russian troops have been killed. 600,000 more are reported injured.[2]
Moscow’s enablers must also be called out. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is now not only providing Russia with weapons but also with boots on the ground. Iran is sharing its Shahed drone production technology with Russia. We have hard evidence of close military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.
Colleagues,
While the Council remains blocked by Russia’s abuse of veto power, the right way forward remains unchanged: Russia should immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces from Ukraine’s territory.
We as Europeans will continue to stand side by side with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace. Peace through strength – the only kind Kremlin respects.
Thank you.
—
[1] https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3989588/the-common-defence-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-re/
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-operations-ukraine-have-probably-cost-up-211-billion-us-official-2024-02-16/
[2] https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/02/combat-losses-and-manpower-challenges-underscore-the-importance-of-mass-in-ukraine/
Source – EEAS