The UK reaffirms Ukraine's right to self defence under Article 51
of the UN Charter and voices concern over external military and
dual use support to Russia, stressing the need to uphold
international law and maintain regional and global security.
"Madam Chair, the United Kingdom reiterates its unwavering
support for Ukraine as it exercises its inherent right of
self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, in response to
Russia's unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression.
Russia's ongoing invasion constitutes a manifest violation of the
prohibition on the use of force and of the most fundamental
principles underpinning European and global security.
As Ukraine faces sustained and intensified attacks across its
territory, recent OSCE reporting shows that Russia's missile and
drone strikes have targeted critical civilian and energy
infrastructure, including medical facilities, power substations,
and nuclear safety‑related electrical infrastructure, causing
widespread civilian casualties, energy outages, and severe
humanitarian impacts. Intentionally directing attacks against the
civilian population and civilian objects is a serious violation
of international humanitarian law.
In this context, the provision of weapons and ammunition to
Ukraine by partners, including the UK, is fully consistent with
international law. Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine
retains the inherent right of individual and collective
self-defence in response to armed attack. Supporting Ukraine
strengthens the rules‑based international order; it does not
undermine it.
By contrast, Russia continues to seek illicit external support to
sustain its aggression. Open‑source intelligence indicates that
the DPRK has supplied munitions and ballistic missiles used
against Ukrainian cities, in violation of multiple UNSC
Resolutions on DPRK arms exports.
The People's Republic of China has supplied large quantities of
dual‑use goods, microelectronics, machine tools, optics, and
UAV‑related technologies that fuel Russia's weapons production.
As previously reported in this forum, over 73% of Russia's
dual‑use imports since February 2022, worth approximately $16
billion, originated from China, including nearly 90% of
semiconductors imported in 2023.
Iran also continues to supply Russia with weapons components and
systems enabling attacks on Ukraine, including UAV (including
Shahed) technologies and missile‑related items, in violation of
the prohibition on Iranian arms exports reinstated by the
snapback of UN sanctions on Iran in October 2025, which called
upon Iran not to undertake activities related to ballistic
missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and restricted
missile‑related transfers for eight years.
Collectively, all these transfers represent a deliberate and
persistent pattern of unlawful support to an aggressor state —
support that violates international non-proliferation obligations
and undermines the security of every OSCE participating State.
Madam Chair, Russia's actions continue to endanger regional
stability and global security. Russia's violations of
international law must be met with resolute, coordinated
international action. The United Kingdom will continue to support
Ukraine for as long as necessary. So we will repeat: the
provision of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine by partners,
including the UK, is fully consistent with international law.
Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine retains the inherent
right of individual and collective self‑defence in response to
armed attack.
Thank you, Madam Chair."
