This Friday, 24 February 2023, marks one year since the
unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine by the Russian
Federation. As G7 Ambassadors accredited to Paraguay (Japan,
Italy, Canada, France, the United States of America, the United
Kingdom, Germany and the European Union*), we wish to reaffirm to
the Paraguayan public that Russia’s war of aggression threatens
not only Ukraine, but also the United Nations Charter and its
principles. As such, it is a matter of peace, security and
stability that concerns us all. Failure to address this fact
would condone illegal aggression and increase the risk of other
countries facing similar aggression.
Throughout this year, G7 members, together with international
partners, have supported Ukraine in the form of bilateral,
regional and multilateral actions, which always hold Russia
accountable for its actions. We wish to acknowledge Paraguay’s
constructive role as a member of the UN Human Rights Council from
2022. The members of the G7 commit to provide Ukraine with
financial, military, humanitarian and development assistance and
we will maintain our strong solidarity to mitigate the effects of
the invasion.
The members of the G7 reaffirm our full support for Ukraine’s
independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty within its
internationally recognised borders. Under international law, in
particular the UN Charter, Ukraine has the right to defend itself
against Russian aggression and to regain full control of its
territory.
G7 members have imposed, and will continue to impose, economic
sanctions against the Russian Federation targeting individuals
and entities inside and outside Russia that provide political or
economic support for Russia’s illegal attempts to alter the
status of Ukrainian territory.
Likewise, during this year, the members of the G7 have confronted
the Russian Federation’s disinformation campaigns, raising
awareness and truthfully denouncing the facts that have had an
impact on public opinion, both here in Paraguay and worldwide.
Once again, the Ukrainian people have shown their resilience and
courage. This unjustifiable war has forcibly displaced millions
of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, and has resulted in
thousands of casualties. G7 members and like-minded countries,
such as Paraguay, have responded not only with assistance, but
have also provided refuge for the victims of the Russian
invasion.
The Russian Federation has deliberately used energy and food as
weapons, consciously accepting that people all over the world
will suffer from the worsening supply situation. Russia’s war of
aggression has caused global bottlenecks in the supply of oil,
gas, grain and fertilisers. This affects us all, but especially
the most vulnerable.
G7 members urge all countries that support a rules-based
international order, including Paraguay, to demand that the
Russian Federation cease this aggression, which is a blatant
violation of international law. The Russian Federation must also
be held accountable for violating international humanitarian and
human rights law.
A comprehensive, just and lasting peace can only be achieved if
it is in line with the UN Charter and international law. One year
on from Russia’s full-scale unprovoked war of aggression, G7
members are more united than ever for Ukraine.
