UK Senior Military Advisor, Colonel Joby Rimmer condemns the
contradiction between Russia's rhetoric of dialogue and its
continued aggression, and calls for an immediate ceasefire and
meaningful negotiations.
"Mr Chair, the United Kingdom remains unequivocally committed to
a just and lasting peace in Ukraine: one that protects Ukraine's
sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right of every
participating State to choose its own security arrangements, in
line with the Helsinki Final Act. Our support for Ukraine is
long-term, and we support every credible diplomatic effort to
bring this war to an end. But credible diplomacy requires
seriousness, a willingness to engage directly, and to negotiate
in good faith.
The Russian Federation has not done any of these. It is not
choosing negotiation. It is choosing to continue the war. This is
the contradiction at the heart of Russia's position. Russia
speaks of dialogue but rejects the conditions that would make
talks meaningful. Russia speaks of peace but refuses a ceasefire.
Russia speaks of diplomacy but continues to attack Ukrainian
cities. Russia's message is negotiation but Russia's method is
war.
On 23 June, President Putin again claimed Russia was open to
peace. Yet the Russian Federation continues to refuse a full,
immediate and unconditional ceasefire. President Putin has not
accepted President Zelenskyy's repeated offers of direct
dialogue, including in his recent open letter to the Kremlin. A
State serious about peace does not refuse every opportunity to
meet, to talk, and to stop the killing.
A short while ago on 6 May, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued
formal notes to Embassies in Kyiv. On 25 May, after one of the
largest single-night attacks on Kyiv since the start of the
full-scale invasion, the Russian Ministry of Defence advised
diplomatic personnel to leave the city as soon as possible. And
on 24 June, in this Forum, Russia reiterated that this threat
remains in force.
This is not diplomacy. It is pressure. It is an attempt to
intimidate the diplomatic community, undermine confidence in
Ukraine's capital, and present Russian escalation as inevitable.
The response has been clear: Embassies have not left or announced
plans to leave Kyiv.
Last week, in this Forum, the distinguished representative from
Belarus stated the Union State framework includes the use of, in
its own words, all possible means available, including nuclear
means. The Russian Delegation repeated and amplified this nuclear
signalling multiple times. This rhetoric is irresponsible and
coercive nuclear signalling. This does not support negotiation.
This is designed to intimidate. This does not bring peace closer,
it increases risk. But let me reiterate, this is not a nuclear
crisis, and nor should it become one.
The Russian Federation's conduct of the war tells the same story.
It continues to sustain casualties of some 38,000 a month, for
negligible gains on the ground. It persists in the reckless use
of Oreshnik nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missiles
against Ukrainian cities. It intensifies long-range strikes that
kill civilians far from the front line. These are not the actions
of a State seeking peace. They are the actions of a State seeking
to sustain the war while blaming others for the absence of
negotiations.
The Russian Federation must stop the war and engage meaningfully
in negotiations. Peace will not come through rhetoric while the
Russian Armed Forces continue to fight. Peace will not come
through threats while Russia refuses direct engagement. And peace
will not come through claims of openness while Russia rejects the
ceasefire.
Mr Chair, we continue to call on the Russian Federation to
de-escalate, starting by ending its illegal and unprovoked
invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Federation should agree to an
immediate ceasefire and open the channels with Kyiv that
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly offered. The path to peace is
clear and Russia can choose to take it at any time. Thank you, Mr
Chair."
