Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Ronaldo Costa Filho, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre a Situação na Ucrânia - 8 de fevereiro de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Madam President,

I thank USG Nakamitsu for her briefing. Brazil shares the assessment that the obligation of the parties to guarantee the security of the Ukrainian civilian population must precede any other considerations. Last Monday, at the latest Council meeting dedicated to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, we expressed our regret that the public debate on the conflict is increasingly focused on transfers of weapons and ammunition and not on what seems most important to us: an immediate cease-fire and the opening of peace negotiations. 

The emphasis on arms transfers is symptomatic of what we see as a serious escalation in the conflict. On numerous occasions, we have noted the right of states to self-defence, a fundamental principle of international law. Nevertheless, this right must never overshadow the greater duty to restore international peace and security.

There is also a great risk that weapons transferred to any of the parties to the conflict fall into the hands of unauthorized recipients, including militias and criminal or terrorist groups. These threats are real and deserve the attention of this Council.

Madam President,

We urge the parties to immediately suspend hostilities without preconditions and to engage in dialogue. At the same time, we encourage other member states to act, in order to facilitate diplomatic negotiations.

Faced with persistent rumours about the launching of a new military offensive, it is necessary to remember once again that this organization was created with a mission: to rid future generations of the scourge of war. We must not evade this responsibility.

I thank you.