Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, at the UNSC Debate on the Question of Ukraine - February 21st, 2022

Mr. President,

When this Organization was established in 1945, it entrusted the Security Council with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Tension in and around Ukraine is being aggravated on a daily – indeed hourly – basis, making this habitual quotation from the Charter of extraordinary importance and relevance.

We are all aware how critical the situation has become. Brazil is following the latest developments with extreme concern. In the present circumstance, we in this Council, in representation of the international community, must reiterate calls for immediate de-escalation and our steadfast commitment in support of political and diplomatic efforts to create the conditions for a peaceful solution to this crisis.

The collective security system of the United Nations rests ultimately on the pillar of international law. This, in its turn, rests upon core principles enshrined in the Charter: the sovereign equality and the territorial integrity of Member States; the restraint in the use or in the threat of use of force; and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Yet our pillar and our principles will not yield results unless legitimate concerns of all parties are taken into consideration, and unless there is full respect for the Charter and for existing commitmenmts, such as the Minsk Agreements.

In this vein, we renew our appeal to all concerned parties to maintain dialogue in a spirit of openness, understanding, flexibility and a sense of urgency to find ways for a lasting peace in Ukraine and in the wider region. A first inescapable objective is an immediate ceasefire, with comprehensive disengagement of troops and military equipment on the ground. Such a military disengagement will be an important step to build trust among the parties, to strengthen diplomacy and to seek a sustainable solution for the crisis.

We firmly believe that this Council must live up to its core responsibility to help the parties engage in a meaningful and effective dialogue so as to achieve a solution that effectively addresses the security concerns within the region. Make no mistake: at the end of the day, we are talking about the lives of innocent men, women and children on the ground.

I thank you.