Another International Demand for Moscow to End its War vs. Ukraine

Another group of countries, supporters of Ukraine in its war against Russia, has issued a statement demanding Russia’s immediate cessation of hostilities against Ukraine and withdrawal from Crimea.

Fifteen member-states are part of the Arria-formula meetings, demanded that Moscow immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine.

“We call on Russia to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and end its occupation of Crimea and the egregious human rights abuses it inflicts on the Crimean population,” the group said in a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations on June 2.

Arria-formula meetings are not formal meetings of the UN Security Council. They are convened at the initiative of a member or members of the Security Council in order to hear the views of individuals, organizations or institutions on matters within the competence of the Security Council.

The statement was supported by Albania, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Georgia, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The text reads:

“Russia held its fourth informal Arria-formula meeting since December 2020 at the UN today to once again promote a false narrative about Ukraine. We regret Russia’s deliberate and repeated misuse of the Arria-formula process to pervert the truth and obfuscate Russia’s malign activities. As we saw today, Russia invited speakers sanctioned by UN member states for their violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia’s false narratives about Ukraine are part of a disinformation campaign designed to destabilize and divert the attention of the international community. We recognize and appreciate the statement by the European Union, further demonstrating the international community’s unwavering support for Ukraine.

“The 2014 Revolution of Dignity saw Ukrainians exercise their right to peaceful assembly, demand a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful Ukraine, and reject Moscow’s influence. Russia’s response was to brazenly violate international principles, occupying Crimea and launching the conflict in eastern Ukraine that it perpetuates to this day. Russia is a party to the conflict, not a mediator. We fully support the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Ukrainian people, and continue to work with the government of Ukraine to help it fulfill the demands of the Revolution of Dignity in the face of continued Russian aggression. We reaffirm our resolute commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters.

“We call on Russia to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and end its occupation of Crimea and the egregious human rights abuses it inflicts on the Crimean population. We urge Russia to fulfill its Minsk commitments, including implementing an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and withdrawing its military personnel and materiel from the territory of Ukraine.”

This is not the first statement by a subset of the United Nations to demand Moscow’s immediate end to its seven-year war against Ukraine, that has cost the lives of 14,000 Ukrainian civilians and soldiers, forced more than 1 million Ukrainians to flee their homes, caused the destruction of homes and cities as well as polluting the environment. Previously, UN General Assembly resolutions have formally declared Russia to be an aggressor state.

For the record and posterity, this is another step in the right direction but words and resolutions will not sway Moscow and Putin. Only actions will. And the most important action that the free world, the United States, European Union and NATO can undertake now is to accept Ukraine, the only country with battlefield experience in fighting the Russian war machine, into the North Atlantic alliance’s membership. That will send a needed strong signal to the Kremlin that Ukraine has active supporters that are committed to its long existence as an independent, sovereign country.