At United Nations, Poroshenko Offers Blistering

Condemnation of Russian Crimes against Ukraine

With the Russo-Ukraine War of 2014-18 still raging in Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko in his annual address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, September 26, reminded the international community that Ukrainians belong to a portion of the world’s population that is still suffering the horrors of war.

The Ukrainian leader didn’t hesitate to reveal the identity of the perpetrator, saying at the top of his presentation that Ukrainian families daily are struck by grief “as their loved ones perished under Russia's hostile attacks.”

Before recapping the toll of Russian war against Ukraine, Poroshenko reminded the United Nations that despite its lofty, universal ideals and declarations, wars and armed conflicts remain the world’s reality. “We shall never forget that the raison d'être of this Organization is to ‘save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,’” he noted.

While devoting his address to a blistering condemnation of Russian crimes against Ukraine and the horrors of its war against Ukraine, Poroshenko also implored the United Nations and the free world to stand up and subdue invaders whether they’re Russian or other nations. Otherwise, evil will prevail.

Citing the existence of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, of which peace is an underlying principle, Poroshenko said global conflicts have created an unprecedented 65 million refugees, of which Ukrainians constitute one-fifth, and hundreds of million are doomed to live without peace, he continued, and for them that means no development.

The Ukrainian president also pointed out that as Ukrainians are fighting and dying for their homeland against Russian invaders, they are also defending the free world.

Poroshenko eloquently detailed the pain and suffering that Ukrainians experience at the hands of Russian aggressors:

Unfortunately, my fellow citizens have become a part of that one-fifth of the world population who is experiencing the horrors of war.

As I deliver my speech, reports have brought a sad news about another human life just lost on the frontlines of the war inflicted upon my country by the permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Yesterday, and the day before, several families, again, were struck by grief, as their loved ones perished under Russia's hostile attacks.

Moscow turns Ukrainian to orphans.

It tortures our patriots in its prisons.

Over 1.5 million people became internally displaced persons.

They still can't return to their homes.

Russia constantly multiplies the human tragedy, which lately received a new dimension: ecological.

It poisons the Ukrainian soil and causes an environmental disaster not only in the occupied Crimea, but in Donbas as well.

This has been a daily reality for Ukrainians for four years now. Thousands of deaths, destruction, displacement and human suffering.

For my fellow citizens, these years have become a tremendous challenge – a test for their determination and solidarity, resilience and faith.

Let us not forget what this war is about.

Ukraine made a sovereign decision to live its way and promote the free world based on democratic values and rules

Russia punishes Ukraine for this decision.

It kills. It ruins homes. It lies on industrial scale.

It pretends that Ukraine, as well as Georgia attacked themselves.

Do we know which neighbor of Russia will attack itself next?

Or will the world be “comfortably numb” in a hope that “the next one won’t be me”?

As we defend Ukraine's land and our free choice, as we counter the resurging neo-imperialist power willing to divide the world anew - we defend the free world.

Poroshenko also challenged the United Nations to shed is inactive policies and take an active role in subduing Russian aggression:

“The UN shall not be silent, when the values and principles rooted in its Charter and the entire body of international law are being violated by a veto country. This is not just a challenge, but our chance to make the United Nations relevant and to make the motto of this Assembly session work.”

Silence in the face of war’s brutality is the evil that keeps the aggressor on his destructive path, Poroshenko said.

Addressing the UN member-states, he pointedly said “Your silence is exactly what the Kremlin weaponizes against Ukraine and ultimately, against all of us! It’s naïve to believe that safe shores will always be around.”

Without a strong and united reaction, the wrongdoer will pursue further escalation, creating new crises, raising the states, blackmailing other countries and even the entire international organizations.

“All in an effort to get away with murder,” he declared.

What is the cure: responsibility.

“The international community’s ability to ensure systemic and inevitable responsibility for each and every violation of international laws - first and foremost norms and principles of the UN Charter - is the benchmark indicating how successful we, as the family of nations, can be in achieving common goals.

“Ensuring responsibility is never an easy feat.

“Let me be clear on this point: Nothing will stop Moscow from continuing its aggressive expansionist policies if it does not face a united stand of the international community, if punishment for its actions does not become inevitable,” he elaborated.

The absence of an appropriate punishment for Russia led it to attack Georgia and then Ukraine, and later poison Lytvinenko and the Skrypals, and gas attack Aleppo. And where will Moscow’s criminal behavior end?

“Kremlin has no intention to stop. After occupation of Crimea, it aims now at occupation of the Sea of Azov between Ukraine and Russia,” Poroshenko said.

In order to build peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies, Poroshenko said the world community must protect the UN Charter, “uphold its norms and principles, take resolute action to restore justice.”

He added that the “beautiful language of the UN Charter” is worth nothing if its principles aren’t enforced – “No more words, time for deeds!”

Turning to Security Council reforms, Poroshenko warned veto-holding countries that using this right not to help international peace and stability but rather help itself escape from responsibility is an abuse that does not allow UN to really act.

“We believe that the progress on the Security Council reform will be an important contribution to the ongoing UN-wide change,” he said.

Poroshenko reiterated his appeal for peacekeepers first articulated in April 2015, saying a mission, with a strong mandate and broad responsibilities” can bring peace to Ukraine. “Rather that freeze the conflict or cement the presence of the aggressor and its proxies in Donbas. We firmly count on further progress on this important issue,” he said.

While Ukraine favors legal and diplomatic means of conflict first, Poroshenko said the country will not be intimidated into passivity.

“We remain as determined as ever to keep defending every inch of our territory against the aggression. At the same time, we will continue exploring all available means to end the conflict peacefully and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he said.

Ukraine initiated several legal cases against Russia in international courts so that “Moscow feels that strength of the rule of international law,” pointed out the Ukrainian president.

In early 2017 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Russia to lift the ban on activities on Mejlis - representative body of Crimean Tatars in the occupied Crimea.  However, Russia continues to ignore the ruling demonstrating its disregard not only to its international obligations but to the Court as well.

“Another important element of our case in the ICJ it is the downing of MH17 in 2014 and the role of the Russian Federation in this tragedy. It is important that Australia and the Netherlands recently joined Ukraine in its efforts to bring Russia to account,” he relate.

Four years after Russia’s invasion and illegal occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol, Poroshenko said the Ukrainian peninsula has been turned into a military stronghold that threatens security and stability in the greater Black Sea region.

“We believe that increasing militarization of Crimea deserves the General Assembly’s close attention and prompt reaction,” he urged. Russia s aggressive policies as well as its arrogance in using lethal weapons multiply the threat. In this regard, Ukraine counts on your active support for the relevant resolution during this session.”

At the same time, the number of hostages and victims of the Russian occupation regime in Crimea is growing almost every day as Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identities are criminal offences.

“Crimean farmer Volodymyr Balukh was arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison for raising a Ukrainian flag upon his private residence. Crimean film director Oleh Sentsov remains behind the bars in a remote penal colony in northern Russia serving a 20-years prison term on fabricated charges. Both Oleh and Volodymyr are balancing between life and death as they remain on a hunger strike,” Poroshenko said.

Returning to his maxim of responsibility, Poroshenko described Russia in this manner:

“This is the thing about today s Russia: they don't care.

“They don’t care about suffering.

“They don’t care about truth.

“They don’t care about law.

“They think that their military might and status in the UN give them this right.

“It’s up to us to prove them wrong.

“It’s up to us to make them care.”

Poroshenko pointed out that Ukraine is delivering on its commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals while welcoming the hunger principle of the UN 17 SDGs.

“Ukraine, like nobody, knows the price of this tragedy. This November we will mark 85th Anniversary of one of the deadliest crimes of the 20th century - the crime of Holodomor, mass starvation in Ukraine artificially organized by the Stalinist regime. It took lives of several millions of Ukrainians,” he said.

“In this regard, I would like to renew my appeal to the Assembly to mark one of the biggest tragedies in human history by adopting a dedicated declaration.”