Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Vice President
New Zealand thanks the Commission for this oral update. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they endure a third year of Russian aggression.
Russia started this war, and can end it tomorrow by withdrawing their troops from Ukraine. Russia has chosen how to conduct this war and that conduct has been consistently reprehensible.
Today’s update confirms that little has changed in Russia’s conduct, and only further underlined the necessity of ongoing international scrutiny of the human rights situation.
As the Commission has found, Russia’s actions have caused thousands of deaths, a massive humanitarian crisis, and untold suffering. The gravity and continuation of these violations and crimes is shocking, and Russia’s blatant disregard of human rights obligations and international humanitarian law cannot be ignored.
President Zelenskyy’s ten-point peace formula sets out a vision for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. Given the scale of the human rights violations, Ukraine is understandably focused on justice being at the centre of peace. New Zealand is proud to support that vision.
We ask the Commission – what more can be done by the international community to ensure justice in Ukraine?
Thank you.