Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Mr. President

Luxembourg fully subscribes to the statement of the European Union. Please allow me to add some comments in my national capacity.

We thank you, Mr. President, for having followed up on our request to resume the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly. As the war rages on, it is urgent for the Assembly to consider the draft resolution (A/ES-11/L.7) on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Luxembourg has co-sponsored and will vote in favor of this draft resolution, which is the result of inclusive and transparent consultations. We call on all Member States to vote in favor of the draft resolution. It is indeed in the interest of all of us to defend the Charter and to underscore the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter, including in particular the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States. The Charter is our common good. It is our bulwark against the assaults of those who want the rule of might to prevail over the rule of law.

By launching its large-scale aggression, an unprovoked, unjustified and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine, on 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation attacked not only Ukraine: it also attacked the international rules-based order, which rests on the fundamental provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. It is our responsibility to respond to this aggression by reaffirming the principles of the Charter and by helping Ukraine defend itself, in accordance with the inherent right of self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the Charter. This was true a year ago. It remains true today, more than ever.
The toll of this war of aggression launched by Russia with the involvement of Belarus is appalling. Tens of thousands of lives have been shattered. Women and children have become victims of sexual violence. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 8,000 civilians, including 487 children, have been killed over the course of the last twelve months. These are the cases that could be verified. The actual number of civilian casualties is much higher.

The continued use of explosive weapons, including in populated areas, has meant that thousands of schools, pre-schools and other educational facilities in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. This has resulted in the disruption of education for more than five million children in Ukraine. Targeted attacks against schools and hospitals and other civilian infrastructures in Ukraine constitute a violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The draft resolution before us calls for an immediate cessation of these attacks. It demands again that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and it calls for a cessation of hostilities.

The draft resolution rightly emphasizes the need to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law committed on the territory of Ukraine, and ensure justice for all victims. Luxembourg welcomes and supports the work of the Commission of Inquiry established by the Human Rights Council, as well as the work of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The investigation conducted by the Prosecutor in cooperation with the Ukrainian judicial authorities will make it possible to bring to justice those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide. While the ICC is not able to exercise its jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in the present situation, we are among the countries that advocate for the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the aggression against Ukraine, on the recommendation of the United Nations General Assembly. There can be no impunity for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine.

Mr. President,

With the ten-point peace plan proposed by President Zelensky, Ukraine has shown the way leading to a just and lasting peace. In its courageous fight for freedom and universal values, Ukraine can continue to count on Luxembourg's full support and solidarity. Luxembourg will continue to support resolutely the independence, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the resolutions of this Assembly.

I thank you.