At the UN, 50 Countries and the EU Called on Russia for a Ceasefire. The US Did Not Join, Russia Dismissed It

The text of the statement, which the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry distributed to journalists, was published before the UN Security Council meeting on September 23.

The signatories expressed solidarity with Ukraine and deep concern about the escalation of Russia's actions against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.

They expressed concern about attacks in the Black Sea and supported efforts to conclude an agreement in the Black Sea to ensure freedom of navigation.

The statement also recalls that since March 2025, Ukraine has agreed to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

"We call on Russia to finally do the same – this is a necessary step towards constructive diplomacy and negotiations leading to peace," the statement said.

The signatories also called on Russia to ensure the immediate return to Ukraine of all arbitrarily detained, forcibly displaced or deported Ukrainian civilians, including children, as well as the full return of all prisoners of war and all interned persons as important confidence-building measures.

"Ukraine longs for peace. We long for peace. Russia must stop its aggression, agree to a ceasefire and constructively engage in negotiations to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with international law," the statement said.

The statement was supported by 50 countries and the European Union. The United States of America, which plays a mediating role in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, is absent among the signatory countries.

Countries that supported the statement:

Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated at a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine that Russia does not intend to pause hostilities for negotiations with Ukraine, regardless of their format.

According to Lavrov, European countries want to achieve such a pause to gain time to replenish Ukraine's military supplies, which, in his opinion, have been exhausted. At the same time, Lavrov accused the Ukrainian side of using, as he put it, "terrorist methods".

• 2
• 0
• 2
• 3
• 0
• 2
• 6
• 0