More than 50 countries called on Russia to agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire and resume negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The appeal was made in a joint statement read out by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen ahead of Monday’s UN Security Council meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports from New York.
“Today, Ukraine marks its Independence Day – 35 years since it declared its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. This was a decision made by the Ukrainian people and recognized by the international community, including by Russia. Yet, rather than being a day of celebration, today also marks four and a half years since the start of Russia’s illegal full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. A blatant and continuing violation of the UN Charter and of fundamental principles of international law,” the statement reads.
It stressed that Russia’s invasion had “challenged the foundation of the rules-based international order and undermined both regional and global peace and security.”
The signatories noted that hundreds of thousands of men, women and children had been killed or injured as a result of Russian aggression, while civilian casualties had risen sharply amid intensified attacks.
