STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. MICHAEL IMRAN KANU
AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
Colleagues
1. Sierra Leone notes the imperative of lasting peace and stability in Ukraine and the wider European region. This meeting must therefore support the path to peace through dialogue.
2. I thank Officer-in-Charge Ms. Kayoko Gotoh, and Director Ms. Edem Wosornu, for their briefings.
Colleagues,
3. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict enters its 1365th day, the civilian population continues to suffer. The United Nations Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has reported that civilian casualties from January to October 2025 have been significantly higher than during the same period last year. With at least 14,534 civilians in Ukraine killed since February 2022, it is way past time for the conflict parties to engage in diplomatic dialogue to seek a cessation of hostilities and work towards a political solution to end the conflict.
4. As we have also heard from our briefers today, the intensified use of long-range missiles and drones in heavily populated areas of Ukraine by Russian forces continues to result in fatalities and injuries for civilians, including children. The drone attack on a Kindergarten in Kharkiv late last month, which resulted in one death and over nine injuries, and from which we can only hope the innocent children who had to be evacuated to shelters can recover, is emblematic of the dire impact of this conflict. The horrors of war faced by millions of children in Ukraine as well as in Russia should serve as an impetus for the conflict parties to respond to continuous call for an immediate ceasefire and a lasting peace through dialogue by members of this council.
6. The targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure that have characterized this conflict are serious violations of international humanitarian law. Military operations around nuclear sites and other critical energy infrastructure are unacceptable and contrary to international humanitarian law. Sierra Leone reiterates its call for the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL). Civilians must be protected from harm, including by taking the necessary precautions to spare them from military attacks.
7. In this regard, we urge the parties to the conflict to refrain from operating in and around civilian infrastructure, including the deliberate targeting of energy, water and sanitation systems, which are essential to life.
8. Noting the warning from OCHA and other humanitarianorganizations that this coming winter will be particularly difficult for the people in Ukraine faced with soaring prices, job losses and little or no income and savings in a wartime economy, Sierra Leone calls for urgent and increased support for the humanitarian response plan, including the winterization aid plans that provide cash assistance, food, water, medicine and essential winter supplies to millions of people.
Colleagues,
9. The Security Council has to ensure the swift implementation of Resolution 2774.
10. After almost four years of fighting, it is clear that this war of attrition will not address the legitimate concerns of the parties. We therefore reiterate our call for the parties to the conflict to engage in good faith diplomatic dialogue towards an immediate ceasefire as the first step to an agreement for lasting peace in line with article 33 of the charter of the United Nations.
11. We also call for the the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine to be respected and the legitimate concerns of all the parties to be addressed.
I thank you.
