STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. MICHAEL IMRAN KANU
AMBASSADOR & PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
Thank you, Madam President.
I also thank Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, for her important briefing.
The Security Council is convened today over three years since the beginning of the Ukraine – Russian Federation conflict, at a moment when cautious hope has begun to emerge on the horizon. Sierra Leone has consistently maintained that continued dialogue and good-faith negotiations are the only viable path to a sustainable peace in Ukraine and the Russian Federation. We continue to urge the parties to remain committed to diplomacy and a refrain from any actions that could jeopardize the current momentum toward peace.
In this regard, we welcome the recent commencement of peace negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This development marks an important step forward after many months of deadlock. Sierra Leone acknowledges the efforts of the United States for facilitating the negotiations. We hope that these talks will lay the groundwork for a broader peace process and ultimately lead to direct negotiations between the principal parties to the conflict. It is imperative that all sides engage in these talks sincerely and constructively, with a genuine commitment to achieving a just and lasting resolution.
We also note with appreciation the announcement of a Black Sea ceasefire agreement resulting from recent diplomatic engagements. This agreement reportedly aimed at halting hostilities in and around the Black Sea to ensure safe navigation, is a welcome development that can reduce violence and improve maritime security, including the continued flow of essential goods. While we acknowledge this progress, further clarity on the agreement’s terms and robust confidence-building measures are needed. Such steps will help guarantee that all parties uphold their commitments and will foster the trust necessary to make this ceasefire durable. We hope this confidence gained can pave the way for broader de-escalation beyond the Black Sea region.
Madam President,
Notwithstanding these diplomatic developments, Sierra Leone remains deeply concerned by the continued attacks including on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, in particular missile and drone strikes targeting power plants, electricity grids and other critical facilities across Ukraine. These assaults have devastated Ukraine’s energy capacity, with reports indicating that over 60% of the country’s power-generating infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, leaving millions of civilians in darkness and cold. The resulting widespread outages cut off heating, water supply, telecommunications, and healthcare for countless families. Deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law, and we call on the parties to halt these strikes and comply fully with their obligations to protect civilian life.
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is growing more dire with each passing day of conflict. The toll on the civilian population is staggering. According to United Nations reports, more than 12,000 civilians have been killed and nearly 30,000 injured since the war began in February 2022. In addition to this horrific loss of life, nearly one-third of Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes, over 6 million people have fled as refugees to neighboring countries, and millions more are internally displaced within Ukraine.
Many civilians now endure severe hardship, especially after a bitter winter that has only compounded their suffering. In communities devastated by fighting and power shortages, families lack consistent access to electricity, heat, clean water, and medical care. Vulnerable groups, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, are particularly at risk in these conditions, facing the harshest impacts of the cold and the disruption of essential services.
The impact of the conflict on children has been particularly troubling. Trauma affecting children who are subjected to constant shelling and bombing, is compounded by grief from the loss of loved ones; separation from family, friends and familiar routines; and prolonged displacement and abductions from their homes. Tragically, data from OHCHR indicates that at least 669 children were killed and 1,833 injured in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 through 31 December 2024, as well as 27 children killed and 137 injured in the Russian Federation over the same period.
Just three months into 2025, casualty rates for children have risen significantly, with reports that more children have been killed and injured over the past five days in Ukraine than during the entire month of January. OCHCR has concluded that “children have been particularly affected by violations of international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL), including summary executions, arbitrary detention, conflict-related sexual violence, torture and ill-treatment.”
The magnitude of this crisis demands a coordinated and urgent humanitarian response. Sierra Leone calls on the international community, donors, and humanitarian organizations to work together closely to alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We welcome the continued efforts of United Nations agencies, and other humanitarian organizations on the ground. We emphasize the need to fully fund and implement the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine. This plan aims to assist roughly 14 million people with food, shelter, medical services, and other essential aid, yet it still faces significant funding gaps. We echo the urgent appeal of OCHA for increased support to close these gaps so that life-saving assistance can reach all those in need.
Madam President,
Looking toward the prospects of peace and recovery, Sierra Leone underscores that the process must be inclusive and people-centered. All relevant stakeholders should have a voice in shaping Ukraine’s future, including the relevant regional actors. In particular, we stress the importance of the meaningful participation of women and youth in all peace efforts and post-conflict recovery initiatives.
In closing, Sierra Leone reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, in particular, the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of member States, including Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The Security Council has a vital role to play in upholding these principles, in protecting civilians, and in promoting a peaceful resolution of this conflict.
In supporting ceasefires and peace agreements, this Council should ensure that they are guided by the principles of the UN Charter, as well as decisions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. As we urge the parties to put the needs of their citizens first and seek practical compromises that balance their immediate and long-term national interests and priorities, Sierra Leone will continue to support efforts aimed at alleviating human suffering and achieving a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
I thank you.
