Statement by Latvia on behalf of the Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, at the United Nations Security Council
New York, 25 July 2025
Mr President,
I have the honour to address the Council on behalf of three Baltic States – Estonia, Lithuania and my own country Latvia. We align ourselves with the statement of the European Union.
We thank the presidency of the Council for convening this meeting, and we commend ASG Jenča and ASG Msuya for their comprehensive briefings and continued efforts.
The UN plays a vital role in Ukraine, delivering life-saving humanitarian aid to those in need and ensuring that the facts of the war are documented with accuracy and impartiality, upholding the principles of human dignity and international accountability.
Today, we would like to highlight three key messages:
First, Russia’s war causes immense civilian suffering and constitutes a flagrant breach of international law.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that has been going on for almost three and half years continues to inflict widespread humanitarian devastation. Over the past weeks, Russia has intensified its drone and missile attacks, systematically targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, power grids, and schools. Many innocent lives have been lost.
These are not isolated cases – they represent a calculated campaign of terror and destruction. International humanitarian law is being ignored, and the Security Council must not look away. International community must go beyond statements – we must act decisively to safeguard civilians and bring perpetrators to justice.
Baltic States commend Ukraine’s humanitarian coordination and resilience under this barrage of fire. In this context, we welcome the results of the Fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference that took place in Rome on 10-11 July 2025. It mobilized further international support and investment for Ukraine’s reconstruction, reform, and modernization.
Second, the path to peace must begin with Russia ceasing its war.
We note the Ukraine-Russia meeting, held on Wednesday in Istanbul, upon the initiative of President Zelensky. Russia’s usual pattern of response – record-scale indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian cities – reveals its true intentions: escalation, not peace.
No one wants an end to this war and civilian suffering more than Ukrainians. Hence, we call for the international support to a full, unconditional ceasefire, to which Ukraine has already committed, as the first step towards real negotiations. So far, Russia has been utterly insincere in its offers of a ceasefire, showing that it fears peace more than war. It is up to Russia now to demonstrate genuine readiness to engage.
Finally, a just peace in Ukraine must be based on the UN Charter and international law.
Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine is a frontal assault on the principles of the UN Charter. Russia’s attempt to invoke “root causes” buys into the false historical narrative and tries to justify Russia’s imperial ambitions and idea of a “multipolar” instead of a multilateral world.
The Baltic States reaffirm our full support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We will never recognise Ukraine’s occupation neither de iure, nor de facto.
Mr President,
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is not a regional issue. Its consequences extend far beyond. We collectively have a responsibility to uphold the UN Charter and ensure respect for international law.
I thank you.