Statement by H.E. Baiba Braže, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia at the UN General Assembly 11th Emergency Special Session on Ukraine
New York, 24 February 2026
Madame President,
We are here because in 2014, the Russian Federation began its aggression against Ukraine. Four years ago, it launched a full-scale invasion.
Ukraine has tabled a resolution today. To show UN’s support to peace. This is a chance for the UN membership to prove – we want a just and lasting peace. And we want this war to stop..
UN reports confirm that Russia has committed war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine at mass scale. And we must call Russia’s crimes for what they are.
As defined by Article II of the Genocide Convention, genocide is:
“The intent, and I quote, “to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.” Unquote.
Russia’s leaders have repeatedly denied Ukraine’s right to exist.
For example,
I quote Vladimir Putin from June 23 of last year: I quote “I have said many times that I consider the Russian and Ukrainian peoples to be one people. In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours […] We have an old rule. Wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, is ours.” Unquote.
Turning to Russia’s actions. Russia has committed the following acts outlined in Article II of the Genocide Convention.
Point One. Killing members of the group.
According to UN reports, Russia has severely escalated its armed attacks against Ukrainians over the past year. 2000 missiles and 54 000 long-range drones, and strategic bombers launched against civilians. Last year, the total number of killed and injured Ukrainian civilians rose by 31%.
Point Two, Article two of the Genocide convention. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.
Nearly 10 million Ukrainians forced to leave their homes. Several million more trapped under Russian illegal occupation. Forced to give up their language, history, and culture.
UN reports confirm war crimes, torture, sexual violence at mass scale by the Russian army.
According to UNICEF, over 3200 children killed during Russia’s war. Last year 10% increase in child casualties.
Point Three, Article II of the Genocide Convention. Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.
During the coldest winter of the decade, Russia has repeatedly bombed Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure. Leaving millions of people without heating, electricity, water. People dying in freezing apartments. Elderly and Children.
Hospitals, maternity wards, food and medicine storages, churches, religious and cultural sites. All destroyed. All intentionally.
Four. Forcibly transferring children.
Russia has forcibly deported 20 000 Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-controlled territory.
These transfers are coordinated and state-executed. They are a war crime. Confirmed by the ICC’ s indictment of Putin and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Lvova-Belova. She openly confessed to kidnapping a 15-year-old boy named Filip from Mariupol.
Russia’s words and actions align. Towards another genocide against the Ukrainian nation.
Madame President,
Russia’s war is a threat to peace and security globally. It severely impacts global food and energy security. It is destroying entire ecosystems. And Russia’s shadow fleet threatens maritime security.
To tell you frankly, Russia’s war is an imperial and colonial war. It is directly supported by Belarus, North Korean weapons, North Korean troops and Iranian weapons.
No one is safe from Russia’s imperial ambitions. Citizens of countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia are manipulated and coerced by Russia. Sent to front lines to kill Ukrainians.
The world saw the horrific video of the young Kenyan engineer forced to attach a land mine to his chest. All while subjected to humiliating, racist abuse by Russian army.
I urge all countries to protect their citizens from this fate.
Madame President,
We stand for peace. We fully support peace efforts led by the United States and partners.
But we are also realistic. Only one state and one man are the sole reason why this war continues. And that one state is Russia. And that one man is Putin.
The war must end. Putting pressure on Russia and ensuring accountability is what all states here can do.
So Latvia supports the ICC, the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression and the Compensation Mechanism.
But also, the vote today. I call everyone to vote in favour of this resolution.
Slava Ukraini!
I thank you.