Mr. President,

Let me start by thanking Your Excellency for re-convening the eleventh emergency special session of the General Assembly.

We have gathered at a somber moment.

The very fact that the war in Ukraine enters its second year with little prospect of peace is disheartening.

Yet, it is a timely opportunity to take stock and reaffirm fundamental principles that guide our policies.

Since day one, Türkiye has adopted a principled position in terms of rejecting the war in Ukraine and calling it unacceptable. We also tried to facilitate diplomacy at an early stage both in Antalya and İstanbul.

We have manifested our position by co-sponsoring or voting in favor of all relevant UN General Assembly resolutions.

Indeed, our position is a natural extension of our opposition to the illegal annexation of Crimea.

One year on, Türkiye’s position remains unchanged.

We fully support Ukraine’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty.

We continue to stand firmly against this war and reject the annexation of the Ukrainian territories.

We must ensure that the founding principles of the UN, enshrined in its Charter, are upheld.

Mr. President,

The repercussions of the conflict are being felt far beyond Ukraine with profound global implications.

The material and human cost is mounting.

The war has had a negative impact on surging energy prices, high costs of living, supply chain problems and food insecurity.

This happens at a time when the global governance is already struggling with the challenges posed by an interconnected, interdependent and digitalized world.

Therefore, the trajectory of the conflict cannot be decided just by the dynamics of the battleground only. A clear vision for ending this war through diplomacy has to be articulated sooner rather than later.

We must focus our efforts on crafting the contours of a realistic, sustainable, and above all, viable peace.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has proved that diplomacy can deliver results.

As we enter the second year of this conflict, Türkiye will remain engaged in all efforts towards this end.

Thank you.