Mr. President,

It has been more than 500 days since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Thousands of civilians lost their lives.

Millions had to leave their homes and became refugees or IDPs.

Many are stranded in areas affected by the conflict.

The cost of the material damage has reached billions of dollars.

Heavy toll of the war on women and children especially is very concerning.

Türkiye’s position has been clear and consistent from the outset.

We remain committed to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

From day one we have also activated diplomacy and tried to help find a just political solution to the crisis.

We advocated for the freedom of movement of the UN and other international organizations to provide humanitarian assistance.

As it stands, establishment of accountability is also critical to deter and prevent violations of international humanitarian law as well as international human rights law.

We call on all sides to conduct fair, prompt and impartial investigations on all allegations of violations, and to hold perpetrators accountable.

Mr. President,

The ongoing war continues to have negative repercussions on energy prices, supply chain disruptions and global food insecurity.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has had a stabilizing effect on the prices of the grain and contributed to food security globally for almost one year now.

We hope that the current hold will be temporary and the operations will be resumed as soon as possible by addressing the needs and expectations of all stakeholders.
Dear Colleagues,

Ensuring safety and security in and around Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant remains a sensitive responsibility, in particular after the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Therefore, any action that might lead to escalation around the Plant must be avoided.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our long-held view that the trajectory and resolution of the conflict cannot be decided by the dynamics of the battleground only.
Diplomacy must be prioritized and it should be part and parcel of all efforts to end this destructive war and forge the elements of a just and viable peace.

I thank you.