Madame President,

Thank you for convening this emergency meeting. Thank you to the ASG and to OCHA for their insightful briefing.

We have heard it from the briefers and many previous speakers, including of course the representative of Ukraine: The most recent Russian attacks against Ukraine present another abhorrent example of reckless and deliberate disregard for international humanitarian law.

Because once again Russian missiles and drones deliberately targeted Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure.

Russia is starving the population of Oleshky. And yesterday, in Kramatorsk, Russia hit two civilian buses. We utterly condemn these deliberate attacks against civilians. They constitute war crimes.

Leaders from across different regions of the world, be it from the United States, the Middle East, Asia, and of course Europe, have for many months and even years relentlessly tried to broker an end to Russia’s war of aggression. However, Russia has consistently refused to agree even to a limited ceasefire.

During his visit to Kyiv last weekend, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sent a clear message: Germany’s support for Ukraine is and remains rock-solid.

At the same time, let me stress this: Just as Ukraine stands ready to talk and negotiate, we as Europeans stand ready to talk and negotiate, and we as Germany. And quite frankly – we do not believe it is laughable to reach out and make diplomatic attempts, nor do we believe that the world believes it laughable.

And we say: A negotiated peace is possible, if necessary steps are taken. And everyone knows what the necessary next step is: Russia must finally cease its gruesome attacks. The call for an immediate ceasefire, echoed not only by the Secretary-General but also by 14 members of this Council, must finally be heard in Moscow.

Because it is high time. High time to end the war. High time to stop the killing and bloodshed. High time to stop the toll on everyday lives of people. And this last point holds true of course for Ukraine, but it also holds true for many places in the world, because the consequences of Russia’s war extend far beyond Europe.

The world needs Ukrainian grain. We have heard about it. And if not ceased, the escalating attacks on vessels carrying Ukrainian grain threaten to exacerbate an impending global food crisis. And they threaten to hurt the most vulnerable in this world.

We commend all ongoing negotiation efforts aimed at securing safe passage for Ukrainian grain and we stand ready to support them.

And I would like to close by calling upon all member states to stress that point to Russia’s leadership – that the only responsible choice vis-à-vis Ukraine and vis-à-vis the world is to finally constructively engage in negotiations.

Germany will continue supporting Ukraine until a comprehensive, just and lasting peace will be achieved.

Thank you very much.