Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken addressed the UN Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine at the UN Headquarters in New York City on September 24, 2024. In his remarks, he highlighted Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and emphasized the need for international action to uphold the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
"Thank you very much, Mr. President. And welcome, President Zelenskyy," Blinken began. He noted that it has been over two and a half years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, violating core principles of the United Nations Charter.
Blinken outlined two key steps to address the situation: addressing Russia's growing cooperation with North Korea and Iran and supporting Ukraine's call for a just and lasting peace.
"Iran has been providing armed drones to the Kremlin since 2022," said Blinken. He detailed how Iran has built a drone factory in Russia and transferred hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles while training Russian military personnel in their use.
Similarly, Blinken mentioned North Korea’s support: "The DPRK has delivered trainloads of weapons and ammunition to Russia." He explained that this support includes ballistic missiles, launchers, and millions of artillery rounds.
Blinken also pointed out that these actions by Iran, North Korea, and Russia have violated multiple Security Council resolutions. "The more Russia relies on their support, the more Iran and North Korea extract in return," he stated.
Addressing China’s role in aiding Russia's war efforts, Blinken said China is "the top provider of machine tools, microelectronics, and other items" used by Russia to sustain its aggression.
He defended countries helping Ukraine: "Russia is the aggressor; Ukraine, the victim." He stressed that if countries stopped supporting Russia, Putin’s invasion would soon end but if they stopped supporting Ukraine, Ukraine could cease to exist.
Emphasizing peaceful resolution through diplomacy aligned with UN principles was another focal point. "One of the council’s primary responsibilities is seeking to peacefully resolve conflicts," Blinken quoted from President Zelenskyy who reiterated that no one wants peace more than Ukraine itself.
Blinken criticized proposals failing to distinguish between aggressor and victim or those not mentioning UN Charter principles as counterproductive. “A proposal along these lines would reward Putin’s aggression,” he warned.
In conclusion, Blinken urged nations desiring an end to this conflict to stop enabling Putin's aggression: “Demand a just peace that upholds the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
