The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted its first statement on Ukraine since Russia’s military action began on 24 February, expressing ‘strong support’ for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ efforts to find a peaceful solution to the 10-week ‘dispute’. The short statement adopted at a brief meeting Friday does not mention a ‘war’, ‘conflict’ or ‘invasion’ as many council members call Russia’s ongoing military action, or a ‘special military operation’ as Moscow refers to it. Russia, which holds veto power in the council, has blocked all previous attempts to adopt a statement or resolution.
Instead, the statement ‘expresses deep concern regarding the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine’ and ‘recalls that all member States have undertaken, under the Charter of the United Nations, the obligation to settle their international disputes by peaceful means.’ During recent visits to Moscow and Kyiv, Guterres reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the evacuation of civilians, first and foremost from the besieged southeastern port city of Mauripol and the Azovstal steel plant where the last Ukrainian forces are holding out along with hundreds of civilians in underground bunkers.
The UK has pledged a further 1.3 billion GBP ($1.6 billion)-worth of military aid to Ukraine. This is a significant increase in the country’s support towards Ukraine, as it continues to resist Russia’s illegal invasion. The package is UK’s highest military spending after its engagement in the Iraq and Afghanistan war campaigns. After the UK Treasury approves, it will include 300 million GBP ($370 million) in military equipment already promised by UK PM Boris Johnson. The funding was presented at a G7 meeting to discuss what additional help can be given to Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s forces, the Guardian reported. The $370 million in aid will be for anti-battery radar systems to target Russian artillery, GPS jamming equipment and night-vision devices.