Madame Chair,
Since this is my first time taking the floor under Your Presidency, let me start by congratulating You on assuming this role in these difficult times and we assure You of our full support!
Estonia aligns itself with the statement made in the name of the European Union.
Madame Chair,
Today, Europe faces a large-scale war. Estonia condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s overt and extensive military attack on Ukraine. This is a war of aggression for which there can be no justification.
It is a flagrant violation of international law, a violation of the UN Charter, a grave violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a crime against the people of Ukraine.
In recent days, we have seen more and more violations of international humanitarian law by Russian Armed Forces who are indiscriminately shelling residential areas and targeting both civilian objects and civilians themselves.
This is not an attack against Ukraine only. It is an attack against democracy, the rule of law and the right of any nation to make its sovereign choices. It is an attack against international peace and security, an attack against international law and an attack against our collective efforts in arms control and disarmament.
Russia will have to be held accountable for its actions. The global security architecture is at stake and there needs to be a global response to Russia’s aggression. Meaningful discussions on disarmament cannot continue before Russia’s aggressive war is brought to an end.
Madame Chair,
Before the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament, we remained hopeful that the extension of the New START Treaty by the United States and the Russian Federation for another five years would lead to negotiations on broader follow-on agreements.
Last week, President Putin made threats of using nuclear force in his war of aggression, while only last month Russia explicitly reaffirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.
These threats are coming from a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, an institution created for the maintenance of international peace and security and to uphold the principle of sovereign equality of all its Members. Estonia considers these threats unacceptable and condemns them in the strongest possible terms.
Madame Chair, distinguished delegates,
You can count on Estonia’s full support.