Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, on Ukraine - March 14th, 2023

We have listened attentively to our briefers.

Since the beginning of the conflict, this Council has met almost on a weekly basis to discuss various aspects of the crisis, emphasizing, in particular, the impact on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Last week, once again, missiles struck civilian areas in different regions, increasing the number of fatalities and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Brazil deplores the violence and renews its appeal in favour of dialogue and the cessation of hostilities. So far, however, the Council’s attention has not produced concrete advances on the ground.

There is no justification, under international law, for the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The UN Charter proscribed war as an instrument for conflict resolution.

The belief in a military solution still prevails – a belief that will continue to cost the lives of innocent civilians and push away the prospects for a lasting peace. We encourage a reflection on the current dynamics of our meetings and on the role of the Security Council. The mere repetition of national positions, in a format that shows clear signs of exhaustion, will contribute nothing to the end of the conflict.

At the same time, we remain against efforts to isolate Russia at diplomatic fora and unilateral sanctions, which are not approved by this Council.

At this point, it would be more productive to discuss pragmatic means to achieve peace, a concept that has been largely absent from our debates. In order to not only achieve peace, but also sustain it, we believe that a solution necessarily involves tackling the causes of the conflict. Grievances and security concerns from both sides will have to be addressed when a pragmatic view takes hold and peace talks begin to be considered. Fortunately, we see an increasing number of member states calling for a peaceful solution. We remain ready to contribute to a mediation process with a view to achieve a lasting peace.

Mister President,

In the coming days, the Black Sea Grain Initiative will expire. It is the result of successful mediation efforts and one of the few good developments since the beginning of hostilities. We urge the parties to seek a swift renewal of the agreements, in order to avoid worsening the side effects of the crisis on developing countries, dependent on a regular supply of grains and fertilizers.

We encourage all member states to avoid actions that may compromise the implementation of the agreements, which includes the elimination of barriers to Russian exports. Sanctions to food and fertilizer exports, regardless of their origin, are unacceptable and contradict the letter and spirit of the Istanbul initiative, disproportionately affecting vulnerable countries, oftentimes in regions far from the conflict.

I thank you.