Ukraine: Abby’s Statement
After over two months of an intense siege, the city of Mariupol fell to Russian forces in May 2022. Mariupol has suffered immensely during the Ukraine War, with at least 95% of the city estimated to be destroyed and over 10,000 people estimated to be killed. And still the fighting continues. This immense suffering emphasises the need to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. There is a significant risk of similar levels of destruction being experienced in other Ukrainian cities as the conflict continues. Abby Steedman, on behalf of the Next Century Foundation, delivered a statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 50th Meeting expressing these concerns about the situation in Ukraine and urging the Russian Federation to engage in peace talks with Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire.
Transcript
The Next Century Foundation would like to encourage the Russian Federation to begin peace talks with Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire following the fall of Mariupol and Russian control of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas regions. Due to the heavy importance of the city of Mariupol to both states, the city has been destroyed into rubble with citizens killed, displaced, and subject to immense suffering as a result. Peace must be secured to end the horrific suffering endured by these innocent civilians. We respect the joint operations by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross in their successful evacuations of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant and from Mariupol, and their continued exploration of options to provide humanitarian relief. We also welcome the expression of concern from the President of the UN Security Council for peace and security in Ukraine and his calls of strong support in search of efforts for a peaceful solution. However, we remain concerned that despite Russian success in controlling Mariupol, destructive and aggressive conflict will continue across Ukraine, creating significantly more humanitarian suffering. We ask the Russian Federation to recognise the monumental suffering caused by the ongoing fighting in the Donbas and to begin peace talks alongside a ceasefire with Ukraine. Their success in controlling Mariupol can be the end of immense levels of human suffering and bring peace, safety and security back to Ukraine. We therefore reiterate our call for Russia to engage urgently in peace talks.
