On April 29, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in a meeting of the UN Security Council convened by the delegation of France and chaired by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

Mariana Betsa emphasized Ukraine’s unconditional commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. The first step should be a full and unconditional ceasefire in the air, on land and at sea.

At the same time, despite all the diplomatic efforts of Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, Russia rejects any proposals and does not stop its aggression. That is why the international community’s pressure, including sanctions, on Russia must only increase.

“Russia wants to occupy more Ukrainian territories, not to withdraw from Ukraine, because Russia’s goal for eleven years of genocidal war hasn’t changed – to destroy Ukraine as a country, to destroy Ukraine as a nation”, the Deputy Minister said.

Mariana Betsa called on the international community to continue supporting our country: "Peace without justice is not peace, it’s a surrender. And this is what Russia actually wants – they want Ukraine to capitulate”.

The Deputy Minister stressed that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. Justice is not negotiable. The unconditional return of deported children is not negotiable.

Mariana Betsa also thanked the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and its partners for the humanitarian assistance provided on the ground and called on the international donor community to provide sustainable and predictable funding to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of aid to Ukraine.