Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa has started her working visit to New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly debate on the agenda item of the 79th session “The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine” scheduled for 4 September 2025.

On the first day of the visit, 3 September, Mariana Betsa met with Philemon Yang, President of the 79th of the UN General Assembly, and Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

The Deputy Minister also held a joint briefing with the Permanent Representatives to the UN of the European Union Member States, and separate meetings with the Ambassadors of Canada, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Estonia, South Africa, and Liberia.

The focus was on restoring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace amidst Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The participants also discussed preparations for the High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly to be held at the end of September with the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other world leaders.

The Deputy Minister called on partner countries and international institutions to promote an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a necessary precondition for a just peace based on the UN Charter, above all respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.

Mariana Betsa emphasized that, in the absence of Russia’s willingness to end its war of aggression against Ukraine, the restoration of a just peace is only possible through the strengthening of sanctions, enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities, and mobilizing allies’ support.

The Deputy Minister also stressed the critical importance of maintaining the scope of humanitarian and other practical assistance provided by the United Nations to the people of Ukraine affected by the war, particularly in the context of the planned measures for structural reform of the UN system.

Mariana Betsa highlighted the catastrophic impact of Russian aggression on Ukrainian children and called on partners to continue supporting the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children to ensure that every child abducted by Russia is back to Ukraine.

During the visit to the UN Headquarters in New York, Mariana Betsa will speak at the debate of the General Assembly and continue a series of contacts aimed at strengthening the international coalition in support of Ukraine.