UK tells UN General Assembly Russia's actions do not alter Ukraine's borders

UK Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, highlighted that Russia's military actions violate the UN Charter and Ukraine's territorial integrity. She noted that it has been 1,651 days since Russia's full-scale invasion and twelve years since the annexation of Crimea. MacIntosh reported an escalation in Russian attacks, with 429 missiles launched into Ukraine in July alone, more than double the previous month.

She stated that almost 17,000 Ukrainian civilians, including 820 children, have been killed since February 2022, and over 51,000 civilians, including 3,000 children, have been injured. The ambassador also addressed the impact on global food supplies, noting that Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports and shipping are blocking vital food, driving up prices, and endangering seafarers. MacIntosh listed Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia as territories invaded by Russia, accusing Moscow of using violence to consolidate control, including alleged forced deportations, indoctrination of children, and arbitrary detentions.

She emphasized that Russia's actions, while inflicting a terrible toll, do not change Ukraine's sovereignty or borders. The UK called on all UN member states to uphold the UN Charter, reject Russia's claims, press for humanitarian access,