Ukraine urges UN to consolidate efforts to stop Russian aggression

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has addressed the UN member states on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the UN General Assembly resolution «Definition of Aggression,» pointing to a gross violation by Russia of this resolution and other fundamental international documents.

«Russia’s actions with regard to Ukraine as one of the founding members of the United Nations, in particular, the occupation and annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine), as well as ongoing direct and indirect military intervention in eastern Ukraine, are qualified as an act of aggression in accordance with paragraphs a), b), c), d), e) and g) of Article 3 of the Annex to the UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (XXIX),» reads a statement released by the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry early on Sunday.

The ministry said that Russia had committed an act of aggression against a sovereign state, despite its permanent membership of the UN Security Council that makes Russia particularly responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.

«As the UN General Assembly stated in the resolution, aggression is a crime against international peace and gives rise to international responsibility,» the ministry said.

According to the statement, Ukraine is grateful to the international community for its consistent support and calls for the consolidation of efforts to stop Russian aggression.

«We call on the UN member states to take further consolidated steps to stop aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and return Russia to the international legal framework. The restoration of respect for the rule of law, the maintenance of lasting peace and security and the prevention of such acts of aggression in future should remain our common task as responsible UN member states,» reads the document.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine