Chronology of Events

Ukraine

April 2024

On 11 April, the Security Council held a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine at the request of Ecuador and France (S/PV.9600). Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča and OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy Edem Wosornu briefed at the meeting.

On 12 April, the Council convened for an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9601). Russia requested the meeting to discuss the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine. Chief of the Conventional Arms Branch at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Ivor Fung and activist and political commentator Karen Kwiatkowski briefed.

On 15 April, the Security Council convened for an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9604). Slovenia and the US—the co-penholders on political issues in Ukraine—supported by France, requested the meeting, which focused on the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the city of Enerhodar. It appears that Russia expressed approval for holding the meeting, noting the alarming nature of the situation at the nuclear power plant. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi briefed the Council. Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.

March 2024

On 8 March, Ukraine, supported by Ecuador, France, and the UK, requested a briefing (S/PV.9570) to discuss intensified Russian missile attacks earlier this month, including a lethal strike on 6 March in the city of Odesa during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari and Lisa Doughten, the Director of Financing and Partnerships of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), briefed.

On 14 March, Council members held a meeting under “any other business” at Russia’s request to discuss developments pertaining to the domestic investigations conducted by Denmark, Sweden, and Germany into the 26 September 2022 explosions that caused physical damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča briefed.

On 15 March, the Security Council convened for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine (S/PV.9578). The meeting—which was requested by Ukraine and supported by Slovenia—focused on the presidential elections that Russia was organising between 15 and 17 March in Crimea and in parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.

On 22 March, the Security Council convened for an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9585). Russia requested the meeting to discuss the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and political analyst Matthew Hoh briefed the Council.

February 2024

On 6 February, the Security Council convened for an open briefing on Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9544). Russia requested the meeting to discuss an incident that occurred on 3 February in which Ukrainian forces allegedly shelled the city of Lysychansk in the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed, and Ukraine participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.

On 12 February, the Council held an open briefing on Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9546). Russia requested the meeting to mark the ninth anniversary of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”, also known as the Minsk II agreement, adopted on 12 February 2015. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča and political activist and journalist Steve Sweeney briefed. Germany and Ukraine participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.

On 23 February, the Council convened for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine, held at ministerial level (S/PV.9557). Ukraine, supported by Slovenia, requested the meeting to mark the two-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. Secretary-General António Guterres briefed the Council. Ukraine and eight other European member states participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. At the outset of the meeting, Russia raised a point of order objecting to the number of non-members of the Council from the EU participating in the meeting.

January 2024

On 10 January, at the initiative of Ecuador and France, the co-penholders on humanitarian issues in Ukraine, Council members convened for a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Director of OCHA’s Operations and Advocacy Division Edem Wosornu briefed.

On 22 January, at Russia’s request, the Council held a briefing on the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine. Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo briefed the Council.

On 25 January, the Council held a private meeting, at which International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi briefed about Ukraine. After that meeting, there was an open briefing held under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting to discuss an incident that occurred on 24 January involving the downing of a Russian military plane.

(For more, see our 9 January21 January, and 25 January What’s in Blue stories.)

December 2023

On 6 December, at France’s request, Council members convened for a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas Miroslav Jenča and OCHA’s Director of the Coordination Division Ramesh Rajasingham briefed.

On 11 December, the Council held a meeting to discuss the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine at Russia’s request. Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo and Mary Anne Wright, a civil society representative, briefed the Council.

Russia also organised an Arria-formula meeting on 27 December titled “10 Years of Euromaidan in Ukraine: A Step Into Abyss”. (For more, see our 26 December What’s in Blue story.)

On 29 December, Russia launched one of its largest waves of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine since the start of the war, reportedly killing over 30 civilians and damaging critical infrastructure. The Security Council held a briefing on 29 December to discuss these attacks. The meeting was requested by Ukraine with the support of over 40 member states. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Mohammed Khaled Khiari briefed.

On 30 December, at Russia’s request, the Council convened for a meeting to discuss an incident that occurred on 30 December, in which Ukrainian forces allegedly shelled the Russian city of Belgorod, reportedly killing 14 people and injuring at least 100 others. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Mohammed Khaled Khiari briefed.

November 2023

On 8 November, Council members convened for an emergency meeting on Ukraine at Russia’s request to discuss an incident that occurred on 7 November, in which shelling by Ukrainian forces reportedly killed six people and injured at least 11 others in the city of Donetsk. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča briefed. Following that meeting, the Council held closed consultations regarding the 26 September 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

On 17 November, the Council convened for an open briefing on Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting to discuss its allegations that Ukrainian authorities are persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the UN Human Rights Office in New York Ilze Brands Kehris and the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, Vakhtang Kipshidze, briefed the Council.

On 21 November, at the request of Albania and the US, Council members held a briefing to discuss the humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine, in particular its effects on domestic and global food security. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča and World Food Programme (WFP) Ukraine Country Director Matthew Hollingworth briefed.

October 2023

On 9 October, the Security Council held a briefing at Ukraine’s request, supported by Albania, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Assistant Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator at OCHA Joyce Msuya briefed.

On 13 October, the Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting, which was requested by Russia, focused on the issue of Western arms supplies to Ukraine. Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo and political analyst and journalist Garland Nixon briefed.

The Council held another open briefing on the issue of Western arms supplies to Ukraine on 27 October, at Russia’s request. Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo and political satirist and civil rights activist Randy Credico briefed.

Following the Security Council briefing on Ukraine on 27 October, there was an Arria-formula meeting on “violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law investigated by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine”. The meeting was co-organised by Albania, the UK, and the US. The three members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Ukraine briefed: Erik Møse (Chair), Pablo de Greiff, and Vrinda Grover.

On 31 October, Council members convened for a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, at the request of Ecuador and France. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Coordination Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, briefed.

September 2023

On 8 September, the Security Council convened for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Albania and the US, the co-penholders on political issues in Ukraine, requested the meeting to discuss the regional and municipal elections that Russia organised in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča briefed.

On 12 September, Russia requested a briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to discuss “the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine and other factors negatively affecting the prospects for resolving the crisis in Ukraine and around it”. Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and journalist George Szamuely briefed.

On 20 September, the Security Council convened a high-level open debate on Ukraine. The meeting, titled “Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter through effective multilateralism: Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”, was a signature event of Albania’s September Council presidency. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama chaired the meeting, at which Secretary-General António Guterres briefed. Several heads of state, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, participated in the meeting. This was Zelenskyy’s first in-person address to the Security Council since the onset of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.

On 26 September, at Russia’s request, the Council held a meeting to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Dirk Pohlmann, journalist, and Jimmy Dore, political commentator, briefer the Council.

August 2023

On 17 August, the Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting, which was requested by Russia, focused on the issue of Western arms supplies to Ukraine. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and journalist Danny Haiphong briefed

On 24 August, at the US initiative, the Security Council held a briefing on the situation in Ukraine. The meeting coincided with the anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence in 1991. It also marked a year and a half since the outbreak of hostilities on 24 February 2022. The briefers were Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Kateryna Rashevska, legal expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights; and Mykola Kuleba, Chief Executive Officer of Save Ukraine.

July 2023

On 11 July, at Russia’s request, the Council convened a briefing to discuss developments related to the 26 September 2022 explosions that caused damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. The briefers were independent journalists Bryce Greene and Jeffrey A. Brodsky.

On 17 July, Russia announced that it would not extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

On 17 July, the Council held a high-level briefing on Ukraine, initiated by the UK, Council president for July. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed. At the outset of the meeting, Russia expressed its “principled disagreement with the presidency’s approach to inviting delegations to participate” in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. Russia accused the UK of violating “existing practice” by deciding to invite eight EU and NATO members to participate in the meeting, adding that “the regular practice of the Council [is] to invite no more than three delegations” to take part in the Ukraine meetings under rule 37.

On 21 July, the Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine. The meeting was requested by Ecuador and France, the co-penholders on humanitarian issues in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed the Council. The briefers were Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, and, as requested by Russia, independent macroeconomist Mikhail Khazin.

On 26 July, the Council held two briefings on Ukraine: the first was a briefing requested by Russia focused on the alleged persecution of the followers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the second was a briefing requested by Ukraine on Russian attacks on Odesa. At the first meeting, Russia requested a procedural vote on the participation of Archbishop Gideon from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Russia had proposed three briefers: a representative from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Archbishop Gideon, and Jan Taksyur, a Ukrainian writer. After consulting with Council members on the proposed briefers, the UK, as Council president for July, asked Russia to choose two of the three proposed briefers to participate under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, allowing the remaining briefer to submit a written contribution. The proposal to extend an invitation to Archbishop Gideon to participate in the meeting under rule 39 failed to be adopted, receiving three votes in favour (Brazil, China, and Russia), and 12 abstentions. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari briefed the Council at the second meeting on Ukraine.

On 31 July, at Russia’s request, the Council convened a briefing on Ukraine, focused on “the systematic use of terrorist methods by the Kyiv regime as a factor exacerbating the crisis around Ukraine and postponing its political settlement”. The briefers were Raffi Gregorian, Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, and, as requested by Russia, Sergey Chaulin, civil activist. 

June 2023

On 6 June, the Kakhovka Dam, located in the southern Kherson region of Ukraine, was destroyed, leading to widespread flooding along the lower Dnieper River. The Security Council held an emergency meeting on 6 June to discuss the incident at the request of Russia and Ukraine, supported by Albania and the US. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed.

At Russia’s request, Council members held two meetings under the “any other business” agenda item, on 15 June and 27 June, to discuss developments related to the 26 September 2022 explosions that caused damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

On 23 June, the Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Albania and the US, co-penholders on the political situation in Ukraine, requested the meeting. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council.

On 29 June, the Council held a briefing, at Russia’s request, on the issue of “Western arms supplies to Ukraine and their implications for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis”. The briefers were Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; Max Blumenthal, journalist, founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Grayzone; Chay Bowes, scholar specialising in small arms and munitions; and Sergey Radchenko, Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

May 2023

On 12 May, Russia organised an Arria-formula meeting titled “Situation with freedom of religion and belief in Ukraine: persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”. Director of the Foundation to Battle Injustice Mira Terada, Archpriest Andrey Pavlenko, and Bishop Gedeon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate briefed.

On 15 May, the Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine. The meeting was requested by Ecuador and France, the co-penholders on humanitarian issues in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed the Council.

On 18 May, the Council convened for an open briefing on Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting to discuss the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine. Deputy to the High Representative and Director of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo briefed the Council.

On 30 May, the Council convened for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. The meeting, which was requested by Ecuador and France, focused on the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the city of Enerhodar. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi briefed the Council.

April 2023

On 5 April, Russia organised an Arria-formula meeting titled “Children and Armed Conflict: Ukrainian crisis. Evacuating Children from Conflict Zone”. The briefers were Russia’s Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Human Rights of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic Daria Morozova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights of the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic Eleonora Fedorenko and head of the children’s division of the Donetsk centre for traumatology Evgeny Zhilitsyn. The meeting was not broadcast on UN TV because the UK raised an objection to webcasting the meeting on the official UN channel. In line with established practice, the webcasting of Arria-formula meetings via UN TV requires the consent of all Council members; it can therefore be blocked if a single Council member objects.

On 28 April, Albania, France, and the US, together with non-Council member Ukraine, organised an Arria-formula meeting on “Addressing the Abduction and Deportation of Children During Armed Conflict: Concrete Steps for Accountability and Prevention”. The briefers were Ezequiel Heffes, Director of Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict; Dmytro Lubinets, the Ombudsperson of Ukraine; Daria Herasymchuk, Adviser-Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Rights of the Child and Child Rehabilitation; and a civil society representative. The meeting was not broadcast on UN TV after Russia raised an objection to webcasting it on the official UN channel.

March 2023

On 14 March, the Council held a briefing on Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting to discuss “Russophobia as a factor which complicates the prospects to find a lasting solution”. The Council was briefed by the Executive Director of the news agency Rossiya Segodnya Kirill Vyshinsky, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Trade Union of Law Workers Dmitry Vasilets, and Professor of History at Yale University Timothy Snyder. Vyshinsky and Vasilets accused Ukraine of persecuting Russian speakers and subverting Russian culture, while Snyder argued that the term “Russophobia” is a rhetorical strategy employed by Russia to justify its war of aggression.

On 17 March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and his commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, for allegedly committing the war crime of “unlawful deportation” and “unlawful transfer” of children from Ukraine to Russia.

On 17 March, the Council convened for a humanitarian briefing at the request of Ecuador and France, the co-penholders on humanitarian issues in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefed the Council. Russia requested a procedural vote on the participation of Daria Morozova in her capacity as an “ombudsperson of the Donetsk region”. Recalling that General Assembly resolution ES-11/4 of 12 October 2022 specifically called on member states and international organisations not to recognise any alteration of the status of the Donetsk region, and to refrain from any dealing that might be interpreted as recognising an altered status, the US argued that it would not be appropriate for the Council to invite Morozova to brief. Russia insisted that Morozova’s participation “meets the criteria set out in rule 39” of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, adding that she would participate in her personal capacity. The proposal to extend an invitation to Morozova to participate in the meeting under rule 39 failed to be adopted, receiving four votes in favour (Brazil, China, Ghana, and Russia), eight against, and three abstentions (Gabon, Mozambique, and the United Arab Emirates).

On 27 March, the Council voted on a Russian-proposed draft resolution regarding the 26 September 2022 explosions that caused physical damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. The draft resolution requested the Secretary-General to establish an international commission to conduct an investigation into the incident. The draft resolution failed to be adopted because it did not garner the requisite support. It received three votes in favour (Brazil, China, and Russia) and 12 abstentions. The draft text was co-sponsored by Belarus, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Eritrea, Nicaragua, Syria, and Venezuela.

February 2023

On 6 February, the Council held a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, at the request of Ecuador and France, the co-penholders on humanitarian issues in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed.

On 8 February, at Russia’s request, the Council convened for an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to discuss “the prospects for the peaceful settlement of the crisis around Ukraine in the context of the increasing supplies of Western armaments”. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and English musician and Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters briefed the Council.

On 17 February, Russia initiated an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to mark the eighth anniversary of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”, also known as the Minsk II agreement, adopted on 12 February 2015. The briefers were Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča and Martin Sajdik, former Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group.

On 21 February, the Council convened for a briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting, citing new evidence regarding the 26 September 2022 explosions that caused physical damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

On 24 February, the Council held a ministerial-level briefing initiated by Malta, Council president for February, to mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Secretary-General António Guterres briefed the Council.

Coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the war, Ukraine requested a resumption of the 11th Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UN General Assembly, which took place on 22 and 23 February. At the ESS, on 23 February, member states adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/6, titled “Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”. The resolution underscores the urgent need to reach a peaceful settlement to the conflict that is consistent with the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality and the territorial integrity of states. The resolution contains five references to “a comprehensive, just and lasting peace”, reflecting growing calls by member states for an end to the war. The resolution received 141 votes in favour, with seven against, and 32 abstentions. Thirteen member states did not cast a vote. Among Security Council members, Russia voted against the resolution, three abstained—China, Gabon, and Mozambique—and the remaining 11 members voted in favour.

At the ESS, member states also voted on two draft amendments proposed by Belarus. The first set of amendments (A/ES-11/L.8) sought to delete the resolution’s sole remaining critical reference to Russia, as well as a paragraph demanding that Russia withdraw its military forces from Ukraine. These amendments received 11 votes in favour, 94 against, and 56 abstentions, while 32 member states refrained from casting a vote. Russia voted in favour of the amendments, while six Council members abstained—Brazil, China, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—and the remaining eight voted against.

The second set of amendments (A/ES-11/L.9) proposed the insertion of paragraphs urging the start of peace negotiations and calling on member states to address the root causes of the conflict and to refrain from sending weapons to the conflict zone. These amendments received 15 votes in favour, 91 against, and 52 abstentions, while 35 member states did not cast a vote. Two Council members voted in favour (China and Russia), five members abstained—Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, and the UAE—and the remaining eight voted against.

January 2023

On 13 January, at the request of Albania and the US, the Council held an open briefing on Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.

On 17 January, the Security Council held an open briefing on Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. The meeting was requested by Russia. The Council was briefed at that meeting by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the UN Human Rights Office in New York Ilze Brands Kehris and the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony.

On 20 January, Russia convened an Arria-formula meeting titled “The systematic war of Ukraine against the residents of Donbass: 2014 and Onwards”. The briefers included Arnaud Develay, a French attorney; Enrique Refoyo, a Spanish political scientist; and Maya Pirogova, a social activist from the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

December 2022

On 6 December, the Security Council convened for an open briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The meeting was requested by France and Mexico. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed.

On 9 December, the Security Council held a briefing under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting, which was requested by Russia, focused on the issue of “supplies of lethal weapons to Ukraine and their consequences”. Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Daniel Kovalik, professor of international human rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, briefed.

November 2022

On 2 November, the Council held a vote on a Russian-proposed draft resolution invoking Article VI of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons. The draft resolution (S/2022/821) failed to be adopted because it did not garner the requisite support. It received two votes in favour (China and Russia), three votes against (France, the UK, and the US), and ten abstentions.

On 14 November, the General Assembly resumed its 11th Emergency Special Session (ESS). During the ESS, it adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/5, which recognises the need for an international mechanism of reparation for damages, loss or injury arising from Russia’s “internationally wrongful acts” in or against Ukraine and recommends the creation of an international register of damages. The resolution received 94 votes in favour, 13 against and 74 abstentions. Two Council members voted against the resolution (China and Russia), four members abstained—Brazil, Gabon, India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—and the remaining nine members voted in favour.

On 16 November, the Security Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Albania and the US—the political co-penholders on Ukraine—requested the meeting with the aim of providing a comprehensive update on the political and humanitarian aspects of the war. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.

On 23 November, the Council held a briefing on Ukraine, at the request of Albania and the US. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.

October 2022

On 12 October, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/4, which condemned Russia for organising “illegal so-called referendums” while calling on all member states to reject their validity and not to recognise any change in the status of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The resolution received 143 votes in favour, five against (Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria), and 35 abstentions (including China and India). Ten member states did not vote.

On 21 October, the Council held a briefing on Ukraine, at the request of France and Mexico. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Denise Brown briefed.

On 25 October, the Council discussed Ukraine under the “any other business” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting, citing allegations that Ukraine was developing and planning to detonate a “dirty bomb” on its own territory in order to accuse Moscow of launching a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine. There was no briefer at the meeting.

On 27 October, the Council convened two meetings on Ukraine under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. Both meetings were requested by Russia. In requesting the first meeting, which was held as an open briefing, Russia cited allegations of military biological activities in Ukraine. Director and Deputy to the High Representative Adedeji Ebo briefed. The second meeting was a private meeting on general nuclear issues, including the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and other nuclear sites in Ukraine. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi briefed the Council.

On 31 October, the Security Council held a meeting under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. Russia requested the meeting, citing allegations of a 29 October attack against its ships in the Black Sea, which led it to suspend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Rebeca Grynspan briefed.

September 2022

On 6 September, the Security Council held an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting, which was requested by Russia, focused on the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the city of Enerhodar. Secretary-General António Guterres and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi are expected to brief.

On 7 September, the Council held an open briefing on reports of the forced displacement of Ukrainian civilians and the use of “filtration” operations by Russian and Russian-affiliated forces. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights; and Oleksandra Drik, Coordinator for international cooperation, Center for Civil Liberties briefed the Council.

On 8 September, at Russia’s request, the Council held an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item at Russia’s request. The meeting focused on the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine. Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and Dragana Trifković, Director at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, briefed.

On 22 September, the Council held its first high-level briefing on Ukraine since the start of the war. The meeting, which was a signature event of France’s presidency of the Council, focused on “The fight against impunity in Ukraine”. Secretary-General António Guterres and ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan briefed the Council.

On 27 September, the Security Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Albania and the US requested the meeting following a letter sent by Ukraine to the president of the Security Council. Ukraine’s letter requesting the meeting cited two articles of the UN Charter: Article 34, which allows the Council to investigate any dispute, and Article 35, which permits any member state to bring to the Council’s attention any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute. The meeting focused on the referendums that Russia conducted from 23 to 27 September in territories that it occupied in eastern and southern Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.

On 30 September, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties formally annexing the regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. In response, Albania and the US tabled a draft Security Council resolution on 30 September condemning Russia’s referendums and noting that they had not been authorised by Kyiv. The text declared that any actions taken by Russia on the basis of the referendums, including annexation of its occupied regions in Ukraine, have no validity. In this regard, the draft resolution called on all member states to not recognise any change to the status of the regions. The draft resolution failed to be adopted because of a Russian veto. It received ten votes in favour, one against (Russia) and four abstentions (Brazil, China, Gabon, and India).

On 30 September, at Russia’s request, the Council convened for an open briefing under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting focused on the 26 September 2022 explosions that caused physical damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. The briefers were Navid Hanif, Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Sergey Kupriyanov, official spokesperson for Gazprom; and Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega, Director of the Centre for Energy and Climate of the French Institute of International Relations.

August 2022

On 11 August, the Council held an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting, which was requested by Russia, focused on security incidents that occurred from 5 to 7 August at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the city of Enerhodar. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Mariano Grossi briefed.

On 23 August, at Russia’s request, the Council held a briefing on the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.

On 24 August, the Council held a briefing to mark six months since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, at the request of Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and the US. Secretary-General António Guterres and Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed. Russia requested a procedural vote on the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the meeting via videoconference (VTC). Prior to the vote, Russia said that according to the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, a representative of a member state participating under rule 37 must attend the meeting in person. Albania countered that virtual participation under rule 37 should be allowed on an exceptional basis when extraordinary circumstances, such as those faced by Ukraine, prevent a representative of a member state from participating in person. The proposal to extend an invitation to Zelenskyy to participate in the meeting via VTC under rule 37 was adopted with 13 votes in favour, one against (Russia) and one abstention (China).

July 2022

On 11 July, there was an Arria-formula meeting organised by Russia titled “Neo-Nazism and radical nationalism: exploring root causes of the crisis in Ukraine.” The briefers were Maxim Grigoryev, a political scientist and researcher at Democracy Research Fund; Alexander Dyukov, a researcher at the Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Science; Sergey Kozhemyakin, a criminal defence lawyer; Wilhelm Domke-Schulz, film director and producer; and Kirill Revin, investigator at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.

On 15 July, there was an Arria formula organised by Albania and Poland on “The destruction of cultural heritage as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine”. The briefers were Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Centre; Kateryna Chuyeva, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy; Teresa Patricio, President of the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); and Katarzyna Zalasińska, Director of Poland’s National Heritage Board and of its Support Center for Culture in Ukraine.

On 22 July, following months of backdoor diplomacy led by Türkiye and the UN, Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement to facilitate the export of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilisers from Ukrainian ports. The agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, assumes that the two countries will provide maximum assurances for the safe and secure navigation of vessels transporting grain from ports in the cities of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne. In this regard, Russia and Ukraine agreed not to undertake any attacks against relevant commercial ships, civilian vessels, and port facilities. In addition to this agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the UN’s scope of engagement to facilitate unimpeded exports of Russian food products and fertilisers to global markets.

On 29 July, the Council met for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed. Members discussed the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and some members expressed regret that the Council was unable to agree on a text welcoming the initiative.

June 2022

On 6 June, there was an open briefing focused on conflict-related sexual violence and human trafficking. The briefers were Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Natalia Karbowska, Co-founder and Director on Strategic Development of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund; and Sherrie Rollins Westin, President of Sesame Workshop.

On 21 June, there was an open briefing on incitement to violence leading to atrocity crimes. The briefers were Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Nderitu, Head of the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security Liubov Tsybulska, and Chief Executive Officer of Jigsaw and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations Jared Andrew Cohen.

On 28 June, Ukraine requested an open meeting to discuss the shelling of areas in Ukraine’s centre, including a 26 June missile launch on Kyiv and a 27 June attack on a crowded shopping mall in the central Poltava region, which resulted in over 20 deaths.

May 2022

On 5 May, there was an open meeting on the situation in Ukraine. Secretary-General António Guterres gave a brief overview of his visit to Russia and Ukraine on 26 and 28 April, respectively, and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefed on humanitarian developments. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet briefed on the human rights situation.

On 6 May, Russia organised an Arria-formula meeting to discuss its allegations that Ukrainian troops and militia had committed war crimes since Russia invaded the country on 24 February.

Later in the afternoon, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2022/3) which expressed deep concern regarding the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine, recalled states’ obligation to settle their international disputes by peaceful means, and conveyed strong support for the Secretary-General’s efforts in the search for a peaceful solution.

On 12 May, at the request of France and Mexico, the Council convened a briefing on humanitarian developments, focused on the effects of the war on children. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director of Programmes Omar Abdi and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya briefed.

On 13 May, a briefing was held at the request of Russia that focused on its allegations of military biological activities in the country.

April 2022

On 5 April, there was an open briefing on Ukraine. Secretary-General António Guterres provided introductory remarks. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed the Council.

On 6 April, there was an Arria-formula meeting hosted by Russia on “Threats to international peace and security emanating from military biological activities in regions across the globe”.

On 7 April, the General Assembly held its third Emergency Special Session on Ukraine, after which it adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/3, suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The resolution, co-sponsored by 53 delegations, received 93 votes in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions.

On 11 April, the Council convened for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine. The meeting, which was requested by Albania and the US, focused on women’s political participation in the context of the crisis in Ukraine and the war’s effects on women and children, particularly the impact on education.

On 19 April, there was a briefing on humanitarian developments in Ukraine focused on the situation of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returnees. The briefers were United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements and Director General of the International Organization for Migration António Vitorino.

On 27 April, Albania and France held an Arria-formula meeting titled “Ensuring accountability for atrocities committed in Ukraine”. The briefers were Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, ICC Prosecutor; Iryna Venediktova, Prosecutor General of Ukraine; Amal Clooney, human rights lawyer and co-president of the Clooney Foundation for Justice; and Ida Sawyer, Director of Human Rights Watch’s Crisis and Conflict Division. Statements were also delivered by Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and Permanent Representative of France to the UN Nicolas de Rivière.

March 2022

On 4 March, the Council met to discuss the 3 March incident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the city of Enerhodar. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi briefed. Grossi noted that a projectile hit a building adjacent to a block of reactors at the site but said that the reactors had not been compromised.

On 7 March, the Security Council met to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The briefers were Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Catherine Russell.

Also on 7 March, the Council held closed consultations to discuss a draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine that was being prepared by France and Mexico.

On 11 March, the Security Council convened an open meeting under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. Russia requested the meeting, citing allegations of military biological activities in the country. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed.

On 14 March, the Security Council convened for a briefing on the activities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Zbigniew Rau, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO); and Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed.

Between 27 February and 14 March, Council members negotiated a draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine prepared by France and Mexico. After convening two rounds of negotiations on 1 and 3 March, and further discussing the draft text with Council members during closed consultations following the Council’s 7 March humanitarian briefing on Ukraine, France and Mexico decided not to table the draft for a vote in the Security Council. Instead, they announced during a press briefing on 14 March that they would take their initiative to the General Assembly to “allow for a vigorous, united message to be sent out by the international community”.

On 17 March, there was a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The briefers were Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

On 18 March, the Security Council had a briefing on “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting was requested by Russia, citing allegations of military biological activities in Ukraine. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed.

On 22 March, the Council convened for a meeting on Ukraine under the “any other business” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting to discuss allegations of military biological activities in Ukraine.

On 23 March, the Council voted on a draft humanitarian resolution (S/2022/231) tabled by Russia and co-sponsored by Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Syria. The draft resolution, which failed to be adopted, garnered two votes in favour (China and Russia) and 13 abstentions. On 24 March, after concluding the second ESS on Ukraine, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/2 titled “Humanitarian consequences of aggression against Ukraine”. Unlike the draft Security Council resolution tabled by Russia, the General Assembly resolution, co-authored by France and Mexico and co-sponsored by 96 member states, deplored the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s hostilities against Ukraine and demanded that Russia withdraw all of its military forces from Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

On 29 March, the Council held a briefing focused on the impact of the war in Ukraine on global food insecurity. The briefers were Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya and Executive Director of the World Food Programme David Beasley.

February 2022

On 17 February, the Council held the annual briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Russia organised the meeting to mark the seventh anniversary of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreement”, also called the Minsk II agreement, and to discuss its implementation. The briefers were Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Mikko Kinnunen, Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG); Halit Çevik, OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Chief Monitor; and Tetiana Montian, a civil society activist.

On 21 February, Ukraine requested a Security Council meeting to discuss the escalation of tensions in and around Ukraine under the agenda item “Letter dated 28 February 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/136)”. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council.

On the evening of 23 February, the Council held an extraordinary meeting at Ukraine’s request to discuss the immediate threat of a Russian offensive. Secretary-General António Guterres delivered remarks and Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council.

On 25 February, the Council voted on a draft resolution (S/2022/155) condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The draft text was co-sponsored by 81 member states. The resolution failed to be adopted because of a veto cast by Russia. Eleven members voted in favour, one against (Russia), and three members abstained (China, India, and the UAE).

On 27 February, the Council adopted resolution 2623, calling for an emergency special session (ESS) of the General Assembly to consider and recommend collective action on the situation in Ukraine. Eleven members voted in favour, one against (Russia), and three members abstained (China, India, and the UAE). (Council resolutions referring a matter to the General Assembly are viewed as procedural matters not subject to a veto.) The General Assembly convened for the first ESS on Ukraine from 28 February to 2 March, after which it adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/1 titled “Aggression against Ukraine”.

On 28 February, there was an open meeting on humanitarian developments in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi briefed the Council.

January 2022

On 31 January, the Council convened a meeting on Ukraine under the agenda item “Threats to International Peace and Security” at the request of the US, citing the build-up of Russian troops at Ukraine’s border. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed the Council. Russia requested a procedural vote in an effort to block the meeting. The meeting was held following the procedural vote in which ten members voted in favour of holding a meeting, China and Russia voted against, and Gabon, India, and Kenya cast abstentions on the vote. (A procedural motion requires at least nine affirmative votes to pass, and the veto does not apply.)

During the meeting, which featured a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, many Council members urged dialogue to resolve the current crisis and expressed support for the Normandy format talks. Some members characterised the situation as a threat to international peace and security, while Russia stated that it had no intention of invading Ukraine.

July 2022

On 11 July, there was an Arria-formula meeting organised by Russia titled “Neo-Nazism and radical nationalism: exploring root causes of the crisis in Ukraine.” The briefers were Maxim Grigoryev, a political scientist and researcher at Democracy Research Fund; Alexander Dyukov, a researcher at the Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Science; Sergey Kozhemyakin, a criminal defence lawyer; Wilhelm Domke-Schulz, film director and producer; and Kirill Revin, investigator at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.

On 15 July, there was an Arria-formula meeting organised by Albania and Poland on “The destruction of cultural heritage as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine”. The briefers were Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Centre; Kateryna Chuyeva, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy; Teresa Patricio, President of the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); and Katarzyna Zalasińska, Director of Poland’s National Heritage Board and of its Support Center for Culture in Ukraine.

On 22 July, following months of backdoor diplomacy led by Türkiye and the UN, Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement to facilitate the export of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilisers from Ukrainian ports. The agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, assumes that the two countries will provide maximum assurances for the safe and secure navigation of vessels transporting grain from ports in the cities of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne. In this regard, Russia and Ukraine agreed not to undertake any attacks against relevant commercial ships, civilian vessels and port facilities. In addition to this agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the UN’s scope of engagement to facilitate unimpeded exports of Russian food products and fertilisers to global markets.

On 29 July, the Council met for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed. Members discussed the Black Sea Grain Initiative and some members expressed regret that the Council was unable to agree on a text welcoming the initiative.

June 2022

On 6 June, there was an open briefing focused on conflict-related sexual violence and human trafficking. The briefers were Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Natalia Karbowska, Co-founder and Director on Strategic Development of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund; and Sherrie Rollins Westin, President of Sesame Workshop.

On 21 June, there was an open briefing on incitement to violence leading to atrocity crimes. The briefers were Alice Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide; Liubov Tsybulska, Head of the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security; and Jared Andrew Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Jigsaw and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

On 28 June, Ukraine requested an open meeting to discuss the shelling of areas in Ukraine’s centre, including a 26 June missile launch on Kyiv and a 27 June attack on a crowded shopping mall in the central Poltava region, which resulted in over 20 deaths.

May 2022

On 5 May, there was an open meeting on the situation in Ukraine. Secretary-General António Guterres gave a brief overview of his visit to Russia and Ukraine on 26 and 28 April, respectively, and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefed on humanitarian developments. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet briefed on the human rights situation.

On 6 May, Russia organised an Arria-formula meeting to discuss its allegations that Ukrainian troops and militia had committed war crimes since Russia invaded the country on 24 February.

Later in the afternoon, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2022/3) which expressed deep concern regarding the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine, recalled states’ obligation to settle their international disputes by peaceful means, and conveyed strong support for the Secretary-General’s efforts in the search for a peaceful solution.

On 12 May, at the request of France and Mexico, the Council convened a briefing on humanitarian developments, focused on the effects of the war on children. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director of Programmes Omar Abdi and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya briefed.

On 13 May, a briefing was held at the request of Russia that focused on its allegations of military biological activities in the country.

April 2022

On 5 April, there was an open briefing on Ukraine. Secretary-General António Guterres provided introductory remarks. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed the Council.

On 6 April, there was an Arria-formula meeting hosted by Russia on “Threats to international peace and security emanating from military biological activities in regions across the globe”.

On 7 April, the General Assembly held its third Emergency Special Session on Ukraine, after which it adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/3, suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The resolution, co-sponsored by 53 delegations, received 93 votes in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions.

On 11 April, the Council convened for a briefing on the situation in Ukraine. The meeting, which was requested by Albania and the US, focused on women’s political participation in the context of the crisis in Ukraine and the war’s effects on women and children, particularly the impact on education.

On 19 April, there was a briefing on humanitarian developments in Ukraine focused on the situation of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returnees. The briefers were United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements and Director General of the International Organization for Migration António Vitorino.

On 27 April, Albania and France held an Arria-formula meeting titled “Ensuring accountability for atrocities committed in Ukraine”. The briefers were Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, ICC Prosecutor; Iryna Venediktova, Prosecutor General of Ukraine; Amal Clooney, human rights lawyer and co-president of the Clooney Foundation for Justice; and Ida Sawyer, Director of Human Rights Watch’s Crisis and Conflict Division. Statements were also delivered by Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and Permanent Representative of France to the UN Nicolas de Rivière.

March 2022

On 4 March, the Council met to discuss the 3 March incident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the city of Enerhodar. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi briefed. Grossi noted that a projectile hit a building adjacent to a block of reactors at the site but said that the reactors had not been compromised.

On 7 March, the Security Council met to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The briefers were Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Catherine Russell.

On 11 March, the Security Council convened an open meeting under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security”. Russia requested the meeting, citing allegations of military biological activities in the country. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed.

On 14 March,  the Security Council convened for a briefing on the activities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Zbigniew Rau, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO); and Rosemary DiCarlo,  Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed.

Between 27 February and 14 March, Council members negotiated a draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine prepared by France and Mexico. After convening two rounds of negotiations on 1 and 3 March, and further discussing the draft text with Council members during closed consultations following the Council’s 7 March humanitarian briefing on Ukraine, France and Mexico decided not to table the draft for a vote in the Security Council. Instead, they announced during a press briefing on 14 March that they would take their initiative to the General Assembly to “allow for a vigorous, united message to be sent out by the international community”.

On 17 March, there was a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The briefers were Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

On 18 March, the Security Council had a briefing on “Threats to international peace and security”. The meeting was requested by Russia, citing allegations of military biological activities in Ukraine. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed.

On 23 March, the Council voted on a draft humanitarian resolution (S/2022/231) tabled by Russia and co-sponsored by Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Syria. The draft resolution, which failed to be adopted, garnered two votes in favour (China and Russia) and 13 abstentions. On 24 March, after concluding the second ESS on Ukraine, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/2 titled “Humanitarian consequences of aggression against Ukraine”. Unlike the draft Security Council resolution tabled by Russia, the General Assembly resolution co-authored by France and Mexico and co-sponsored by 96 member states, deplored the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s hostilities against Ukraine and demanded that Russia withdraw all of its military forces from Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

On 29 March, the Council held a briefing focused on the impact of the war in Ukraine on global food insecurity. The briefers were Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya and Executive Director of the World Food Programme David Beasley.

February 2022

On 17 February, the Council held the annual briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Russia organised the meeting to mark the seventh anniversary of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreement”, also called the Minsk II agreement, and to discuss its implementation. The briefers were Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Mikko Kinnunen, Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG); Halit Çevik, OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Chief Monitor; and Tetiana Montian, a civil society activist.

On 21 February, Ukraine requested a Security Council meeting to discuss the escalation of tensions in and around Ukraine under the agenda item “Letter dated 28 February 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/136)”. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council.

On the evening of 23 February, the Council held an extraordinary meeting at Ukraine’s request to discuss the immediate threat of a Russian offensive. Secretary-General António Guterres delivered remarks and Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council.

On 25 February, the Council voted on a draft resolution (S/2022/155) condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The draft text was co-sponsored by 81 member states. The resolution failed to be adopted because of a veto cast by Russia. Eleven members voted in favour, one against (Russia) and three members abstained (China, India and the UAE).

On 27 February, the Council adopted resolution 2623, calling for an emergency special session (ESS) of the General Assembly to consider and recommend collective action on the situation in Ukraine. Eleven members voted in favour, one against (Russia) and three members abstained (China, India and the UAE). (Council resolutions referring a matter to the General Assembly are viewed as procedural matters not subject to a veto.) The General Assembly convened for the first ESS on Ukraine from 28 February to 2 March, after which it adopted resolution A/RES/ES-11/1 titled “Aggression against Ukraine”.

On 28 February, there was an open meeting on humanitarian developments in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi briefed the Council.

January 2022

On 31 January, the Council convened a meeting on Ukraine under the agenda item “Threats to International Peace and Security” at the request of the US, citing the build-up of Russian troops at Ukraine’s border. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council.

June 2021

On 2 June, Russia organised an Arria-formula meeting on the situation in Ukraine titled “The circumstances of Maidan and its after-effects in Donbas”. The briefers were Mykola Azarov, former Prime Minister of Ukraine; Oleg Tsaryov, a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament (Rada); Vladimir Oleynik, former Rada member; Dean O’Brien, a British freelance photographer who documents the situation in the Donbas region; and Anne-Laure Bonnel, a French journalist and filmmaker. One of the stated objectives of the meeting was to enhance the understanding of how developments in Ukraine in 2014 affected the current situation in the country.

May 2021

On 5 May, Russia hosted an Arria-formula meeting on the situation in Ukraine titled “Odessa 7 years after: Neo-nazism and violent nationalism as drivers of conflict in Ukraine”. The briefers were Asadullah Bairov, Deputy Mufti of Crimea; Anastasia Gridchina, the Head of the Ukrainian community of Crimea; Ervin Musaev, Deputy Director-General of the Crimean Tatar TV channel “Millet/People,” and Alexander Makar, presenter of the TV channel “Krym/Crimea.” The meeting focused on the 2 May 2014 events in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. Street clashes between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian demonstrators resulted in 48 deaths and scores of injured. Russia argued that there had been a lack of conclusive investigations into the 2014 events in Odessa and that the perpetrators of violence have not been brought to justice.

March 2021

On 12 March, there was an Arria-formula meeting on “Crimea: 7 years of violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. The meeting was organised by Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the USA, together with additional co-sponsors Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The briefers were: Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Phillip Karber, President of the Potomac Foundation; and Maria Tomak, Coordinator of Media Initiative for Human Rights.

On 17 March, there was an Arria-formula meeting organised by Russia on “The situation in Crimea”. The briefers were: Chingiz Yaqubov, the Chancellor of the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogic University (CEPU); CEPU students; Anastasia Gridchina, the Head of the Ukrainian Community of Crimea; Roman Chegrinets, the Head of the Crimean regional national-cultural autonomy, “Belarusians of Crimea”; Ludmila Radeva, Vice-Chair of the regional Bulgarian national-cultural autonomy of Crimea, “Paisius of Helindar”; and Vera Pautova, the Head of the Educational Center for Children and Youth Creativity.

February 2021

On 11 February, the Council held a meeting to mark the anniversary of the  “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements” that were adopted in February 2015 and to discuss its implementation. The briefers were Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo; Heidi Grau, Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office; and OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Chief Monitor Halit Çevik.

May 2020

On 21 May, Russia hosted an Arriaformula meeting via VTC on the situation in Crimea. The meeting was framed as a follow-up to the 6 March Arria-formula meeting on the human rights situation in Crimea, organised by Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, the UK, and the US in partnership with Ukraine. Members were briefed by Asadullah Bairov, Deputy Mufti of Crimea; Anastasia Gridchina, the Head of the Ukrainian community of Crimea; Ervin Musaev, Deputy Director-General of the Crimean Tatar TV channel “Millet/People”; and Alexander Makar, presenter of the TV channel “Krym/Crimea”. In their statements, the briefers defended the legitimacy of the 2014 Crimean referendum and the region’s subsequent accession to Russia. They also argued that the Crimean population and ethnic minorities in the area enjoy a wide range of freedoms, speak their language and practice their religion freely, and in general, do not face persecution at the hands of the Russian authorities. Most members who spoke at the meeting condemned the annexation of Crimea by Russia and accused it of violating the basic principles of international law, including multiple General Assembly resolutions that uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea and Sevastopol.

February 2020

On 18 February, the Council held a briefing on the situation in Ukraine. Russia requested the meeting to mark the fifth anniversary of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”, also known as the Minsk II agreement, adopted on 12 February 2015, and to discuss its implementation. The Council received briefings from Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo; Heidi Grau, Special Representative in Ukraine of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office (via VTC); and OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Chief Monitor Halit Çevik (via VTC). The briefers emphasised the need for full implementation of the Minsk agreements, including the establishment of the permanent ceasefire. Most Council members reiterated these points as well.

July 2019

On 16 July, the Council was briefed on the situation in Ukraine by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier. Russia requested the meeting to discuss the recently enacted Ukrainian language law, which formally took effect on that same day. In his briefing, Zannier focused primarily on the language law and noted that Ukraine’s sovereign right to strengthen the role of state language should be balanced with efforts to accommodate the ethnic and linguistic diversity of the country. In addition to the law, DiCarlo addressed the broader political situation in the country and issues related to implementation of the Minsk agreements. Russia emphasised the dangers posed by the language law while other speakers, mostly the EU members of the Council, stressed that the law does not pose a threat to international peace and security. These members used this opportunity to raise other issues, including the political and security situation and the investigation into the downing of MH17.

May 2019

On 20 May, the Council met on Ukraine at the request of Russia because of concerns regarding a recently enacted Ukrainian language law that Russia said ran counter to the spirit of the 2015 Minsk agreements and resolution 2202. Several delegations objected to holding the meeting on the issue, and a procedural vote took place. The meeting was not held as the proposal failed to garner the required nine votes in favour. Five Council members voted in favour of holding the meeting (China, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Russia and South Africa), six voted against (Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, the UK, and the US), and four abstained (Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Kuwait and Peru). The general view among those members voting against the meeting was that it was not timely to discuss such an issue, given that Ukraine was inaugurating its new president that day and that most members did not have enough time to examine the language law. Russia emphasised the threat posed by the new law to the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine.

April 2019

On 25 April, the Council was briefed on the situation in Ukraine (S/PV.8516). Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission ErtuğrulApakan, and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Martin Sajdik provided the briefings. (Apakan and Sajdik participated via videoconference.)

March 2019

On 15 March, an Arria-formula meeting entitled: “A symbolic date: Fifth anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s occupation of Crimea: A blatant violation of international law” was held. The meeting was organised by Council members Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, the UK, and the US, in partnership with Ukraine. The meeting provided an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from civil society and experts on the latest developments with regard to Crimea. Briefers during the meeting included Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine; Alim Aliev, Program Director of Crimean House; Ayla Bakkali, executive member of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars; and Ahtem Chyihoz, Vice Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar.

February 2019

On 12 February, the Council held a meeting on the situation in Ukraine. Russia requested the meeting to mark the anniversary of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”, also known as the Minsk II agreement, adopted on 12 February 2015. Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Miroslav Jenča; Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller; Chief Monitor of OSCE Special SMM Ertuğrul Apakan; and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Martin Sajdik briefed. The discussion was marked by the longstanding divisions among permanent members of the Council on this issue. Russia accused Ukraine of not adhering to the Minsk agreements and escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine. On the other hand, the US and the EU members of the Council emphasised the Russian role in the conflict and its violations of international law. The members agreed on the importance of upholding the Minsk agreements and the need to implement all its provisions.  

November 2018

On 26 November, the Council held an emergency meeting, requested by Ukraine, on the situation in Ukraine after Russia captured three Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait (S/PV.8409). The Council first held a procedural vote on the provisional agenda item put forward by Russia: “Maintenance of international peace and security: Violation of the borders of the Russian Federation”. The agenda item was rejected by a vote of seven against, four abstentions and four in favour. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed on the events of 25 November. Although she said that the UN could not independently verify the circumstances surrounding the incident, she expressed concern over rising tensions. The US and the EU members of the Council strongly condemned the escalation of tensions and violation of international law by Russia in the Sea of Azov. Russia accused Ukraine of provoking the incident for political reasons.

June 2018

On 6 June, the Council adopted a presidential statement on the situation in Ukraine. This was the first formal Council outcome since 17 February 2015, when it adopted resolution 2202 endorsing the Minsk agreements. The statement expressed concern over the worsening security situation in eastern Ukraine and condemned continuous violations of the ceasefire, including the use of heavy weapons. It expressed support for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission; called on all parties to facilitate its work; and emphasised the need for full compliance with resolution 2202. The Council also reaffirmed its full support for resolution 2166 on the downing of flight MH17.

May 2018

On 29 May, the Council held a briefing on the situation in Ukraine chaired by Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin delivered statements at the meeting. The Council was briefed by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo; Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock; and Ertuğrul Apakan, the Chief Monitor of the Organization for Security and Cooperation Special Monitoring Mission via videoconference. All three briefers voiced their concerns about the recent surge of violence and dire humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine. These issues were also raised by the Council members. In his statement, Blok drew the Council’s attention to recent findings by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on the downing of flight MH17. He said that both the Netherlands and Australia hold Russia accountable for the incident, and he called on Russia to accept its responsibility and cooperate in the process to achieve justice for the victims. Russia denied these allegations and said that evidence does not exist to support the findings of the JIT.

March 2018

On 15 March, Council members held an Arria-formula meeting (open to media and wider UN membership) on Crimea, which was organised by the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the UK and the US in partnership with Ukraine. The meeting, which came on the fourth anniversary of the Russian annexation of Crimea, focused on the role and limits of the Council and good offices of the Secretary-General in addressing violations of the UN Charter and international law. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Olena Zerkal and a representative of the Crimean Tatars, Ayla Bakkalli, provided briefings. In addition to the briefers and members of the Council, Germany and the EU delivered statements as parties with an interest in the issue. Ambassador Olof Skoog (Sweden) provided opening remarks, and Ambassador Joanna Wronecka (Poland) gave closing remarks.

February 2017

On 2 February, the Council held a meeting on the situation in Ukraine, requested by Ukraine, following the recent spike in fighting in the Donetsk region. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed on the political situation in the country. The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, updated the Council on OSCE-related activities and ceasefire violations arising from the recent surge in fighting. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien informed the Council of the grave humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine.

August 2016

On 11 August, Council members held consultations on the situation in Ukraine at the initiative of the Ukrainian delegation. Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko (Ukraine) briefed Council members on rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia over the alleged acts of sabotage and terrorism in Crimea committed by Ukrainian forces. Yelchenko denied the accusations made by Russia while blaming Russia for its attempt to escalate the tensions in eastern Ukraine. Russia condemned Ukraine for alleged offensive actions and for obstructing the Minsk agreement. Yelchenko noted that Ukraine would initiate another meeting on Ukraine with briefers from the OSCE and DPPA, if the situation on the ground deteriorated.

April 2016

On 28 April, the Council held a meeting on the situation in Ukraine with briefings from Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Ertugrul Apakan (via videoconference). Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group also briefed. The discussion focused on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and the overall security situation in eastern Ukraine.

March 2016

On 18 March, Ukraine organised an Arria-formula meeting on the human rights situation in Crimea. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Affairs of Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev, head of the Board of the Human Rights Information Centre Tetiana Pechonchyk and head of the Crimea Human Rights Group Olga Skrypnyk briefed. Mark Lagon, the President of Freedom House, moderated the discussion that followed.

December 2015

On 11 December, the Council met on the situation in Ukraine at the request of Lithuania, which was represented by its foreign minister. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson briefed along with the head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, Ertugrul Apakan (via videoconference); Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Ŝimonović; and OCHA official John Ging. The Foreign Minister of Ukraine also participated.

July 2015

On 20 July, at the request of Russia, Council members held consultations on the flight MH17 investigation and follow-up on resolution 2166. During the consultations, Russia presented a draft resolution calling for a greater role for the Secretary-General as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization in the investigation of the crash. This was a draft competing with what Malaysia had already raised on 2 July, under “any other business”, for the Council to establish a tribunal for the prosecution of those responsible for the downing of flight MH17. On 29 July, the Council held a vote on the draft resolution (S/2015/562) presented by Malaysia. Russia vetoed the draft resolution, preventing the creation of the tribunal. Angola, China and Venezuela abstained.

June 2015

On 5 June, the Council was briefed on the situation in Ukraine by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and the Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Alexander Hug. Lithuania requested the meeting following the significant increase in violence in the Donetsk region in the town of Marinka. Feltman updated the Council on the Secretary-General’s visits to Ukraine and Russia as well as the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Hug briefed the Council on violations and the current state of the implementation of the Minsk package of measures adopted on 12 February.

March 2015

On 6 March, the Council held a briefing on the political, humanitarian and human rights situation in Ukraine with briefings by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, OCHA official John Ging and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović. On 19 March, Lithuania organised an Arria-formula meeting on the human rights situation, media freedom and the situation of national minorities in Crimea and in eastern Ukraine. At this meeting, Council members heard from Mustafa Dzhemilev, a leader in the Crimean Tatar National Movement and member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Andrey Zubarev, a representative of the Crimean Field Mission on Human Rights—a joint initiative of Ukraine, Russia and other CIS countries’ civil society organisations monitoring the human rights situation in Crimea.

February 2015

On 17 February, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2202, which had been drafted by Russia (S/PV.7384). The resolution called on all parties to implement the 12 February measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The same day, Council members also issued a press statement calling on all parties to adhere to the commitment made in Minsk and allow the OSCE to monitor and verify compliance with the Minsk agreements, language that the P3 and Lithuania had tried to include in the resolution during the negotiations but which Russia declined. On 27 February, the Council held a briefing on the situation in Ukraine, followed by an informal interactive dialogue. The Council was briefed (via videoconference) by the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan (Turkey), and the Chair of the OSCE’s Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini (Switzerland) on the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

January 2015

On 13 January, Council members issued a press statement condemning the killing of 11 civilians as a result of the shelling of a passenger bus in Volnovakha (SC/11733) and another press statement on 22 January condemned the killing of 15 civilians as a result of the shelling of a public transport stop in Donetsk (SC/11749). On 21 January, the Council held a meeting on Ukraine—the first in over two months—and was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman on the recent escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine and violations of the Minsk agreement (S/PV.7365). On 26 January, Feltman briefed the Council again on the further deterioration of the situation in the east and the growing number of civilian causalities in the Ukraine conflict (S/PV.7368).

November 2014

On 12 November, the Council held a public meeting on the situation in Ukraine following reports of renewed violence in the east and concerns about violations of the Minsk Agreement (S/PV.7311). The Council was briefed by Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs; Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine; and Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

October 2014

On 3 October, Council members issued a press statement condemning the killing of an ICRC staff member in Ukraine (SC/11588). On 24 October, the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović on the political and human rights situation in Ukraine, respectively (S/PV.7287).

September 2014

On 19 September, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed the Council on the Dutch Safety Board’s preliminary investigation report on the downing of flight MH17, transmitted to the Council by the Netherlands on 9 September (S/PV.7269). The report said the crash of flight MH17 could be attributed to impact by a large number of high-energy objects. However, the report did not specify responsibility for downing the plane.

August 2014

On 5 August, the Security Council held a public meeting on the situation in Ukraine with a briefing by John Ging, Director of the Coordination and Response at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. On 8 August, Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, briefed the Council (via videoconference) on the human rights situation and the latest UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission Report. On 18 August, Ukraine was discussed under “any other business”; Russia requested an update regarding the implementation of resolution 2166 on the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight 17. On 22 August, following the entrance of the Russian humanitarian convoy to Ukraine, Council members held consultations at the request of Lithuania. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco briefed at both the 18 and 22 August meetings.

July 2014

On 18 July, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed the Council at an emergency session following the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The same day Council members issued a press statement expressing condolences to the families of those killed and calling for a thorough and independent international investigation. On 21 July, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2166, which condemned the downing of Flight 17 and called for an investigation of the crash.

June 2014

On 2 June, Russia called for consultations on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. At that meeting, Council members agreed to ask humanitarian chief Valerie Amos to brief, she did so on 16 June. On 17 June, the Council issued a press statement condemning the killing of two Russian journalists that day in Ukraine, marking the first statement Council members agreed to since the crisis began. On 24 June, the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun. Šimonović briefed on the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission and Zerihoun briefed on the ceasefire and peace plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine.

May 2014

In May, the Council met three times to discuss Ukraine. On 2 May, Russia called an emergency session on the political situation at which Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed and a representative of Ukraine, Oleksandr Pavlichenko, also addressed the Council. During the meeting, Russia proposed a presidential statement condemning the violence and calling on the de-escalation of tensions. Since the Council could not agree on mutually acceptable language, no statement was adopted. On 21 May, the UK requested consultations on the human rights situation in Ukraine with Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović briefing and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco briefing on the latest political developments. Following the presidential elections in Ukraine, Feltman briefed the Council on 28 May and the permanent representative of Ukraine also made a statement.

April 2014

The Council met three times in April at a time of intensified political unrest in Ukraine. On 13 April, upon the request of Russia, the Council held a public meeting and was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco on the latest developments in eastern Ukraine. On 16 April, Lithuania requested a meeting on the human rights situation there and the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović who shared findings from his two visits in March to Ukraine. On 29 April, following a request by the UK, the Council was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman on developments.

March 2014

The Council met repeatedly in March to keep abreast of developments in Ukraine. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson briefed on 1 March, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco on 3 March and consultations were held on 6 March with Eliasson briefing again. The referendum, and attempts by the UN and others to find a diplomatic solution, was the focus of the briefings by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman on 10 and 13 March. On 15 March, the Council held a vote on a draft resolution proposed by the US that reaffirmed the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, noting that Ukraine had not authorised the referendum and that it had no validity. Russia was able to veto the Chapter VI draft resolution as no challenges were raised as to whether or not it had to abstain as a party to a dispute, as envisaged in Article 27(3) of the UN Charter. China abstainedThe Council was once again briefed by Eliasson on 19 March alongside Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, who had just returned from a 7-18 March visit to Ukraine. On 21-22 March, Šimonović was allowed to visit Crimea to lay the groundwork for a UN human rights monitoring mission there.

February 2014

In response to a letter from Ukraine citing the situation in Crimea as a threat to its territorial integrity, the Council first met on Ukraine in a private meeting on 28 February.

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