United Nations (TDI): Pakistan has urged Russia and Ukraine to engage in a sustained, meaningful and structured dialogue to bring an end to their ongoing conflict, which will mark its fourth anniversary next month.
Addressing the UN Security Council on Monday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the international community remains deeply concerned over the continued hostilities that have resulted in widespread destruction, economic losses and severe human suffering.
He expressed alarm over the recent escalation in fighting, noting that intensified attacks from both sides have further worsened the humanitarian situation. Such actions, he warned, not only prolong the conflict but also undermine trust and ongoing efforts toward peace.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad reiterated that from the outset, Pakistan has maintained that dialogue remains the only viable path to achieving lasting peace. He said global opinion is increasingly in favor of ending the conflict through peaceful means.
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Highlighting past diplomatic efforts, he referred to the Black Sea Grain Initiative of July 2022 as an example of how engagement and diplomacy can deliver tangible results. He also welcomed international initiatives, including efforts led by the United States, that prioritize dialogue to resolve the conflict.
Expressing hope for progress, the Pakistani envoy said all parties should fully utilize ongoing diplomatic channels, demonstrate political will, and engage constructively to move toward a peaceful and negotiated settlement, beginning with an immediate ceasefire.
Pakistan, he added, supports all efforts aimed at resolving the conflict peacefully in a comprehensive and durable manner, emphasizing that relieving the suffering of millions must remain the top priority.
Opening the debate, Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said the new year had brought no respite to Ukraine. She noted that large-scale aerial attacks by Russia against civilians and infrastructure have caused severe destruction and suffering.
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She said that between January 8 and 9, Russia reportedly launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, resulting in civilian casualties, including deaths and injuries in Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Rajasingham, Head of the Geneva Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warned that the humanitarian situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate, with multiple attacks reported on healthcare facilities since the start of the year.
He stressed that damage to essential infrastructure such as power and heating systems poses serious risks to civilian lives and called for stronger protection of civilians and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya, however, said Russian forces had targeted infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military-industrial capabilities in response to what he described as attacks by the Kyiv government. He rejected claims that Russian forces were targeting civilians, stating that Russian armed forces do not strike civilian targets.
