Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak participated online in a thematic conference dedicated to the fifth point of the Peace Formula: "Implementation of the UN Charter and Restoration of Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity and the World Order."
The event was organized in Riga by Argentina and Estonia, co-chairs of the working group for the implementation of this point, along with Latvia as the host country and Ukraine. Representatives from 61 countries and organizations attended the conference in person and via video link. Ukraine was represented in Latvia by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk. Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva and Advisors to the Head of the Presidential Office Dariia Zarivna and Oleksandr Bevz also participated online from Kyiv.
Andriy Yermak noted that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is the first colonial war of the 21st century, and the only way to prevent such wars in the future is to restore the system of international relations based on the UN Charter.
"Russia’s aggression has revealed deep cracks in the foundation of international security. It has exposed the UN’s inability to effectively respond to flagrant violations of its own Charter. A permanent member of the Security Council has become an aggressor. This undermines the basic principles of the Organization," he said.
According to the Head of the Office of the President, the steps to restore justice and prevent escalation include the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine, the abolition of illegal decisions regarding the annexation of Ukrainian lands, the demilitarization and de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized that the implementation of the fifth point of the Peace Formula requires, first and foremost, a reform of the UN Security Council. Specifically, it is necessary to prevent the abuse of the veto power, strengthen the role of the International Court of Justice, and develop mechanisms to prevent aggression and conflict escalation.
"It’s impossible to find a country that wants to end this war more than Ukraine. But we don’t want to freeze it; we want a meaningful peace. And peace can only be achieved when Russian troops leave Ukraine’s territory," he stressed.
Speaker of the Latvian Saeima (Parliament) Daiga Mieriņa noted that Russia’s leadership must be held accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, and the world must ensure justice for its victims and strengthen the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force.
She also emphasized that without the full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea, and the establishment of justice, there can be no lasting peace and security in the world.
President of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) Lauri Hussar stated that his country supports Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula, a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as Ukraine’s Victory Plan.
Lauri Hussar is convinced that a new framework is needed to prevent such acts of aggression in the future.
Member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies Damián Arabia assured that his country supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the full implementation of the UN Charter as a fundamental document of international law.
This conference is the seventh in a series of events following the first Peace Summit. Each of these events results in a Joint Communiqué. After the conferences, proposals for the second Peace Summit will be formed on the basis of all ten points of the Peace Formula.
The text of the Joint Communiqué adopted by the participants of this conference can be found at the link below.