20 listopada 2025 r. Polska wzięła udział w posiedzeniu Rady Bezpieczeństwa ONZ nt. utrzymania pokoju i bezpieczeństwa Ukrainy.

Tekst wystąpienia wygłoszonego przez Krzysztofa Szczerskiego, Stałego Przedstawiciela RP przy NZ w Nowym Jorku, dostępny jest poniżej.

Mr. President,

Let me thank Sierra Leone for convening this meeting and the briefers for their updates.

Mr. President,

The Permanent Member of this Council – the Russian Federation – persists in making a travesty of its presumed role as a guardian of international peace and security. More than 1,300 (one thousand three hundred) days into a full-scale invasion of its peaceful neighbour, Moscow has now launched one of its fiercest offensives in months.

We are witnessing heavy strikes in frontline locations, attacks on residential areas, destruction of critical infrastructure, torture and killing of detainees, and continued deportations of Ukrainian children. Yesterday, at least 25 people were killed, including three children, in a missile and drone attack on the city of Ternopil. Russia carried out this attack against civilian apartment blocks. They directed missiles and drones into people’s homes.

Mr. President,

Two months ago, the Council met at the request of my country following Russia’s violation of Polish airspace with its drones. Now we are facing another major escalation of which I would like this Council to be rightly informed against Russian disinformation.

On 15–16 November, two acts of diversion targeting Polish railway infrastructure occurred, including the blowing up of a section of track on the Warsaw-Lublin route, which is crucially important for the delivery of aid, including the UN assistance, to Ukraine. According to the investigation, these were intentional actions aimed at causing a railway disaster. Many people’s lives were put at risk. These were the most serious acts of sabotage against Poland since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Fortunately, a tragedy was averted, but another line was crossed. These actions are evidence of how Russia is spreading its aggression to other countries in the region.

Two saboteurs were promptly identified as individuals bearing Ukrainian passports. One of them was sentenced in May 2025 by Ukrainian court for an act of sabotage committed on behalf of Russian security services. The other one was of Donbas origin. Both fled from Ukraine to Belarus, where they also went after committing the sabotage operation in Poland.

As predicted, the incidents are being followed by Russia’s propaganda and disinformation – conduct we witness all too often in this chamber. Russian media are attempting to portray the sabotage as a Ukrainian provocation. We are closely monitoring the information sphere and Russia’s attempts to inflict damage there as well to sow divisions within our society.

Mr. President,

All this is happening in defiance of diplomatic initiatives, especially those led by the United States, and despite the will of the international community repeatedly expressed here at the UN. Russia has consistently chosen war over peace, destruction over building, and death over life. For the self-interested elites in the Kremlin, the massive loss of life – even among Russian soldiers – and the deepening economic crisis at home are of no importance.

Moscow shows no interest in halting its unprovoked aggression against Ukraine and even rejects a ceasefire. We will, however, continue to support a just peace in Ukraine – one that is acceptable and supported by Ukraine as the victim of aggression, and in accordance with the principles of international law. We must hold Russia accountable for its actions and deter future wars in our region and beyond.

Mr. President,

Ukraine’s reconstruction will remain our high priority. Poland will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2026, aiming to strengthen the coordination of reconstruction efforts and mobilise the support of all international partners in order to accelerate Ukraine’s recovery and modernisation.

Poland will also continue to support the provision of military assistance to Ukraine, as well as economic sanctions against Russia in order to curb its ability to fuel the war. We call on all peace-loving countries to join in those efforts. The Russian authorities must be forced into talks by stronger sanctions and by increasing economic costs of war.

The alternative is very grim: the Kremlin’s imperialist, neo-colonial demands would in fact deprive Ukraine of its sovereignty and re-establish spheres of influence. We reject the very idea of such spheres. We cannot allow the aggressor to intimidate the international community. And in this conflict there is just one and sole aggressor: the Russian Federation.

Thank you.