Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine - Security Council, 9886th meeting

Despite diplomatic progress, Security Council told continuing attacks, funding cuts worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 02:22:19
• Production Date: 26 March 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: STAVROS LAMBRINIDIS; CHRISTINA MARKUS LASSEN; JOYCE MSUYA
• Subject Topical: WAR; SOVEREIGNTY; TERRITORIAL CLAIMS; ARMED CONFLICTS; CONFLICT SITUATION; ACCOUNTABILITY; UNITED NATIONS ROLE; NEGOTIATION; CEASEFIRES; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: UKRAINE
• MAMS Id: 3356904
• Parent Id: 3355079

Description

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is worsening, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as she both welcomed diplomatic progress and expressed deep alarm over rising attacks on civilians and severe cuts to global humanitarian funding. 

“Since 1 March, not a day has passed without an attack harming civilians,” Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the 15-member Council. The regions of Sumy, Odesa, Dnipro, Donetsk and Kharkiv have been hit especially hard in recent weeks, with extensive damage to homes, shops, warehouses and vehicles. 

Meanwhile, global funding cuts for humanitarian operations — including for Ukraine — are further reducing the UN’s capacity to provide life-saving aid. While the announcement of a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and discussions regarding safe navigation in the Black Sea are positive steps, she noted that the impact of past attacks continue to undermine civilians’ access to electricity, gas, heating and water as the harsh winter persists. 

And with almost 13 million people in Ukraine in need of humanitarian aid, she warned against funding cuts that could threaten vital services — including gender-based-violence support and safe spaces for 640,000 affected women and girls. Thus far, only 17 per cent of the $2.6 billion needed for Ukraine’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been received. Against that backdrop, she urged the international community to enforce compliance with international law, secure funding to save lives and push for an end to the war — all while ensuring that humanitarian needs remain central to peace talks. 

• Briefer: Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator 
• Statements: France, Panama, Guyana, Slovenia, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Greece, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, China, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Russian Federation 
• Statement: President of the Council Further 
• Statement: Russian Federation 
• Statements: Somalia, Denmark 
• Statement: Ukraine 
• Statement: Lithuania (on behalf of: Baltic States) 
• Statement: His Excellency Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations 
• Statements: Poland, Romania 
• Statement: Finland (on behalf of: Nordic countries) 
• Statement: His Excellency Paul Beresford-Hill, Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta

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