During a recent UN Security Council session, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative Andriy Melnyk indicated that the country may reconsider its negotiation proposals with Russia if the Council continues to adopt a passive approach. He emphasized that Ukraine’s patience is limited and described a ceasefire along the front lines as a significant compromise.
Melnyk made these remarks on June 22, asserting Ukraine’s readiness for direct talks with Russia aimed at achieving a fair and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Charter. However, he cautioned that ongoing inaction from the Security Council could lead Ukraine to alter its current proposals.
“Ukraine is prepared for direct negotiations with Russia to reach a just and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Charter. But our patience is not infinite. If the UN Security Council continues to take a passive stance, Ukraine may reconsider its current proposals. A ceasefire along the actual front line is already a significant compromise,”
Melnyk stated. He also addressed the Russian representative, asserting that Russia will never be able to maintain control over occupied territories and urged for a swift withdrawal from Ukraine.
In his address, Melnyk recounted a recent nighttime attack on June 15, describing it as one of the largest combined air assaults since the onset of the full-scale invasion, involving 70 missiles and over 600 drones, primarily targeting Kyiv. He accused Russian forces of deliberately damaging the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an 11th-century Orthodox monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“As a result of this strike, the Assumption Cathedral, built in 1078, suffered severe damage. This is not only one of the main shrines of Ukrainian Orthodoxy but also one of the most significant spiritual and cultural monuments in the entire Christian world,”
Melnyk noted. He further mentioned the destruction of the Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studio, established in 1926, which resulted in the loss of Ukraine’s largest and oldest collection of film costumes. Additional damages included the “Mystetskyi Arsenal” complex, the National Palace of Arts, and the Kyiv National Operetta Theater, while the Kharkiv Art Museum also sustained damage. Melnyk characterized these attacks as serious violations of international humanitarian law.
“These are war crimes and crimes against humanity. Russia must be held accountable for these acts of barbarism,”
he asserted. Melnyk also pointed out that Russian forces are bogged down along the front lines, with the country reportedly losing over 30,000 soldiers each month—twice the annual losses the Soviet Union faced during its ten-year war in Afghanistan. He added that the Russian populace is beginning to panic as the consequences of President Putin’s war start to impact cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Ukraine's UN representative, Andriy Melnyk, signaled a possible shift in negotiation strategy with Russia, emphasizing limited patience amid ongoing attacks. He condemned recent Russian strikes as war crimes and highlighted significant military losses for Russia.