EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the EU Delegation to the UN, on 8 June 2026 called on Russia to accept an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and engage in genuine peace negotiations, during a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. Speaking on behalf of the EU and its member states, Lambrinidis condemned Russia's ongoing air strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure, which he said violate international law. He noted that Russia has been listed by the UN Secretary-General for conflict-related sexual violence, adding to its existing blacklisting for violating children's rights in conflict and the ICC arrest warrant for President Putin. Lambrinidis urged all Council members to press Russia to abandon its maximalist goals and sit down for talks, stating that the bloodshed must stop now.
Lambrinidis referenced a Russian drone strike in Romania and a massive air strike on Ukrainian cities that occurred the previous week, as well as President Zelenskyy's letter of 4 June 2026 calling for peace. He emphasized that Russia must end its war of aggression and engage in serious peace negotiations in line with the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions. The EU supports all diplomatic efforts to this end, including calls from the UN Secretary-General and the majority of UN members. Until a ceasefire is achieved, the EU will continue to support Ukraine's right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
No prior coverage of this specific statement exists in the EU Matrix database. The statement was delivered at a UN Security Council meeting convened by the Colombian Presidency, with briefers providing updates on the situation. The EU's position reiterates its consistent stance since the start of the war in February 2022, calling for a ceasefire and supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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