Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic, highlighting remarkable achievements reached by the United Nations since 1945 — from prevention of a full-scale world conflict to assisting with the dissolution of colonialism — described the UN as “the only institution where the world can collectively confront global crises”, not with weapons, but with dialogue, pressure and shared responsibility.  Yet, the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine has significantly transformed the global security landscape.  Using hybrid warfare, disinformation and sabotage, and backed by China, Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation sets a dangerous precedent — sending the message that aggression can yield territorial and political gain.

If the Russian Federation wins this unjust war, it will legitimize the triumph of brute force, he warned, adding:  “Turning a blind eye to Ukraine today is a green light to any future aggressor anywhere in the world.”  Tolerating the principle of “might makes right” will lead to the end of multilateralism — the opposite of what most of our nations fought for in the previous century.  To achieve sustainable peace, he called on Member States to “act in unity and intensify our economic pressure on Russia”, adding:  “This is the only way to bring the aggressor to the negotiating table.”

In light of new geopolitical realities, with a permanent member of the Security Council — the Russian Federation — waging a ruthless war while obstructing any constructive solutions, he underscored the need for a strong and effective UN system capable of responding to today’s global challenges.  He advocated for a comprehensive reform of the Council.  “Security Council membership should not be seen as a matter of prestige or privilege, but of responsibility to defend global peace,” he stated.  Underscoring the global nature of today’s challenges, he said:  “No single nation is powerful enough to succeed alone.”  He called for more dialogue, greater cooperation and collective action.