Russia continues to escalate attacks on Ukraine and shows no willingness to end the war. This was stated by Latvia's Permanent Representative to the UN Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes at a Security Council meeting dedicated to the situation in Ukraine. According to her, it is Moscow that remains the main obstacle to achieving peace.
At a meeting of the UN Security Council, Latvian diplomat Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes made a strong assessment of Russia's actions in Ukraine, stating that Moscow refuses to acknowledge the failure of the war it initiated and continues to increase pressure on the civilian population.
According to the ambassador, on June 1 and 2 alone, Russia carried out a large-scale air attack, using 656 drones and 73 missiles. As a result of the strikes, 23 people were killed, and another 145 were injured. Educational and medical institutions were damaged in Kyiv.
Pavluta-Deslandes also reminded of a recent drone strike on the area of the Central Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel in Chernobyl. In her assessment, the consequences could have been significantly more serious.
The Latvian representative emphasized that data from international organizations indicate a continuing increase in the number of attacks on civilian objects. In just the first three months of the year, 190 attacks on medical facilities were recorded in Ukraine, and more than 200 educational institutions were damaged or destroyed.
For ordinary residents, this means further deterioration of living conditions even far from the front line. Hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure continue to be hit. According to the diplomat, preliminary estimates show that May 2026 could become the deadliest month for the civilian population of Ukraine since the spring of 2022. She also noted the increase in the number of injured children.
Separately, Pavluta-Deslandes addressed the issue of the treatment of prisoners of war and civilians. She reminded that last week, the Russian armed forces and security agencies were included in the UN list due to the systematic use of sexual violence against detained individuals.
The ambassador stated that Russia not only rejects the possibility of acknowledging the failure of its military campaign but also faces growing difficulties in maintaining the necessary pace of mobilization and recruitment. According to her, signs of problems are also observed in the Russian economy.
Against this backdrop, the diplomat noted, Ukraine continues to strengthen its positions and retains the support of international partners. Pavluta-Deslandes emphasized that Kyiv has repeatedly demonstrated its readiness for negotiations and a ceasefire. She reminded of the recent proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to hold a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which did not receive support from Moscow.
In the opinion of the Latvian side, this indicates that Russia is currently not interested in either a ceasefire or a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Latvia also expressed support for the initiatives of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany to find ways to achieve a just and lasting peace. Among the proposed conditions are an immediate ceasefire, security guarantees for Ukraine, and the preservation of frozen Russian assets until compensation for the damage caused is paid.
Summarizing her speech, Pavluta-Deslandes stated that the end of the war depends primarily on Moscow's decision to stop the attacks, withdraw troops from Ukrainian territory, and agree to a ceasefire.
"The time for a ceasefire is now," she emphasized.
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