Melnyk stated that while Ukraine remains prepared to engage in direct negotiations with Russia to establish a just and enduring peace in accordance with the UN Charter, the nation's patience is not limitless. He emphasized that Ukraine has consistently urged the Security Council to endorse a resolution for an unconditional ceasefire, noting that if the Council persists in a wait-and-see approach, Kyiv may be compelled to recalibrate and modify its current offer. He described the proposal for a ceasefire along the de facto front line as a significant compromise.
The envoy asserted that Ukraine has altered the dynamics of the conflict, now entering its fifth year, citing recent strikes that have reportedly damaged approximately 40% of Russia's oil refineries. During the session, Melnyk and other Security Council members strongly condemned a Russian attack on the historic Pechersk Lavra monastery in Kyiv, which occurred last week.
Russian authorities have denied attacking the UNESCO World Heritage site, attributing the damage to a U.S.-manufactured Patriot air defense missile. Conversely, Moscow maintains that its operations targeted drone manufacturing facilities, a claim disputed by Ukraine and numerous Western nations, which continue to accuse Russia of striking the monastery.