Ukraine at UN: Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity are Non-Negotiable

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Maryana Betsa called on the United Nations Security Council to take a clear stance on Russia’s ongoing war, warning that any so-called peace that lacks justice would amount to surrender.

Speaking during a Security Council meeting on April 29, Betsa emphasized the need to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, echoing a growing concern in Kyiv that international pressure for ceasefires or peace talks may ignore fundamental principles of justice.

“Sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. Justice is not negotiable. Children are not negotiable,” she said. “We call on the international community and especially this council to reform the truth. Peace without justice is not peace, it's a surrender. And this is what actually Russia wants. They want Ukraine to surrender. They want Ukraine to capitulate. So we have bad news for Russia. Ukraine will not surrender,” said Betsa.

Betsa’s remarks reflect a broader Ukrainian diplomatic push to reinforce global support for the country’s sovereignty and to frame justice as a precondition for any lasting peace.

Earlier, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu warned that any deployment of Western peacekeepers to Ukraine would be viewed as a military threat, claiming such forces would be considered “legitimate military targets” by Russia’s armed forces.

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