UN Summit Adopts New York Declaration Backing Ukraine’s Sovereignty

The Fifth Summit of the International Crimea Platform concluded on September 24 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York with the adoption of the New York Declaration, reaffirming global commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and the principles of the UN Charter.

According to Ukraine`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 24, the declaration, adopted on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week—which also marked the 80th anniversary of the United Nations—was signed by representatives of UN member states and international organizations.

“We reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters,” the document stated.

The declaration strongly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, beginning with the attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, and denounced Moscow’s ongoing occupation of Crimea, Sevastopol, and parts of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. Signatories reiterated their policy of non-recognition of these territories’ annexation.

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It also highlighted Russia’s violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the occupied territories, including enforced disappearances, deportations of children, arbitrary detentions, torture, and discrimination against Ukrainians and the Crimean Tatar Indigenous People.

The participants demanded Russia’s “immediate, complete and unconditional” withdrawal of its military forces from all Ukrainian territory, as well as an immediate end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Expressing concern that UN resolutions on Ukraine remain unimplemented, the declaration underscored that ending Russia’s war is crucial not only for restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity but also for safeguarding international law and strengthening global peace and security.

“We express support for the efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, consistent with the Charter of the United Nations,” the declaration read, noting the role of the Crimea Platform as a forum for coordination and diplomatic engagement.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia’s annexation of Crimea represented a clear breach of fundamental principles governing relations between states. He cautioned that Moscow’s actions had signaled to others how vulnerable countries could be to territorial seizures, emphasizing that Crimea should be seen not only as land but as an integral part of people’s lives.

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