Islamabad — The Embassy of Ukraine in Pakistan on Tuesday released a detailed statement by Ambassador Markiian Chuchuk rejecting and rebutting a statement issued earlier by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Islamabad, describing it as disinformation and a distortion of international law.
In his response, the Ukrainian ambassador said Russia’s actions against Ukraine should be defined as an act of aggression and an international armed conflict, not a “Ukrainian crisis” or an internal conflict. He stated that Russia’s military actions since 2014, including the annexation of Crimea and the invasion launched on February 24, 2022, meet the definition of aggression under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3314 and violate Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.
Ukraine rejects “conflict” terminology
Ambassador Chuchuk said Ukraine considers the use of terms such as “conflict in Ukraine” or “special military operation” as misleading and inconsistent with international law. He maintained that Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter in response to Russia’s armed attack.
UN resolutions cited on responsibility for war
The Ukrainian statement referred to several UN General Assembly resolutions, including Resolution 68/262 affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Resolution ES-11/1 condemning Russia’s invasion, and Resolution ES-11/5 addressing reparations for damage caused by the war. According to the embassy, these documents establish Russia as the aggressor and reject claims that external actors provoked the war.
Position on diplomacy and sanctions
Responding to claims about Western diplomacy, the ambassador said the United States and European countries share a common assessment of the war, as demonstrated by coordinated sanctions imposed on Russia. He noted that while states may differ on approaches to ending the war, sanctions reflect a shared view of Russia’s responsibility.
Allegations of crimes against children
A significant portion of the statement addressed the issue of Ukrainian children taken from occupied territories. The embassy said thousands of children were transferred to Russia during the war, citing Ukrainian records of reported deportations and forced transfers.
The statement noted that in March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, in connection with alleged unlawful deportation of children. Ukraine also referred to international initiatives, including a coalition launched with Canada for the return of Ukrainian children and a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in December 2025 on the issue.
Legal mechanisms and reparations
The ambassador defended international efforts to document damage and pursue reparations, including the Register of Damage established under the Council of Europe. He said freezing and possible confiscation of Russian assets are lawful countermeasures under international law following violations of peremptory norms.
Legitimacy of Ukraine’s leadership
Addressing Russian claims questioning the legitimacy of Ukraine’s government, the statement said elections cannot be held during active hostilities under martial law. It cited Ukraine’s constitution, under which the president remains in office until elections can be conducted after the end of martial law.
Nuclear threats and international security
The Ukrainian embassy also raised concerns about references in the Russian statement to advanced nuclear weapons systems, describing such remarks as threats that violate the UN Charter and international norms.
Pakistan’s position referenced
Ambassador Chuchuk stated that Pakistan has consistently supported the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity and has not supported armed aggression. He rejected any interpretation of Pakistan’s neutrality as support for Russia’s military actions.
Conclusion of the statement
The embassy concluded that the Russian statement lacked legal basis and did not demonstrate willingness to pursue a settlement based on international law. It reiterated Ukraine’s position that any peace process must be grounded in the UN Charter.
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