We all have a responsibility to defend freedom and shared values
AMBASSADOR HOWARD VAN VRANKEN* | Monday April 29, 2024 17:33
In tandem with the recent provision of significant assistance by the United States to democratic Ukraine, this is an opportunity for all countries to reaffirm our unwavering determination to democratic Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders and to pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people, fighting for their freedom and democratic future.
We are ten years on since Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea and it’s setting up of unrecognized proxy regimes in parts of the Donbas and into the third year of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We call on all countries to uphold international law and in no way to validate or condone Russia’s attempts to acquire territory by force, in violation of the basic tenets of the United Nations (UN) Charter.
Together with international partners, we are determined to continue to provide military, financial, political, humanitarian, economic, and development support to Ukraine and its people. We welcome the EU’s adoption of the Ukraine facility of €50 billion. We also welcome additional support G7 countries have approved, as well as the swift delivery of budget support in the first quarter of 2024 by Canada and Japan. We urge the approval of further support from other international partners.
Botswana also has an important role to play.
As Africa’s longest standing multi-party democracy, Botswana’s support for democratic Ukraine through votes in the United Nations is tremendously important and clear. Botswana’s tradition of support for values it shares with democracies has always been a strength. Countries throughout the world respect Botswana’s principled stance on defending freedom and the United Nations Charter.
We reiterate our support for Ukraine’s efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, consistent with international law, including the UN Charter, with respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will continue to work to achieve the widest possible international support for the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, also in view of the high-level international conference planned in Switzerland in mid-June. Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and its posture of strategic intimidation, including its announced deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus are unacceptable. We reaffirm that any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences. In this context, threats by Russia of nuclear weapons use, let alone any use of nuclear weapons by Russia, in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine are inadmissible.
The United States remains committed to fully implementing and enforcing sanctions on Russia and adopting new measures as necessary. We are equally committed to making sure unintended consequences of sanctions are addressed and mitigated. Together, with Ukrainians and people throughout the world who believe in freedom and democracy, we will continue to defend our values.
*Howard Van Vranken is the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana