By Iftikhar Ali
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 10 (APP):With the nearly four years old Russia-Ukraine conflict raging, Pakistan has urges the parties to "earnestly engage for making meaningful strides towards a mutually acceptable settlement."“A solution acceptable to all relevant parties, grounded in the UN charter, international law and relevant multilateral agreements is essential to bring peace, which is durable and lasting,” Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
Speaking in a debate on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, he voiced deep concern over the continued fighting and targeting of civilians and civil infrastructure, saying that their protection is a legal obligation.
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy reiterated the call for upholding the principles of International humanitarian law.
At the same time, Ambassador Jadoon welcomed the renewed momentum towards peace and diplomatic engagements, led by the United States.
“We call upon the parties to exercise restraint, demonstrate political will, and earnestly engage for making meaningful strides towards a mutually acceptable settlement.”
Towards this end, the Pakistani envoy hoped that all sides would be guided by sagacity, mutual understanding, and above all the imperative for saving millions from further suffering.
Pakistan, he said, stands ready to support all endeavours aimed at resolving the issue peacefully, and in a just, comprehensive and durable manner.
Briefing the 15-member Council, Kayoko Gotoh, Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said 2025 has been one of the deadliest years for civilians since Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago.
Civilian casualties between January and November were 24 per cent higher than during the same period last year, she said, as Russian aerial attacks escalated nationwide.
Local authorities in Russia have also reported civilian casualties from Ukrainian strikes.
Ms. Gotoh stressed that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law “no matter where they occur, they are unacceptable and must stop.”
Recent missile and drone strikes have repeatedly hit energy and transport systems across multiple regions.
Since February 2022, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has verified at least 14,775 civilian deaths in Ukraine, including 755 children, with another 39,322 injured. The true toll is feared to be far higher.
Attacks in the Black Sea region were also reported, including Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers and the Azov Sea port of Temryuk, while Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
Only about two-thirds of the $279 million required for Ukraine’s Winter Response Plan has been received, forcing cuts to essential services such as heating support, cash assistance, mental health care and protection for women and girls.
The broader 2026 response calls for $2.3 billion to assist 4.1 million people inside Ukraine.
Despite insecurity and access constraints, aid operations continue. Around 44 inter-agency convoys have reached some 50,000 civilians in frontline areas with food, medical supplies and winter materials this year, Joyce Msuya, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the Council.
