At UN, Pakistan Urges Warring Russia and Ukraine to Use Diplomacy and Restart Peace Talks
UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Aug, 2026) As spiraling drone and missile attacks on civilians in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continue, Pakistan reiterated its call in the UN Security Council for an "immediate and complete" cessation of hostilities, reverting to diplomacy and resumption of dialogue to bring peace and stability to the region.
"We deplore the escalation—the scale and intensity of attacks carried out by the parties on multiple fronts, upending lives and livelihoods in the affected regions," Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said in a debate on the worsening situation in Ukraine. “Reports of attacks targeting critical infrastructure related to energy and food supply are also deeply concerning. Such attacks further exacerbate the already fragile global food and energy security, affecting people far beyond the conflict zone."
The conflict began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, arguing it was a "special military operation" for Ukraine's "demilitarization," protecting Russian-speaking people from "genocide," and preventing NATO expansion.
Monday’s meeting was requested by the Security Council’s five European members—Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, and the United Kingdom. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen of Denmark, which holds the Council's presidency for the month of August, presided.
In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad pointed out that the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure was a fundamental obligation under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and must be respected by all parties. "Violation of IHL risks further escalation, worsen human suffering, and, diminishes the prospects for lasting peace."
He reminded Council members of Pakistan's repeated calls for holding earnest and meaningful dialogue to bring durable peace. “This entails eschewing the quest for a military solution,” the Pakistani delegate pointed out, saying the only viable path to lasting peace remains a mutually acceptable peaceful settlement, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, corresponding to the legitimate security interests of all sides, and relevant multilateral agreements.
Earlier, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said that the civilian toll continues to rise as the war goes on. July saw more civilians killed in Ukraine than in any month since May 2022, while child casualties reached their highest monthly level since April 2022. Russian forces, she said, have intensified large-scale strikes against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, including recent attacks on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Mykolaiv. Since February 2022, the Off.