Foreign Secretary to demand justice for Ukraine invasion victims as he faces Russian counterpart at UN

Foreign Secretary due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at United Nations Security Council meeting in New York today.

James Cleverly will set out how Russian forces continue to commit atrocities across Ukraine and violate international law.

He will also expose how Moscow plans to fix the results of sham referendums.

The Foreign Secretary is due to meet with his Russian counterpart for the first time today (22nd September) at the United Nations in New York – condemning his country’s aggression in Ukraine.

In a special Foreign Minister-level Security Council meeting on Ukraine, James Cleverly will reiterate, in front of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the UK’s full and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

At the meeting, the Foreign Secretary, will commit to working with the international community to seek justice for the victims of this conflict, and hold those responsible to account, ensuring that Russia’s actions are not tolerated.

Speaking from the UK’s seat at the Security Council, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is expected to say:

Ukrainians’ resilience and spirit of defiance, in defence of their country, continues to inspire all free people and nations.

But every day, the devastating consequences of Russia’s invasion become more clear and evidence of Russian atrocities continues to mount…

… We can and must make clear to President Putin that his attacks on the sovereign will of the Ukrainian people - so clearly expressed as they fight for their homes - must stop. His assaults on the UN charter and international norms that protect us will not be tolerated and that he must withdraw from Ukraine to enable a return to regional and global stability.

The Foreign Secretary will expose how Moscow plans to fix the results of sham referendums across their temporarily controlled territories, in a move designed to provide false legitimacy for illegal land grabs.

After Vladimir Putin’s Presidential address this week, Cleverly will also reveal evidence of Russian tactics used to subvert Ukrainian democracy and rob Ukrainians of their homes and identity.

Following on from the Prime Minister’s speech to the UN General Assembly yesterday, the Foreign Secretary will set out the importance of a Ukrainian victory, saying that their fight for freedom is the world’s fight for freedom, because if Ukraine’s sovereignty and territory are not respected, no country is secure.

Later on Thursday, the Foreign Secretary will also attend a meeting on delivering justice for Ukraine and holding Russia to account for its egregious acts.

The meeting will feature Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, and the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who is leading the court’s investigation into the situation in Ukraine.

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