Sir: For four years, Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine. Whilst the battlefield is far away from Nigeria in terms of geography, it has been affecting Nigeria and Africa as a whole: a sharp rise in food prices in 2022 that was contained thanks to the responsible behaviour of Ukraine and its partners, the weakening of international law and the emboldening of aggressors.
The sooner Russia commits to a just and lasting peace, the sooner global attention and resources can be redirected, for the benefit of the world, towards international cooperation, trade, fair and sustainable development, and climate change mitigation.
For four years, the people of Ukraine have shown incredible resilience in the face of Russian brutality. Ukraine displays every day its willingness and engagement for a just and lasting peace on the basis of the UN Charter. Ukraine wants an immediate ceasefire, Russia does not.
Russia’s purported commitment to peace is purely declarative as it stands in stark contrast to its ongoing attacks on civilian populations and infrastructure and its maximalist demands. Moscow remains focused on breaking the will of the Ukrainian people and trying to create a humanitarian catastrophe rather than seeking a genuine end to the war.
For four years, Moscow has been blatantly violating international law every day. We cannot accept this. This aggression must be categorically rejected by the international community, or else no state will be safe from aggression by its neighbors and no border will be secure against violent displacement.
Recently, more and more reports have come to light regarding Nigerians and nationals of other African countries being lured and forcefully conscripted into the Russian armed forces. Russia is using Africans against their will in a war that it cannot win.
We are grateful to Nigeria for its support to UN resolutions condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, shared with the vast majority of the international community. Let us continue to stand up for what is right: defending freedom and supporting Ukraine.