The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statements of the EU and of the Group of Friends of Accountability and thanks the High Commissioner for his presentation.

In light of Russia’s recent attack on Kyiv, we wish to express our solidarity with Ukraine and condemn this aggression.  

We are deeply alarmed by the continued documentation of numerous violations of international law by the Russian authorities, as also outlined in the latest reports. They show a pattern of systematic torture and ill-treatment of civilians and a sharp increase in civilian casualties during the reporting period – higher than in the same period of any other year since the start of the full-scale invasion, except in 2022.

Moreover, in illegally occupied Ukrainian territories, fundamental freedoms and access to education are severely curtailed. This pattern of abuse is compounded by one of the most alarming aspects of Russia’s aggression: the illegal deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and to temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. In the absence of Russia’s willingness to withdraw from the territories it occupies, we demand that Russia stops its attempts to erase Ukrainian culture in those territories and ensures the immediate and safe return of all Ukrainian children, in line with its obligations under international law.

We cannot allow the perpetrators of these grave violations to go unpunished. In that regard, the Netherlands calls upon all States to support Ukraine in its pursuit of justice, including by joining the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression and the International Claims Commission.

Thank you.