Mr. President,

Dear Members of the Security Council,

Thank you for convening this meeting.

I would like to start with addressing my deep sorrow and sincere condolences to all the missions whose citizens were killed in the terrible crash of Boeing 777 of Malaysian airlines.

Ukraine shares the pain of the loss and grieves with the bereaved families and friends, and extends its profound sympathy to those affected by the accident.

Mr. President,

We would like thank the delegation of Australia for proposing the draft Resolution on investigation of the downing of a civilian aircraft on an international flight Malaysia Airlines MH17 in Donetsk region of Ukraine, which is co-sponsored by the delegation of Ukraine.

We believe that this resolution will help facilitate a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines.

Mr President,

Having demonstrated maximum openness possible, Ukraine immediately after the crash (the same day) invited ICAO, Interpol as well as representatives of all countries, who lost their nationals in this tragedy to participate in the investigation, as well the representatives of the Russian Federation.

Some of them have already arrived to Ukraine and were taken to Kharkiv city with the specially provided plane.

President Poroshenko ordered that all military activities be immediately ceased in the 40 km zone surrounding the crash site to allow for security and safety of the international investigation. We therefore call on the Russian Federation to use all its influence on the pro-Russian armed groups, operating illegally in Donetsk region, in order to stop military activities on their side and ensure secure access to the crash site.

We assume that the investigation should not only allow to establish the technical cause of the crash, but also the other important circumstances (eg, who had actually fired the missile? how the high-precision long-range weapons got to the hands of illegal armed groups?  Where did the weapons come from?).

Mr President,

In accordance with the Chicago convention Ukraine is authorized to lead the investigation based on the territorial jurisdiction principle. And in exercise of its sovereign right for investigation, Ukraine is also authorized to share it with another state.   

As the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatseniuk stated today –Ukraine is ready to transfer the role of coordinator in investigating crash of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 to the Kingdom of the Netherlands at their request.

He said, (I qoute) “As the side that suffered most, the Netherlands may lead the investigation in close coordination and cooperation with all other parties,” “All Ukrainian law enforcement bodies and international partners are already involved in conducting an all-encompassing, transparent, and full-fledged international investigation of the tragedy.”

Mr. President,

We strongly condemn the marauding acts commited by illegal armed groups controlling the crash site. 

According to the reports of local citizens some valuables of the victims of the plane crash were brought by terrorists to other cities under cover of a previously stolen ambulance car, where they were boasting their “trophies”: children bags, suitcases and foreign cash, that they managed to collect and steal from the crash site.  This demonstrates an unhuman nature of those, who call themselves “people’s republics”

The fact that during last 3 days the illegal armed groups had been impeding safe, secure and unrestricted access to the crash site and the surrounding area for the appropriate investigating authorities (OSCE and others) is a demonstration that they are trying to hide some evidence from the eyes of international community.

Mr.President,

Let me quote the President of Ukraine: “… having shot down the aircraft, militants committed three crimes: terrorist act of firing a missile at the civilian aircraft, offensive mistreatment of the dead bodies, particularly their removal, as well as elimination of the evidence and hindering the work of not only the Ukrainian commission of inquiry, but also the international experts of the ICAO commission.” End of quote

"The so-called "Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics" must be recognized as  terrorist organizations not only in Ukraine, but also in the whole world. Cooperation with them must be considered as support for terrorism,"

  Mr President,

Continuing illegal terrorist military activity has been possible only due to the Russian Federation’s direct and uncovered support despite continued calls by Ukraine and the international community to stop.

Although official Moscow has been constantly and tirelessly insisting that it was not involved in the situation in Donbass region, the irrefutable facts clearly indicate the opposite:

• Russian citizens are among the leadership of the terrorist groups;
• heavy armaments and ammunition continues to be supplied from the Russian side of the State border;
• Russia is financing the terrorists,
• numerous provocations are happenning on the Russian-Ukrainian border

Just yesterday, the column of heavy armored battle vehicles attempted to break into Ukraine through the border from the Russian territory at border check-point “Izvaryne”.

So, what Russia is declaring does not comply with their actions.

UKRAINE demands that the Russian side immediately cease provocations on the State border of Ukraine, stop hindering efforts of the Ukrainian side and the international community to put an end to terrorism and other violence in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, return to the President Poroshenko’s Peace Plan, withdraw its forces from Ukrainian border and stop threatening peace and security in our country, region and the world as a whole.