“Critical infrastructure must never be a target. Hospitals must never be a target.”

“Schools must never be a target. And, most importantly, civilians, especially children, should never be a target.” These were the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, during a United Nations Security Council meeting on peace and security in Ukraine on Tuesday.

The session included the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Minister Borg is leading Malta’s involvement in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week.

In his statement, Borg urged Russia to cease hostilities and fully withdraw from Ukraine, calling for a peaceful resolution that respects international borders, human rights, and the UN Charter.

He emphasised the devastating impacts of attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, which have crippled energy systems and will leave civilians facing electricity shortages and limited heating during the winter.

Borg also stressed the war’s disproportionate effects on women and children, noting that it has caused the largest displacement crisis in decades, with over four million people internally displaced and six million refugees.

He reiterated Malta’s call for unhindered humanitarian access in Ukraine, where 14.6 million people require aid.

Additionally, Borg participated in a summit on synthetic drug threats hosted by US President Joe Biden and held bilateral meetings with officials from Azerbaijan, Egypt, and India. Malta is engaged in over 90 high-level events and 27 bilateral meetings during this year’s UNGA.

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