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51 countries back Ukraine in joint statement calling for Black Sea initiative as world gathers for UN General Assembly

3:20 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Fifty-one United Nations member states issued a joint statement supporting Ukraine and calling for Russia to accept an immediate ceasefire and protect Black Sea navigation during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The statement was delivered by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, alongside Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

Sybiha emphasized the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, calling for stronger sanctions and more missile interceptors. He noted that while the UNGA focuses on peace efforts and diplomacy, Ukraine is under a massive Russian attack.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the U.N. General Assembly, called for continued support for Ukraine and stressed the importance of negotiations, warning that Ukrainians will continue to fight back against Russia.

The joint statement urged Russia to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and be held accountable. It also called for an arrangement in the Black Sea to safeguard freedom of navigation and protect commercial shipping and critical infrastructure.

Kallas highlighted the impact of Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, which has hindered Ukraine's agricultural exports and threatened global food security.

The diplomats met on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York City, where Sybiha has been working to garner more support for Ukraine and more pressure on Russia from the international community.

Zelensky also noted that Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire since March 2025 and called on Russia to do the same.

The joint statement included support from most European nations, alongside Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Panama, and South Korea.

The Russian military struck a ship heading to Odesa with military cargo and logistical facilities at Ukraine’s Starokozache border crossing with Moldova, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukraine responded to Moscow’s strikes with daily long-range attacks on infrastructure deep inside Russia, targeting a Black Sea naval base in Novorossiysk.

Background

What's confirmed

• The statement was delivered by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, alongside Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
• Sybiha emphasized the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, calling for stronger sanctions and more missile interceptors. He noted that while the UNGA focuses on peace efforts and diplomacy, Ukraine is under a massive Russian attack.
• President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the U.N. General Assembly, called for continued support for Ukraine and stressed the importance of negotiations, warning that Ukrainians will continue to fight back against Russia.
• The joint statement urged Russia to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and be held accountable. It also called for an arrangement in the Black Sea to safeguard freedom of navigation and protect commercial shipping and critical infrastructure.
• Kallas highlighted the impact of Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, which has hindered Ukraine's agricultural exports and threatened global food security.
• The diplomats met on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York City, where Sybiha has been working to garner more support for Ukraine and more pressure on Russia from the international community.
• Zelensky also noted that Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire since March 2025 and called on Russia to do the same.
• The joint statement included support from most European nations, alongside Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Panama, and South Korea.
• The Russian military struck a ship heading to Odesa with military cargo and logistical facilities at Ukraine’s Starokozache border crossing with Moldova, according to Ukrainian officials.
• Ukraine responded to Moscow’s strikes with daily long-range attacks on infrastructure deep inside Russia, targeting a Black Sea naval base in Novorossiysk.

What's still developing

• Speaking during the sixth International Crimea Platform Summit earlier on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to support a safe-passage regime for vessels in the Black Sea, provided Russia took genuine and reciprocal steps toward de-escalation.
• The appeal came as Russian strikes killed at least two people and injured more than 40 in a sweeping barrage across Ukraine on Wednesday.
• Fifty-one countries backed Ukraine in a joint statement on Wednesday, urging the Kremlin to agree to a full ceasefire and enter meaningful negotiations as large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine continue in the fifth year of war.
• “We stand with Ukraine and support it in confronting Russian aggression,” the statement by the 51 UN member states read.
• "As the Security Council meets to discuss the situation in Ukraine, we reaffirm our shared commitment to the principles of the U.N. Charter and peace. We stand in solidarity with Ukraine as it continues to face Russia's war of aggression," Kallas said.
• "We are deeply concerned by Russia's escalation against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, causing a record-high number of casualties in the last months, as recorded by the U.N.," Kallas said.
• More than 76,000 women serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including 57,000 military personnel, while the remainder hold civilian positions, the General Staff said in response to an inquiry from the Kyiv Independent.
• "We think it's an opportunity for him to engage not just with the (U.S.) president but with other world leaders. We hope that's an invitation he'll accept," Rubio told journalists.
• Russia has regularly targeted civilian ships traveling to Ukrainian ports, including a Tanzania-flagged vessel in the Black Sea on Sept.
• But by Friday afternoon, the Spanish authorities claimed that a vast majority of the migrants have voluntarily returned to Morocco ( 16:41, 18:20 ), with hundreds more going back by the hour as there was no onwards migration route to mainland Spain or the EU ( 14:02, 15:04 ).
• It is striking to observe the hypocrisy of many EU Member States, as well as EU representatives, who only a few years ago, through their lax approach, allowed illegal migrants to enter EU countries in massive numbers, causing serious crises.
• The measure will impact people travelling by plane or boat between the two countries The measure will impact people travelling by plane or boat between the two countries And, on that note, we will be closing the blog for today.

Sources

• Kyiv Postlink
• Kyivindependentlink
• The Guardianlink
• Independentlink
• Jpostlink
• Kyivindependentlink
• Livemintlink
• NPRlink
• Varietylink
• Globalnationlink
• Abc7link
• WarpBeat — background on World Leaders Address United Nations General Assembly, Day1 link
• Wikipedia — background on General assembly link
• CBS News — video link