Four years ago, Europeans awoke to a new reality as peace ended with Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine, Ms. Baerbock said in Geneva. UN officials highlighted the war’s human and economic impacts, urging the world not to grow accustomed to war. Russian drone attacks injured five in Zaporizhzhia, hitting residential and public areas. Matthias Schmale in Kyiv noted systematic attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving some towns without utilities for weeks.
2025 was the deadliest year since the 2022 invasion, with over 2,500 civilians killed and 12,000 injured, a 30% increase from 2024. Ahead of a UN General Assembly session, countries planned to discuss a resolution calling for a ceasefire and measures like prisoner exchanges and the release of detained persons.
Ms. Baerbock emphasized the need to end the war, grounded in the UN Charter and international law, recounting a Kharkiv girl’s experience of counting to 40 during rocket attacks. She urged the international community to strive for peace and called for an “immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire” respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Mr. Schmale discussed challenges in Ukraine’s recovery, with a million veterans needing reintegration and significant landmine contamination. A recent UN report estimated recovery costs at $590 billion over ten years, triple Ukraine’s GDP last year. The report highlights the broader impact on human lives and mental well-being.
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