At UN, Pakistan urges halt to attacks on civilians 'anywhere' & end to Russia-Ukraine war

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2026) Pakistan called for dialogue, diplomacy and an immediate ceasefire to peacefully settle the Russia-Ukraine conflict at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday, following a deadly strike on a college dormitory housing students in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region.

"We are deeply perturbed by the escalation in fighting lately, and the consequential worsening humanitarian impact," Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council.

Briefing the Council, Edem Wosornu, director of operations and advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told the meeting, which Russia requested, that the attack “caused scores of civilian casualties, including children.”

“The human cost of this war reveals a pattern that defies international humanitarian law,” said Ms. Wosornu. “Civilians must be protected.”

The attack has reportedly left six dead and dozens injured, including children.

Nearly 16,000 civilians have been killed and more than 44,000 injured in Ukraine since February 2022, according to Ms. Wosornu, noting that the actual figures are “most certainly much higher.”

In his remarks, Asim Ahmad, the Pakistani Ambassador, underscored that civilians must not be attacked in situations of armed conflict “anywhere”, calling for “purposeful efforts” to end this protracted conflict.

"Military means cannot bring lasting peace," he asserted. "Only a resolute commitment to dialogue, a complete cessation of hostilities and necessary political will can bring about enduring peace."

Pakistan, he said, has all along favoured and advocated dialogue and diplomacy for the peaceful settlement of this conflict.

"Bringing lasting peace would require commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and a focus on finding a mutually acceptable solution that corresponds to the legitimate security interests of all sides, and the relevant multilateral agreements.

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In this regard, the Pakistani envoy reiterated the hope for the parties to resume the U.S.-facilitated dialogue process at the earliest.

Pakistan, he said, will continue to support all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, durable and peaceful resolution of this conflict.

"Any further delay in reaching a mutually agreeable settlement will only add to the agony of the affected populations, a tragic outcome that could very well be avoided if there is a ceasefire in place and the parties were to return to the dialogue table."

Underscoring that point, Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), noted that more than 3,400 children have now been killed or injured since the escalation of war in 2022, and millions of children in Ukraine continue to be affected by the hostilities. The reported dormitory attack is “yet another example of children paying the price for a war that is not of their own making”, he stressed.

Citing a 2025 UNICEF survey — according to which almost one third of Ukrainian teenagers report “feeling so bad or hopeless that it stopped them from doing their usual activities” — he added that “children and young people are exhausted”.

Parties to the conflict must abide by their obligations to protect children, and humanitarian access must be ensured across Ukraine.

“We need the unanimous support of this Council and Member States to use all of their leverage to facilitate a political dialogue that can help put an end to this war.”