Manama: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in a UN Security Council session on the war in Ukraine, convened at the request of France, which holds the Council presidency this month.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Al Zayani delivered the Kingdom of Bahrain's statement, which emphasised that the continuation of the war, with its human losses and suffering, places a greater responsibility on the international community to protect civilians from the consequences of conflict.
He stressed the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, refrain from targeting residential areas and civilian facilities, and comply with international law and international humanitarian law.
Dr. Al Zayani noted that the conflict's repercussions extending to the Black Sea present the Security Council with another challenge requiring a more effective international response: protecting vital maritime routes from becoming arenas of confrontation or instruments of pressure and coercion. He stressed that this challenge is not limited to the region, noting similar risks to the safety and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandab.
He highlighted that Bahrain affirms that these principles must apply universally: respecting freedom of navigation, protecting commercial vessels and seafarers, and preventing international maritime routes from being exposed to conflict-related risks. He noted that the stability of these routes is a shared international interest, as disruptions directly affect trade, energy and food supplies, as well as global economic security.
Dr. Al Zayani highlighted that an end to the war remains possible when there is political will and dialogue is prioritised over confrontation. He emphasised that the Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the efforts of the United States, led by President Donald Trump, to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring the parties back to the negotiating table, contributing to de-escalation and paving the way for a lasting political settlement.
He also expressed Bahrain's appreciation for diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, including prisoner exchanges between the two sides, stressing that every step that alleviates suffering, every channel opened for dialogue, and every measure that builds trust brings the parties closer to ending the war and achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace that restores security and stability to Europe.
Dr. Al Zayani affirmed that the current diplomatic momentum, including humanitarian steps and emerging confidence-building measures, presents a genuine opportunity that the Security Council should seize. He stressed that the current phase requires turning these efforts into a serious and sustained process of dialogue and negotiations leading to a ceasefire, an end to civilian suffering, and a path toward a just and lasting peace based on international law and the UN Charter, respect for states' sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the advancement of international peace and security.