Statement by H.E. Ambassador Maksym Kononenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the OPCW at the 102nd session of the Executive Council

Below is the full satement made by H.E. Ambassador Maksym Kononenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the OPCW at the 102nd session of the Executive Council

Mr Chairperson, Director-General, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am honored to be a part of today’s discussion on the threat of chemical weapons usage. The Russian Federation is now conducting a new blatant disinformation campaign targeting States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention and spreading completely false information about Ukraine and other countries planning to use chemical weapons.

We emphasize that Ukraine is fully committed to abiding by the provisions of the Convention. We reject absolutely all assertions by the Russian Federation, including those made on 28 February by the Chief of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops of Russian Armed Forces Lieutenant General, Igor Kirillov, that we plan to stage a chemical weapons attack or that we are working with any other state on chemical provocations.

Russia is using the same old narrative to try and blame others for its unprovoked aggression. In the face of a Russian military onslaught and in light of Russia’s previous use of chemical weapons we must take steps to protect ourselves. We are grateful for all offers of protective equipment including personal protective gear, respirators, individual gas casualty first-aid kits, antidotes, anti-seizure medications and detoxification kit.

Considering the previously confirmed use of chemical weapons by the Russian Federation in Salisbury and on Russian territory against Alexey Navalny, we must take steps, in accordance with the Convention, to protect our people against chemical weapons use. I would like to express my gratitude to the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW and other States Parties for your continued readiness to provide technical assistance and financial support to Ukraine, especially in the field of chemical safety and security in line with the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The substantial voluntary contributions that have been made is another demonstration of the commitment to supporting the full implementation of the Convention and to upholding the global norm against chemical weapons. As Russia becomes more desperate, we remain very concerned that they may resort to desperate measures. There is no doubt that the Putin regime is determined to destroy the Ukrainian people by any means, including quite possibly chemical weapons.

Let me express my appreciation for all the statements of support from OPCW Member States about the situation in Ukraine. We are very grateful for the strong international support. Implementation of the Convention is one of the most important areas of our State’s policy in the field of arms control and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving a world free of chemical weapons.

I would kindly ask you to consider this statement as an official document of the 102nd session of the Executive council and post it on the OPCW external server and public website.

Thank you for your attention.