222nd session of the Executive Board of UNESCO
Statement of the Group of Friends of Ukraine on item 222 EX/4.I.L on UNESCO's actions and emergency assistance programme for Ukraine
Delivered by the Permanent Delegates of Australia and Iceland
Paris, 14 October 2025

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Friends of Ukraine. The full list of countries sponsoring this statement will be read out by Iceland following my statement.

Regrettably this is not the first time we address this issue in this forum.

Despite united appeals by the international community, the Russian Federation continues its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

The consequences of this aggression within UNESCO mandate are devastating and far-reaching. Schools, libraries and cultural sites in Ukraine continue to be destroyed. Journalists and teachers work under constant threat. Civilians are still being killed every day.

And let us be clear: the consequences of this war are not confined to Ukraine or Europe. They are felt globally — through destabilized global security environment, economic hardship, disinformation, and cultural loss and destruction.

The urgency for UNESCO's continued support and assistance to Ukraine remains paramount. We commend UNESCO efforts undertaken within Emergency Assistance Programme for Ukraine and praise the work of UNESCO Antenna in Kyiv. We encourage UNESCO to further intensify its actions, including its initiatives aimed at assisting the Ukrainian civil society.

The Group of Friends of Ukraine reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to defending the values and principles at the heart of this Organization.

This statement is supported by Albania, Andora, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa-Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Matla, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.