Pakistan urges ‘immediate cessation of hostilities, return to dialogue’ to end Ukraine conflict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concern over the continued escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, urging the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue.

While speaking to the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said that diplomacy was the only viable path toward lasting peace.

According to a statement issued by Islamabad’s permanent mission to UN, the ambassador lamented the absence of positive developments as continued attacks intensified the conflict, worsening the humanitarian situation.

He noted that the expansion of the battlefield increased suffering for civilians and caused further damage to civilian infrastructure.

The ambassador emphasized the need for all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international law, including International Humanitarian Law, and reiterated calls for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

He stressed the urgency of reversing the conflict’s trajectory, underscoring that sustainable peace could only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.

He called for confidence-building measures between the parties and the creation of conditions conducive to the resumption of meaningful negotiations, reiterating Islamabad’s call for an immediate and complete ceasefire and for the revival of the United States-facilitated dialogue process.

Ambassador Jadoon reaffirmed that a mutually acceptable peaceful settlement, remained the only sustainable route to a durable resolution of the conflict.

“Reiterating Pakistan's principled position, Ambassador Jadoon stated that Pakistan would continue to support all efforts aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive, durable, and peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the statement said.

Russia has struck Ukraine repeatedly over its full-scale offensive launched in February 2022. In response, Kyiv has termed its own strikes a fair retribution, statung that it targets military sites as well as oil processing and exporting facilities.

Both sides have intensified attacks in recent weeks, as US-led talks on ending Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II remain effectively frozen.