Statement by the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director of the Department for Non-proliferation and Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Konstantin Vorontsov at the Thematic Debate on Cluster VI "Regional Disarmament and Security" in the First Committee of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, New York, October 28, 2025
31 October 2025 17:01
1834-31-10-2025
Unofficial translation
Mr. Chair,
Regional security in various parts of the world is facing most serious challenges. Tensions are increasing, hostile rhetoric is growing, current long-standing regional conflicts renew more intensively, new hotbeds of tension are emerging. The "collective West" is progressively implementing a policy of forceful dominance in the world. Military alliances are expanding and their activities are becoming increasingly aggressive. The fundamental principle of indivisible security is being blatantly violated.
Extremely alarming global trends in the field of military security continue to gain momentum in Europe as well. NATO countries have begun to implement a course of open confrontation with Russia. As a result, we are witnessing the erosion of the foundations of European security and the collapse of the comprehensive system of arms control and confidence-building measures that took years to develop.
NATO continues to build up its military capabilities on our borders and in the vicinity of our frontiers, increasing its operational capabilities for deploying forces to the "eastern flank," and developing the corresponding logistics infrastructure. The number and combat capabilities of multinational battalion tactical groups and brigade-level formations are increasing in the Baltic countries, Black Sea region and Poland.
The total duration of presence of NATO ships in the Black Sea has been increased. Intelligence activities near our maritime and air borders in the Baltic and Black Seas have intensified while engaging multi-purpose ships, aircraft and UAVs. These activities have become increasingly provocative and dangerous. Advanced coordination centers and new division-level command headquarters have been deployed in the territory of Eastern Europe states in the interests of allied troops (forces) group operational deployment and engagement. The scale and intensity of NATO military activity has increased dangerously close to our borders. Scenarios for the alliance's military action against Russia are being actively developed, and new "boundaries of the permissible" are being tested, including blocking the Kaliningrad region and closure of civilian shipping from Russian ports in the Baltic Sea.
For a long time, Russia did everything possible to resolve existing problems through diplomatic negotiation, hoping for understanding and negotiability of Western states, and putting forward security initiatives. However, the aggressive anti-Russian policies of our opponents across the post-Soviet area, their demonstrative disregard for our legitimate interests in various areas, including security, and their ardent support for any regimes based on antagonism towards our country has brought the situation to the point where it is today.
The United States has faced blatant sabotage from Europeans regarding the Ukrainian settlement. We are accused of "unwillingness" to end this conflict, but it is the EU countries that are actually doing everything in practice to prolong it. We see clear provocations both in the territory of Ukraine and in neighboring countries aimed at pushing the United States administration to toughen its position on the Ukrainian issue. By providing political and diplomatic support for the course of confrontation with our country, and increasing arms supplies to Kiev, providing it with intelligence information, financing and training the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they are not only prolonging the hostilities that leads to new victims, but also increasing the risk of a direct military confrontation between NATO States and Russia. I would like to believe that our Western colleagues would finally listen to the voice of reason and turn away from this dangerous course.
Mr. Chair,
Russia has always believed the system of international agreements in arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation to be the cornerstone of international security. However, as a result of the policy of Western countries, this system has noticeably deteriorated recently.
For several decades, the United States and its NATO allies have taken steps to dismantle key arms control and confidence-building agreements. Thus, in 2002 Washington unilaterally terminated the Soviet-US Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, and from the Open Skies Treaty in 2020, which forced us to cease participation in this document. In response to the decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO, which finally and irrevocably destroyed the CFE Treaty system of restrictions, we decided to withdraw from this Treaty in 2023.
It is possible to return the situation under control and normalize it only on the basis of compliance with the generally recognized norms of international law, the UN principles, its Charter, the goals and objectives of the Organization.
Attempts to resume any dialogue are doomed to failure until the North Atlantic Alliance truly abandons its policy of disregard for Russia's security interests. Given the current lack of trust and open hostility it is unfounded and naive to expect progress from us in matters of conventional arms control in Europe. Shaping such a regime in the future, if and when it becomes possible, will definitely require fundamentally new approaches and imperative consideration of Russia's national interests.
Thank you.
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