Poland in the UN

On May 26, 2026, Poland participated in the UN Security Council briefing on multilateralism.

The full statement delivered by Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN in New York, is available below:

Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to express our appreciation to China for convening this important debate at a time when we are witnessing an increasing disregard for international law and for the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. I also thank the briefers for their valuable contributions.

Mr. President,

Regrettably, it must be noted that, since the open debate held under the Chinese presidency in February 2025 on this topic, a number of states participating in today’s discussion have themselves been victims of violations of the Charter and of fundamental principles of international law.

This includes my country. In recent months Poland has experienced violations of its airspace through incursions by drone-type objects originating from Russia. Our critical infrastructure has been targeted by hybrid and cyber-attacks attributed to the same source.

In the face of such violations, our response must not be to weaken or revise the principles that guide us. On the contrary, we should adhere to them even more firmly. The framework established after the Second World War, born out of immense human suffering, remains, despite its imperfections, far more just and stable than any alternative based on great-power rivalry or notions of spheres of influence.

What we urgently need is not a new order, but better enforcement of the rules we already have. No system can function effectively without accountability. We must ensure that violations of international law, particularly breaches of the prohibition on the threat or use of force, carry consequences. This is essential to preserving the credibility of the entire system.

Mr. President,

International judicial institutions play a vital role in this regard. This is why Poland strongly supports the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. Holding senior political and military leaders accountable for decisions to wage an illegal war of aggression is not only a matter of justice – it is a necessary step toward deterrence.

At the same time, the Security Council itself requires our urgent attention. As the body entrusted with maintaining international peace and security, it cannot remain paralyzed in the face of major crises. Importantly, the Charter already provides tools that could improve the Council’s effectiveness. Article 27(3) of the UN Charter calls on members to abstain from voting in situations where they are parties to a dispute. Applying this principle would significantly enhance the Council’s ability to act, including in the conflict in our region.

Mr. President,

Preserving the principles of the Charter is indispensable. Any effort to reform the international system must take place strictly within the framework of the Charter and existing institutions. We should resist attempts to marginalize these structures or replace them with alternative arrangements that risk empowering only the strongest. One of the wisest and most essential foundations of our system is the principle of sovereign equality of states. It must guide our actions.

Mr. President,

To conclude on a more hopeful note: while we often hear stark warnings that the international order founded on the principles enshrined in the UN Charter is collapsing, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of the international community continues to respect these principles and remains committed to living in accordance with them, trusting others – including the very members of this Council – to do the same.

Thank you.