Name: Aaditya S Rao and Mridhul Krishna
Committee: Special Session on the Ukraine Conflict
Country:The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Delegation: Christ Academy Junior College
Agenda: Discussing the socio—political implications of the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict
The people of Ukraine have been terrorised by the Soviet Union since the 20th century, they
have been subjected to man-made famines which resulted in genocide, a ploy exacerbated by
Joseph Stalin to oppress the Ukraine Independence Movement, they were tortured, and
threatened and silenced. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and with Ukraine’s accession to
the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, millions of people in Ukraine hoped that in
the future they would enjoy freedoms associated with the West, that living standards would rise
and that the Soviet Union and Russian intervention was no longer a worry, but this wasn't to be.
In 2013, the then president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych was pressured by Russia not to sign
the European Union - Ukraine Association Agreement, an agreement very fruitful for Ukraine,
which caused civil unrest leading to the Maidan Uprising and the Revolution of Dignity. Russia
used the situation to annex Crimea, a move that was in clear violation of clause 1 of the Budapest
Memorandum, which further led to a series of other horrifying events resulting in the present
situation.
After months of tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, Russia launched “a special military
operation” into Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24, triggering global condemnation and
a chain of reactions. Russia has violated the Geneva Convention by targeting attacks on hospitals
and has used banned weapons like cluster munition and has committed various warcrimes
defined under the Geneva convention.The hostilities that followed have been characterized by
widespread war crimes, potential crimes against humanity, immense human suffering and a
global economic crisis.
In times like these, Luxembourg as a country hasn't stayed quiet. Luxembourg strongly backs
Ukraine and denounces all of Russia's activity in Ukraine over the past 8 years. Luxembourg has
backed its words with action and has allocated 15% of its defense budget to support the
Ukrainian army. Even from a diplomatic standpoint, Luxembourg doesn't want to sit on the
fence, it recently declared a diplomat of the Russian Embassy in Luxembourg persona non grata,
followed by an order to leave the country in 15 days.
This conflict now needs to be solved at the earliest and for that to be achieved Luxembourg
would like to put forward a few solutions :
1. Immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from Russian-occupied-Ukraine
regions, along with return of Ukrainian regions captured by Russian forces.
2. Trial of Russia in the ICJ for committing various warcrimes defined under the geneva
convention. Furthermore, setting up of a committee to monitor and enforce the verdict
awarded by the ICJ.
3. Effective implementation of the clauses present in the Versailles Declaration to reduce
dependencies and the implementation of IMF’s Rapid Credit Facility Program to rebuild
and strengthen Ukraine's economy.
4. Repatriation of refugees must be voluntary and to the original place of residence or a
safe, secure place near their destination of choice, post the end of the war. Furthermore,
hopes that the eligibility criteria for return to be applied in the broadest possible manner,
the current requirements, including documentary proof of residence, would be difficult
for many refugees to meet.
5. The areas of Crimea and Donbas must be given back to Ukraine, as it's rightfully theirs
under the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine,1991.
6. Invoking article 27 - clause 3, chapter 5 of the UN Charter to prevent Russia from
vetoing any possible and favourable solutions in the UNSC.
This crisis is currently plaguing our society and need to be solved at the earliest. The delegates of
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg hope that this conference will prompt a resolution in which
all countries may prosper.
