Malta’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vanessa Frazier, spoke at a press conference focused on Malta’s chairmanship of the UN Security Council this month. During her remarks, she confirmed that Russia had requested a meeting of the Security Council to discuss Ukraine on February 8. She did not provide details about the nature of Russia’s request, emphasizing that the specifics were not immediately clear and would likely emerge in subsequent briefings.
She also noted that the council would hold a session on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine at the request of France and Ecuador, scheduled for February 6. In her account, Malta’s delegation sees this session as a crucial opportunity to assess the ongoing humanitarian needs across affected regions, outline the challenges on the ground, and discuss the international response required to alleviate suffering.
According to her statements, at least three Security Council meetings were planned for February. The first, a humanitarian briefing on February 6, was designed to address the urgent needs of civilians impacted by the situation in Ukraine. The second, on February 8, was prompted by Russia’s request and was anticipated to cover broader issues related to the Ukrainian crisis. The third meeting, slated for February 24 at the ministerial level, would bring together high-ranking officials to discuss Ukraine at a more senior policymaking level. Malta’s representatives underscored that the precise agenda for this ministerial session would be worked out in cooperation with all member states to ensure a comprehensive and productive dialogue.
There was also a note on whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would attend the February 24 Security Council gathering. Malta’s permanent representative clarified that it had not been confirmed whether Zelensky would participate in that particular session. The question of attendance remained unresolved as the dates approached, with officials in Malta awaiting additional information from the Ukrainian side and other participating countries.
In recent remarks, the Russian delegation at the United Nations had previously warned about potential risks of armed confrontation between nuclear powers. That warning underscored the high-stakes nature of Security Council diplomacy at a time of heightened tensions, above all with regard to Ukraine and the broader security implications for regional and global stability. The Malta briefing stressed the importance of maintaining an ongoing and transparent dialogue within the Council to prevent escalation and to seek peaceful, diplomatically negotiated solutions wherever possible. The chairing country highlighted its readiness to facilitate constructive discussions and to encourage cooperation among member states, international organizations, and humanitarian agencies to address both the immediate humanitarian needs and the longer-term implications of the crisis.