The Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada and Representative of Ukraine to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Yuliya Kovaliv, delivered a speech at the ICAO Extraordinary Special Council Session, titled "Safe Skies. Sustainable Future: Together for the Next 80 Years," commemorating the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in Chicago, USA.

🔸 Today, we face the greatest challenge in our modern history – the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Instead of the movement of civilian aircraft, we endure constant missile and drone attacks from Russia almost daily. International aviation suffers from deliberate radio frequency interference and cyberattacks that cause disruptions and pose significant safety threats.

🔹 We are grateful to ICAO members for adopting Resolution A41-2 at the 41st session of the ICAO Assembly in 2022 regarding the violations of the Convention on International Civil Aviation by the Russian Federation.

🔸 ICAO confirmed that Russia’s violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its sovereign airspace, constitutes a breach of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

🔹 On June 15, 2022, ICAO confirmed the inclusion of Russia in the Safety and Security Concern (SSC) list, where it remains to this day.

🔸 We welcome the joint commitment to pursue truth, justice, and accountability for the downing of flight MH17 by the Russian Federation and flight PS752 by Iran in multiple international judicial bodies, including the ICAO Council.

🔹 ICAO continues to play a critical role as a global forum for upholding the rules-based system upon which the Organization was founded, ensuring that the legal framework of international civil aviation remains resilient to emerging threats.

🔸 With comprehensive support and technical assistance in aviation security from ICAO’s relevant divisions, Ukraine is taking appropriate measures to sustain its aviation sector for safe future flights, including through Ukraine’s airspace.

🔹 Ukraine remains committed to the safe, peaceful, and sustainable development of the international civil aviation system and welcomes efforts to strengthen the Organization's capacity to respond effectively and fairly to the challenges facing global civil aviation.