Pakistan urges ceasefire, diplomacy at UNSC as Ukraine conflict escalates | The Express Tribune

Pakistan has urged dialogue and restraint to avert escalation after reported Russian incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace, warning that diplomacy remains the “only path” to sustainable peace.

Addressing an emergency UN Security Council session on Monday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad reaffirmed Islamabad’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states. He said the conflict in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year, continues to threaten regional and global stability.

“Pakistan has repeatedly drawn attention to the negative consequences of this conflict, and the need to bring it to an end,” Ahmad told the 15-member body. “We firmly believe that only a meaningful dialogue which addresses the security concerns of all sides, is anchored in the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and respects the relevant multilateral agreements can help secure peace — a peace that is both just and lasting.”

He stressed that cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomacy were essential for a sustainable settlement, adding that Pakistan stands ready to support all regional and international efforts toward a peaceful resolution.

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The Council convened under its agenda item on “Threats to International Peace and Security” following a letter from Estonia alleging that, on September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca warned that “the world simply cannot afford such danger to spiral out of control,” citing intensifying Russian strikes on Ukraine and reported casualties inside Russia.

Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy rejected Estonia’s claims, saying: “The facts prove that, on September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets conducted a planned flight from Karelia to an airbase in Kaliningrad Oblast, carried out in strict accordance with international airspace-use rules.”

He dismissed the allegations as “Russophobic hysteria,” accusing Moscow’s neighbours of imagining violations where none occurred. “Today, we are compelled to watch part two of the spectacle titled ‘Blame Russia for Everything’,” he declared.

Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna countered by displaying radar screenshots and photographs of combat-ready MiG-31s. “The violation is crystal clear,” he said, noting that this marked the fourth airspace breach by Moscow in 2025 and part of what he called a broader pattern of provocations against Russia’s neighbours.

Read More: Pakistan pushes for ceasefire to end Ukrainian conflict

Earlier, amid intensified aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities, Pakistan reiterated at the UN Security Council that military means cannot resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Pakistan stressed that “the only viable path towards sustainable peace is dialogue and diplomacy,” calling for an immediate ceasefire and meaningful negotiations that address the security concerns of all parties and adherence to the UN Charter.