[SECURITY COUNCIL]

The situation in Ukraine

Study Guide

Contributors: Theodore Mantsis, Theodora Partsou

All rights reserved, ARCMUN 2023

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Welcoming letter………………………………….

2. Introduction to the committee……………….

3. Definition of Key Terms…………………………

4. Introduction to the topic……………………….

5. Points to be addressed…………………………

6. Actions already taken…………………………..

7. Conclusion…………………………………………..

8. Bibliography…………………………………………
1.Welcoming letter
Distinguished delegates,

We are more than honored and overjoyed to welcome you all to this
year’s annual ARCMUN, and more specifically to the Security Council,
one of the most interesting committees. As members of the Board, we
are really excited to work with you and have some fruitful debates
during the conference.
First of all, we want to applaud you for participating in this conference,
as MUNS are a great opportunity to be informed about
intergovernmental issues, provide solutions, practice your
public-speaking skills and make new friends!
The topic for this year’s Council is the Situation in Ukraine. As the topic
is currently at the forefront of the world timeline, it requires a careful
and detailed approach in order to provide adequate and satisfying
solutions to this problem, which is disrupting peace and is threatening
not only Ukraine and Russia, but also every country around the globe.
This study guide acts as a starting point for your research, however you
also need to conduct your own thorough inquiry too, to find out more
about your delegation’s views on the matter.
Please be reminded that this topic is one of the most crucial around the
world right now, and every day something new might happen! This
means that you have to be aware of possible updates. Do not forget to
take a look at the Security Council Rules of Procedure, which can be
found on the official site of the conference. Should you have any
questions concerning the topic, the rules of procedure or the Security
Council as a Committee, do not hesitate to contact us.
Looking forward to a great conference!

The security council board,

Theodore Mantsis
Theodora Partsou
2.Introduction to the committee
The Security Council (SC), is one of the six main organs of the United
Nations, and it acts as the primary authority to address threats to
international peace and security. It held its first session on the 17th of
January 1947. It is also responsible to determine when and where a UN
peace operation should be deployed. It responds to crises around the
world and it has a range of options at its disposal.
The Security Council consists of 15 members, with ten of them being
non- permanent members with a two-year term starting on 1 January,
with five replaced each year. The remaining five countries of the
council, namely China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and
the United States of America, are its permanent members, also known
as P5. Under Article 27 of the UN Charter, all the permanent members
of the council have the well-known “veto power”. This means that the 5
permanent members have the right to cancel the decisions being
made, when they decide to use this privilege. The current
non-permanent members are: Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India,
Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway and the United Arab Emirates.

Concerning the Security Council:

● The presidency of the council is held by each and every member in
turn for one month, in a rotating way which follows the English
alphabetical order of the Member States' names.
● According to Articles 31 and 32 of Chapter V of the UN Charter,
additional States whose interests are directly affected by a dispute
under consideration by the Security Council can participate in the
discussion relating to the dispute. These Observer States are not
entitled to a vote.
● Under Article 25 of the UN Charter, the decisions of the Security
Council are legally binding for all UN Member States. Chapter V of
the UN Charter presents in detail the basic structure of the council,
the rules of it and the rights that Member States have.
● Pursuant to Chapter VI of the Charter, the Security Council can call
upon parties to settle any dispute by peaceful means, and can
recommend actions to achieve settlement. Chapter VII empowers
 the Council to determine breaches of the peace and acts of
aggression and direct all U.N. Member States to taking necessary
action, including the use of military force, to restore international
peace and security.
It, therefore, becomes evident that the Security Council plays a crucial
role in preserving international peace and actively promoting it, not
only through intervening in instances of high international friction, but
also by establishing a lasting rapport between various nations of the
world.

3.Definition of key terms

NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ), also known
as the North Atlantic Alliance , is a military defense alliance of
Western countries , which aims the development of cooperation
between member countries in various fields ( military , political ,
economic , social , educational ), the promotion of geopolitical
interests and the prevention of an armed attack against a member
country by others.
SWIFT: The global bank messaging system operated by the Society
for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications is a crucial
part of the harsh sanctions on Russia.
G7: The Group of Seven is an intergovernmental political forum
consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United
Kingdom and the United States.
MINSK ACCORDS: The so-called Minsk accords of 2014 and
2015 attempted to end the war in the Donbass region of eastern
Ukraine between Ukraine and Russian-speaking separatists in the
disputed areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.
START I: START I (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) was a bilateral
treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union on the
reduction and the limitation of strategic offensive arms. The treaty
was signed on 31 July 1991 and entered into force on 5 December
1994.
 REFERENDUM: a vote in which all the people in a country or an
area are asked to give their opinion about or decide an important
political or social question.
ANNEX: to take possession of an area of land or a country, usually
by force or without permission.

4. Introduction to the topic

Armed conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in early 2014 following
Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Specifically in March, Russian troops
took control of Ukraine’s Crimea region. Russian President Vladimir
Putin cited the need to protect the rights of Russian citizens and
Russian speakers in Crimea and southeast Ukraine. Russia then formally
annexed the peninsula after Crimeans voted to join the Russian
Federation in a disputed local referendum. Two months later
pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern
Ukraine held a referendum to declare independence from Ukraine.

Armed conflict in the region quickly broke out between Russian-backed

forces and the Ukrainian military. Moscow denied military involvement,
though both Ukraine and NATO reported the buildup of Russian troops
and military equipment near Donetsk and Russian cross-border shelling
immediately after Russia annexed Crimea. The conflict transitioned to
an active stalemate, with regular shelling and skirmishes occurring
along the front line that separated Russian- and Ukrainian-controlled
border regions in the east.

Beginning in February 2015, France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine

attempted to kickstart negotiations and broker a cessation in violence
through the Minsk Accords. The agreement framework included
provisions for a cease-fire, withdrawal of heavy weaponry, and full
Ukrainian government control throughout the conflict zone. However,
efforts to reach a diplomatic settlement and satisfactory resolution
were largely unsuccessful.
In April 2016, NATO announced that the alliance would deploy four
battalions to Eastern Europe, rotating troops through Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, and Poland to deter possible future Russian aggression
elsewhere in Europe, particularly in the Baltics. In September 2017, the
United States also deployed two U.S. Army tank brigades to Poland to
further bolster NATO’s presence in the region.

In October 2021, Russia began moving troops and military equipment

near its border with Ukraine, reigniting concerns over a potential
invasion. Commercial satellite imagery showed armor, missiles, and
other heavy weaponry moving toward Ukraine with no official
explanation.

By December, more than one hundred thousand Russian troops were in

place near the Russia-Ukraine border. In mid-December, Russia’s
foreign ministry issued a set of demands calling for the United States
and the NATO to:
● cease any military activity in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
● commit against further NATO expansion toward Russia
● prevent Ukraine from joining NATO in the future.
The United States and other NATO allies rejected these demands and
warned Russia they would impose severe economic sanctions if Russia
invaded Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin then ordered troops to Luhansk and

Donetsk, separatist regions in Eastern Ukraine partly controlled by
Russian-backed separatists, claiming the troops served a
“peacekeeping” function.

On February 24, during a United Nations Security Council meeting to

dissuade Russia from attacking Ukraine, Putin announced the beginning
of a full-scale land, sea, and air invasion of Ukraine targeting Ukrainian
military assets and cities across the country. Severe sanctions have
since been imposed by European allies and the USA, including
sanctions that target four of Russia’s largest banks, its oil and gas
industry , and the financial assets of Putin and Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov.
The U.S. continues to commit military assistance to Ukraine. The United
Nations, G7, EU, and other countries continue to condemn Russian
actions and support Ukrainian forces. In an emergency United Nations
session on March 2, 141 of 193 member states voted to condemn
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demanded that Russia immediately
cease its use of force in Ukraine.

The situation in Ukraine has, furthermore caused many crises that

should be addressed, such as the humanitarian, economic, food and
energy crises. It is only natural for war to create new waves of refugees
and to interrupt trade relations especially with neighboring countries.
In addition the two countries involved are some of the biggest
exporters of agri-commodities (Ukraine) and oil, gas and coal (Russia),
resulting in food and energy shortages worldwide and therefore in a
surge in the prices in the corresponding markets.
5. Points to be addressed

● What is your nation’s position in the war?

● What is your country’s relationship with Ukraine and Russia?
● How has the war affected global relations?
● How has your country been affected by the war?
● What is your country’s proposed resolution to the war and its
results?
● What actions can the Security Council take to ensure peace and
security in the area?
● Should the UN intensify attempts to resolve the issue through
diplomacy and dialogue or should it change route to action?

6. Actions already taken

As of today(27/09/2022):
I.The Security Council has held numeral meetings since 2014 to discuss
the situation between Russia and Ukraine, while following the recent
invasion said meetings have increased intensifying the Council’s
consideration of the situation.
II.The Council met on February 25 to consider a resolution proposed by
the USA and Albania condemning Russia’s invasion as an illegal act of
aggression and calling Russia to immediately cease its use of force
against Ukraine and withdraw all troops.
After discussion in the Council on February 25, the Council voted on
the resolution. Although 11 members voted in favor, Russia voted no,
vetoing the resolution.
III. On February 27, the Council considered a resolution to call an
emergency special session of the U.N. General Assembly, stating that
the Security Council was prevented from “exercising its primary
responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and
security.” The Council adopted the resolution with 11 members
voting yes, three abstaining, and Russia casting the lone vote against.
Here are the latest developments (as of 27/09/2022):

● Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a partial

mobilization of about 300,000 reservists to reinforce his troops in
Ukraine.
● Ukrainian forces have held ground taken from Russia earlier this
month in Kharkiv.
● Ukrainian troops are trying to push forward around Lyman.
● Fighting continues in the south, around Kherson.
● Self-styled referendums on joining Russia were held in Kherson,
Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk between 23 and 27 September.
● Russia to formally annex the above-mentioned territories after
the results of the unrecognized referendums.

So-called referendums in four regions

Four regions of Ukraine that are partially or almost completely
occupied by Russia held self-styled referendums from 23 to 27
September.

➔ Voting in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk will be

conducted either in person or remotely.

➔ The Russian-installed head of Kherson region in the south,

Vladimir Saldo said incorporating it into Russia would "secure our
territory and restore historical justice".
➔ Large parts of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk are not under Russian
control and all four regions have seen fighting in recent days, so
conducting a secure vote will not be possible.
Some analysts have suggested that the change will allow Russia to
claim that continued Ukrainian counter-attacks on the four regions will
be an attack on sovereign Russian territory.
These referendums have not been recognised by the UN, as the
procedure’s integrity is questioned, after reports of use of scare tactics
so that voters are forced to vote in favor of annexation, as well as the
inclusion of planted voters that do not reside in those areas.
7. Conclusion
To sum up, it has already been established that it is critical we find a
solution to this problem casting a threatening shadow over world
peace and prosperity. We should take advantage of this Council’s tools
in order to avoid further escalation of the conflict. This session will
decide the course of history, so we urge all governments’ delegates to
have in consideration the importance of their roles in this crossroads of
war and peace, of humanity and cruelty, of prosperity and destruction.

8. Bibliography
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➢ Operational Data Portal. Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation.
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➢ The current situation in Ukraine. United States Institute of Peace.
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https://www.usip.org/current-situation-ukraine
➢ Cable News Network. (2014, December 2). Russian invasion of
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Retrieved September 30, 2022, from
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➢ https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11876