The Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo delivered a statement in the Security Council of the United Nations, on 21 September, in the open debate on Ukraine.

It was the first time a Grand Chancellor of the Order took the floor in the Security Council.

In his statement, the Grand Chancellor recalled the extensive humanitarian operation undertaken by the Order of Malta and its entities and relief organizations since the outbreak of the war.

Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo remarked that “there is no easy solution to this conflict, but peace remains the only way out of this tragic plight. We are aware that the process could be long, difficult and painful but there is no alternative if we want to halt as soon as possible the massive human sufferings and the war’s negative worldwide economic and social repercussions.”

In this regard the Grand Chancellor highlighted the heavy costs incurred by the world economy and especially the poorest countries and the most vulnerable social groups. “Government bodies – he remarked – and independent analysts estimate (conservatively) that, by the end of 2023 the world economy will have spent $224 billion on this conflict, enough to fund UNICEF for the next thirty plus years.”