(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN - This week sees a sombre and tragic milestone as we mark one year since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The 24th of February 2022 was a turning point for Europe and the wider world. The Russian war of aggression, unprovoked and illegal, has brought immeasurable suffering to the people of Ukraine – above all to civilians, women and children. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed, Ukrainian civil infrastructure destroyed by Russian airstrikes and millions forced to flee their homes.

The global impacts of Russia's war on Ukraine have brought hardship to millions more. As Russia shelled and blockaded Ukrainian ports and infrastructure, the world saw increased food and energy costs, setting back economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the world, 47 million people are a step away from famine, many of them in the Arab world, notably in Syria and Yemen.

Further, Russia's war of aggression trampled on the most elementary principles of international law: respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force and the central importance of the UN Charter. Russia claims to represent an alternative world order. Today, we are seeing the result: war and destabilisation of the international order and of food and energy markets.

Ukraine's European and international partners have responded with resolve and unity. Our approach has been to support Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty. We stand with Ukraine, not only because that is what humanity demands, but in order to uphold the principles of an international order which has kept the world a safer place since 1945 and which Russia now rejects. As our leaders have made clear at the Munich Security Conference in the past week, we are committed to staying the course and indeed are accelerating our efforts to help bring this conflict to an end in a way that respects Ukraine's sovereignty.

The UK, France and Germany have been at the forefront of economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine. Yet, as Russia has weaponised global food and energy supplies, we have also acted to address the global impacts. The EU and G7 reacted quickly and mobilised funds to support particularly vulnerable countries around the world, including in this region, by stepping up our humanitarian assistance and securing the largest ever World Bank package of support to low-income countries in 2022. On top of this, we are providing bilateral aid.

Our countries have supported the Black Sea Grain Initiative and ensured that our sanctions avoid any impact on Russian food and fertiliser exports. Ukraine itself makes an important contribution to maintaining the supply of grain, as the recent initiative 'Grain from Ukraine' impressively underlines: Ukraine donates grain to those who need it most urgently, supported by finance from partner countries, including Germany, France and the UK. The invasion of Ukraine has been the predominant security challenge for European countries in the last year. Yet we remain committed to those suffering from other crises which need our sustained attention, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the civil war in Syria. Jordan is a vital partner in this regard, as a constant voice for peace in the region and a generous host of refugees. We continue to work with Jordan to push for de-escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories, to maintain the prospect for a peaceful two-state-solution and to advocate for a political solution to the Syria crisis.

Germany, France and the UK are amongst Jordan's biggest partners in terms of humanitarian and development aid. Over the past year, our countries combined have provided over 2.5 billion euros in aid to the Syrian crisis response and close to 240 million euros to UNRWA. This support helps hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Palestine refugees across the region access education, healthcare and other vital services. Our commitment to the region has not weakened.

The terrible earthquake in Syria and Turkey earlier this month has brought home once again the scale of the human tragedy in Syria and among Syrian refugees. Our countries have all quickly mobilised support to the immediate crisis response, including rescue teams, medical support and much needed humanitarian supplies.

Meanwhile, the people of Ukraine continue to suffer the consequences of Russia's aggression. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has outlined a path to peace in his 10-point formula. But while Russia continues its pursuit of illegal conquest and attacks on Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure, it shows that it is not serious about negotiations.

In 2023 we will continue to stand with Ukraine and her heroic people. And, vitally, we must work to maintain international unity among that large majority of states who wish to live in peace, respect international law and work together to address international crises. Jordan is an indispensable and valued partner in this endeavour.

Bridget Brind is the British Ambassador to Jordan, Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison is the French Ambassador to Jordan, Bernhard Kampmann is the German Ambassador to Jordan and Myroslava Shcherbatiuk is the Ukrainian Ambassador to Jordan

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