1490th Meeting of the Committee of Ministers (23 February 2023) - EU Statement to mark the beginning of Russia’ war of aggression against Ukraine two years ago

Two years have passed since Russia started its illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, causing immense human suffering and destruction. The European Union reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter. The EU also strongly condemns the Belarusian regime’s involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

We call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression, and withdraw all of its military forces and equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, release unlawfully detained civilians, and prisoners of war, and return all persons, in particular children, who have been forcibly transferred or unlawfully deported. We reaffirm our strong support for the sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

We also recall that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started 10 years ago, with the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The EU does not and will never recognise this annexation and will continue its participation in the International Crimea Platform, and help Ukraine to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity fully. We are also concerned about the grave effect of the Russian occupation on Indigenous Peoples, including Crimean Tatars, their fundamental rights, their lands, territories, and resources.

The European Union and its Member States will continue their intensive global outreach to ensure the widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, with a view to a future Global Peace Summit.

Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the massive damage caused by its war. We encourage further efforts, including in the Core Group, to establish a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine that would enjoy the broadest cross-regional support and legitimacy, and a future compensation mechanism.

We recall the clear results of the Fourth Summit of Council of Europe, held in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023, and reiterate our full and strong support for the Register of Damage. We look forward to the expected launch of submissions of claims at the upcoming ministerial conference Restoring Justice for Ukraine in The Hague on 2 April 2024.[1]

Independent and impartial international judiciary is a key element in ensuring global peace and security, and the rule of law. International courts and tribunals must be defended against threats and interference. Therefore, we condemn any reprisals towards judges and prosecutors of international and national courts, including the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court.

We recall that the Council of Europe reacted quickly and decisively when excluding Russia on 16 March 2022 from the organisation by a consensus decision.

The EU decided in December 2023 to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and to grant the status of candidate country to Georgia. The Council of Europe is a partner in Ukraine’s, Georgia’s and Moldova’s European path. The EU remains committed to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity also of the Republic of Moldova and Georgia and will continue to support them in addressing the challenges they face as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression.

The European Union will stand by Ukraine with its steadfast support for as long as it takes.

The following countries align with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Ukraine.

[1] Hungary’s support for this statement should be understood in conjunction with its national reservation to the Reykjavík Declaration and in light of the fact that Hungary is not Participant to the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine as an Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe.