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1520th Meeting of the Committee of Ministers (24 February 2025) EU statement to mark the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine three years ago

24.02.2025 Press and information team of the Delegation to the COUNCIL OF EUROPE in Strasbourg
  1. Three full years have passed since Russia started its illegal, unjustified and unprovoked full-scale invasion against Ukraine, causing immense human suffering and destruction.
  2. The European Union reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirms its continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.  The EU also strongly condemns third countries’ continued support for Russia’s war of aggression and urges them to cease all assistance.
  3. The occupation of Ukrainian territories by the Russian Federation has been carried out in an atmosphere of generalized violence and fear to coerce the local population to co-operate with the Russian occupying authorities while suppressing their Ukrainian identity. The EU strongly condemns the ongoing widespread and gross violations of international human rights, and grave violations of humanitarian law that have been committed by Russia.
  4. We call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression and withdraw all of its military forces and equipment from the territory of Ukraine, release unlawfully detained civilians and prisoners of war, and return all persons, in particular children, who have been forcibly transferred or  deported.
  5. The UN’s Independent Commission of Inquiry has found that Russian authorities committed crimes against humanity through systematic torture in detention facilities. Reports of executions of captured Ukrainian service members are rising. The EU strongly condemns these atrocities and the inhumane conditions of captivity. Russia must comply with international humanitarian law and grant full, unhindered access to prisoners of war in occupied territories and Russian detention facilities.
  6. All victims deserve justice. There can be no impunity for violations of international law. We underscore the need to pursue a comprehensive approach to accountability, which includes truth, reparation and guarantees of non-reoccurrence.
  7. 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. As part of the Core Group, Ukraine, the European External Action Service, the European Commission, the Council of Europe and 37 States will continue discussions aimed at setting the legal framework for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
  8. On 4 February 2025, the European Commission made a Recommendation to the Council for the EU to participate in the formal negotiations to set up an international Claims Commission for Ukraine. The Claims Commission aims to review, assess and decide eligible claims recorded in the Register of Damage, in which the EU is already a Participant.
  9. We recall the Reykjavik Summit in 2023 and reiterate our support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.   We underline the principle that no initiative regarding Ukraine be taken without Ukraine. To this end, the European Union and its Member States will maintain their intensive global outreach efforts and will participate in the discussions affecting Europe’s security. We call for the return of all prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians and deported or forcibly transferred children. The European Union remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners.
  10. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago, the EU has provided to Ukraine €134,7 billion in humanitarian, financial, economic and military support – making the EU the largest support of Ukraine. We will continue to work closely with Ukraine and support its continued reform efforts on its European path. The European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed.

Alignments: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, North Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom