I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

1.    24 February 2022 will forever be recalled as the day when Russia started its brutal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is a clear-cut breach of International Law, a threat to European and global security and stability and an enormous human tragedy. The European Union once again condemns Russia, as well as its accomplice Belarus, for its shameful war of aggression. 

2.    When Russia launched this full-scale invasion, the Council of Europe reacted quickly, decisively and as one. On 25 February 2022, the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers called an extraordinary meeting in which Russia was suspended from participation in the Council of Europe. On 16 March, after the appropriate procedures including consultation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Russia was excluded from the organisation by a consensus decision.

3.    One year on, every day, Russia keeps violating the UN Charter. Every day, Russia keeps spreading lies and fabrications about the war of aggression it is waging against Ukraine. Every day, Russia keeps killing innocent Ukrainian children, women and men. Every day, Russia continues the forcible transfer of Ukrainians, in particular children, to Russia. Every day, Russia continues its cruel, inhumane attacks, directing its terror indiscriminately against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Such actions constitute international crimes and must stop. The international campaign of lies by Russia must be countered.

4.    The EU is firmly committed to holding accountable all perpetrators of war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU fully supports Ukraine’s and the international community’s efforts in this respect and welcomes the decision to establish an International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA) in The Hague. 

5.    The EU welcomes that with its legal competence, including the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe stands ready to support this common effort, for justice to prevail. We look forward to the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavík (16 – 17 May 2023) at which support for Ukraine, including in relation to accountability, will be high on the agenda.

6.    The Council of Europe’s expertise has already been deployed by providing ongoing support to the Ukrainian authorities in investigating gross violations of human rights in the context of the war. 

7.    The EU and its Member States will continue its support for the Council of Europe’s assistance to Ukraine, including through the Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026. The Action Plan which we support financially is an important tool in Ukraine’s reform efforts towards fulfilling the criteria as an EU candidate country in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Action Plan will also serve as a key tool in rebuilding Ukraine when Russia’s war of aggression comes to an end and Ukraine’s entire territorial integrity is restored.

8.    The EU is resolute, united and determined in its support to Ukraine and its people on all fronts: political, military, financial and humanitarian. The EU and its Member States have mobilised €67 billion to support Ukraine to be able to defend itself and push back the Russian aggression that attacks the very values and principles which define us as Europe. We are calling on all our partners to act in a spirit of joint responsibility and solidarity to ensure that aggression fails, international law prevails and peace returns to the European continent. We will stand by Ukraine. Ukraine must and will prevail.

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