EU Statement on Ukraine

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Candidate Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine, as well as Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and the United Kingdom aligned with this statement.

1. More than four years into its full-scale invasion, Russia continues to terrify civilians in Ukraine through strikes on Kyiv and other urban areas, as well as on the infrastructure and transport links on which people depend every day. Ukrainian energy facilities, port and railway infrastructure, agricultural facilities logistics hubs, and warehouses storing food and pharmaceuticals remain frequent targets. The EU strongly condemns Russia’s intensified drone and missile strikes against Ukraine, including the attacks that took place in close proximity to the Polish border on 13 September, which once again demonstrate that Russia’s war of aggression poses a direct and growing threat to European security.

2. Since 2022, Russia has chosen the path of escalation and we have seen persistent, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its Member States and its partners, as well as undermining support to Ukraine and its ability to defend itself. Acts of sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, information manipulation and interference are becoming more frequent and more brazen. 

3. What happened in Leipzig on 4 August was not an isolated incident. Most recently, a Russian warship fired flares at a Danish military helicopter on a surveillance mission. NATO jets had to shoot down a Russian drone over Lithuania.  We also condemn the repeated violations of the airspace, most recently of Romania, and of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of Russia’s intensified attacks against Ukraine. We stand in full solidarity with all affected by Russia’s actions. 

4. We will step up our support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia. We expect Russia to show genuine political will to agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire and to engage in meaningful negotiations towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. Russia continues to ignore Ukraine’s ceasefire proposals, while it openly announces the prospect of another winter of attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.  

5. We reaffirm the EU’s commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression. In this context, the EU has ratified the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission and we welcome the progress on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. It encourages further sustained efforts within the framework of the Council of Europe towards the operationalisation of these two international bodies.