Opening statement to the Ministerial Council Meeting of the OSCE by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas

During the Ministerial Council Meeting of the OSCE, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas made the following statement about Ukraine: 

“We again call on Russia to immediately stop this senseless war of aggression against Ukraine and to withdraw all forces and equipment, completely and unconditionally, from all Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

The establishment of the OSCE didn't come from nowhere, but from the fact that we all had painful historic experiences.

In the last 100 years, Russia has invaded at least 19 countries, many around this table, and some as many as three or four times.

None of these 19 countries ever invaded or attacked Russia.

So, in any peace agreement, we have to put the focus on how to get concessions from the Russian side, so that they stop aggression and the desire to change borders by force.

The European Union will stay the course as only more pressure on Russia and more support to Ukraine will change the balance and have any hope for peace.

It is essential to reduce Russia's capacity to finance its war machine.

The 19th package of sanctions was adopted and the work on the next package continues.

Of course, we understand it is painful, we all suffer due to this, but we all want this war to end.

And for that we need to join efforts and do this collectively.

Wars end when aggressors run out of money to finance the wars.

Ukraine and Europe stand for peace.”