#StandWithUkraine - One year on

24 February 2023 marked one year since the illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The EU Delegation in Geneva marked this important day with several activities.

 

The European Union reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter. Russia’s brutal war, which has lasted almost a full year, has brought immense suffering and destruction upon Ukraine and its people. Russia must stop this atrocious war immediately. The European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes. The European Union’s support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression remains unwavering. The European Union will maintain and seek to further increase, in consultation with international partners, collective pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression and to withdraw its troops and military equipment from Ukraine. The EU has reacted swiftly and strongly, with unprecedented support to Ukraine and with the largest sanctions packages in the Union's history.

In Geneva, the EU Head of Delegation Lotte Knudsen welcomed the Ukrainian Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko at a special EU Heads of Mission Meeting on February 24, 2023, reiterating the strong support by the EU and its Member States in these most challenging times. In light of one year of extreme suffering for the Ukrainian people, EU Ambassador Knudsen payed tribute to the reaction of this people, to its resilience, to the results they have achieved in resisting the aggression. She further confirmed that the EU and its Member States will continuously work towards a just and sustainable peace in accordance with UN principles in Geneva and beyond. The Ukrainian Ambassador expressed gratitude for the support and solidarity shown by the EU and its Member States.

As Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and breach of the United Nations Charter and international law, the Delegation of the European Union and the Permanent Missions of the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States in Geneva further presented videos featuring simple readings from the UN Charter in English and Ukrainian, highlighting how the cornerstone tenets of the Charter have been violated, and encouraging all peoples to stand against aggression - and in solidarity with Ukraine. In the afternoon of 24 February 2023, the EU Delegation moreover participated in a solidarity gathering organised by the Ukrainian civil society in front of the United Nations Office in Geneva.

For the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council, the EU co-sponsered a ministerial side event on "Aggression against Ukraine: Human Rights and Humanitarian Impact in Ukraine and Beyond" that took place on 27 February 2023.

369 days ago history stood still as Russia brutally invaded Ukraine. One year later, what do we see? In Ukraine, countless blatant violations of international human rights & humanitarian law, including war crimes. Across Europe, more than 8 million refugees.

EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore

Last but not least, during the speech of Russia’s Deputy Minister Ryabkov spreading Kremlin propaganda at the Conference on Disarmament and the Human Rights Council on 2 March 2023, EU Ambassadors and like-minded gathered together with the Ukrainian Ambassador in front of the conference room at the United Nations Geneva Office expressing their solidarity with Ukraine.