President,

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

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

I would like to commend the efforts of Switzerland in holding a successful 'Summit on Peace in Ukraine'. 

Let me highlight three points:

1) First, the Summit reconfirmed the strong support for the UN Charter and international law.  Representatives from 100 countries from all continents and international organizations participated, a majority at the highest level.

With broad participation and for the first time at the highest political level, the Summit confirmed the need to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on the UN Charter and international law. 

We welcome the joint communique adopted at the Summit, which emphasised international law, including the UN Charter and relevant UNGA resolutions. The EU stands ready to support tangible steps for its follow-up.

The Summit also addressed more specific issues of vital interest to the whole world  and committed to undertake concrete steps in the future, engaging partners globally : 1) ensuring security and safety of nuclear installations in Ukraine,  and recalling that any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine is inadmissible ; 2) ensuring food security and freedom of navigation, 3) facilitating the exchange of captives and ensuring the return of the many thousands of Ukrainian children  to Ukraine. It is now up to Russia to show its readiness to make tangible progress and demonstrate with its actions a clear commitment to the UN Charter.

2) Unfortunately, while we were discussing the way to peace in Ukraine, Russia continued its indiscriminate shelling on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Rolling blackouts are now affecting all regions of Ukraine, including the capital city of Kyiv. This leaves essential services and infrastructure without electricity for up to 12 hours a day.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions recently visited Ukraine to investigate on the reported alarming scale and gravity of the violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by Russia since the onset of its full-scale invasion, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and beyond.

3) Russia and its leadership must be held 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.

The Children and Armed Conflict report this year again, lists the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups for killing and maiming, as well as for attacks on schools and hospitals.

The EU has joined the 'International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children'. The EU is engaged in efforts to bring back home the Ukrainian children who were deported and forcibly transferred by Russia. Russia will be held accountable for these wrongful acts which may amount to war crimes.

President,

In closing, let me reaffirm the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

Let us be clear. While under aggression, Ukraine is trying to chart a path towards a just and sustainable peace. It seeks to defend international law and the UN charter.

Russia, on the other hand, doubles down on war and human suffering. It seeks to annex another state’s sovereign territory. It seeks control over another independent state’s domestic and foreign policies. All while continuing to violate international humanitarian law.

The EU will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed.

I thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.