EU Statement on the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, OSCE (Special) Permanent Council No. 1576
Today, on 24 August, we mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence – a day dedicated to celebrating Ukraine's freedom and democracy, its unique history, culture, and identity. This day serves as a reminder that Ukraine, as a sovereign, free, and independent state, has the inherent right to choose its own destiny, in full accordance with international law and the Helsinki Final Act. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ukraine, our Ukrainian colleagues, and all Ukrainians on Independence Day.
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Just last Friday, dozens of civilians were killed and many more injured including children in a Russian double-tap strike against a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih. The European Union strongly condemns Russia’s continued and escalated long-range missile and drone attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. In recent weeks, Kyiv and several regional cities have again been subjected to repeated strikes, causing civilian casualties – including children – and widespread destruction. According to UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), civilian casualties in Ukraine have risen steadily from month to month and from year to year, in a disturbing escalation. Between January and June of this year, civilian casualties from long-range weapons such as missiles and drones increased by 60 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. The highest number of civilian fatalities since May 2022 was recorded in July. Russia shows no willingness to end its aggression.
Critical infrastructure – including energy systems, healthcare facilities, housing and ports– continues to be targeted and severely damaged. Humanitarian access remains difficult in the frontline and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Russia has also continued its deliberate attacks on Ukraine’s agriculture and grain export infrastructure, endangering supplies to the world market and thereby global food security. The EU is taking action to help address these consequences.
Mr. Chair,
The European Union remains determined to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We call on Russia to release immediately and unconditionally all unlawfully detained civilians, including the three OSCE staff members — Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, as well as to ensure the immediate and safe return of all deported or forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. We also renew our call on Russia to fully comply with international humanitarian law in its treatment of prisoners of war.
We condemn the violations of the airspace of the EU Member States and repeat that Russia bears full responsibility for the consequences of its escalatory behaviour and its continued military actions, which threaten the security of EU citizens, regional stability and international peace. We stand in full solidarity with all EU Member States and countries that are affected by Russia’s actions. In connection with the naval drone incident close to critical infrastructure in the Black Sea in Romania on 20 August, the President of the EU Commission expressed the EU’s intention to scale up capabilities to respond to emerging threats.
We reiterate our call on Russia to immediately end its war of aggression against Ukraine and agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire – something that has been proposed by Ukraine repeatedly. We remain firmly committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, grounded in international law, the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, and fully respecting Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The EU and its Member States stand ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, in line with international law and their respective competences and capabilities.
We expect the OSCE structures and institutions to continue supporting Ukraine and addressing the consequences of Russia’s aggression, across all dimensions of security. The OSCE plays and will continue to play a role in view of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
We urge all countries to immediately cease any assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, whether direct or indirect, and notably through the provision of dual-use goods and components. In particular, we strongly condemn the deployment of the DPRK’s military forces in the war against Ukraine as well as the continued military support provided to Russia by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK, among others.
The EU does not and will not recognise so-called “elections” by the Russian Federation or their results in the temporarily occupied territories. We reiterate that any attempts to illegally integrate or annex parts of another state’s territory constitute a blatant violation of international law. All states have an obligation under international law not to recognise such annexations, and we call on all countries not to recognize or partake in the monitoring of the upcoming so-called “elections”.
Mr. Chair,
Today, despite the immense challenges it faces, Ukraine is a candidate for membership of the European Union. We continue to strongly support Ukraine on its EU path. Our solidarity with the Ukrainian people has never been stronger, and our commitment to a free, independent and democratic Ukraine has never been more resolute. Ukraine and its people will prevail and achieve the just and lasting peace they deserve.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.