OSCE 92nd Joint FSC - PC meeting Vienna, 6 November 2024

1.Chairs, the decision to convene today’s joint FSC-PC meeting presents an opportunity to all participating States to address pressing politico-military matters, particularly Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

2.The EU and its Member States are deeply alarmed by the presence of DPRK’s troops on Russian soil in support of Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as continuing DPRK arms transfers to Russia. Such cooperation is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. This hostile act by the DPRK against Ukraine is an escalation and a threat to European and global peace and security. Russia’s deepening military cooperation with the DPRK sends a clear message: despite its deceptively stated readiness to negotiate, Russia is not sincerely interested in a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine. On the contrary, Russia is escalating and desperately seeking any help for its war of aggression, including from actors that are severely threatening global peace and security.

3.Russia and the DPRK must immediately cease these actions. The EU and its Member States commit to closely monitoring the situation and actively pursuing necessary measures together with the international community.

4.These extremely worrying developments breach the most fundamental principles governing international affairs, to which both the EU and its Member States and our Asian Partners for Cooperation are firmly committed. They also highlight the interconnected nature of security between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

5.Chairs, the EU and its Member States reiterate that Russia must immediately stop its unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression, put an end to this unbearable suffering and devastation, and completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We also robustly condemn the continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine provided by

third countries, such as Belarus, Iran and the DPRK. We urge all countries not to provide any material or support for Russia’s war of aggression, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and the OSCE core principles and commitments. This includes not only direct military support but also the provision of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia’s military industrial base.

Thank you, Chairs.

The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA, the EFTA countries ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN and NORWAY, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.

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