OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation N°1035 Vienna, 8 February 2023
Mr Chair, for almost a year, Russia has been waging a deliberate, unprovoked,
unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. The fact that this Russian
aggression is illegal under international law is beyond any doubt. We, and an
overwhelming majority of colleagues around this table, did and will continue to
condemn in the strongest possible terms this outrageous violation by Russia of
international law, the UN Charter and OSCE principles and commitments. The
Russian delegation here, and in other international fora, should stop their
preposterous claim of being the “victim”. Russia is the aggressor, with its forces
deployed on another sovereign state's territory. Not the other way around.
The past tragic 350 days are a striking testimony to the grave miscalculation by
the Kremlin to invade Ukraine. Those in Russia who, a year ago, had been
readying themselves for a parade in Kyiv had to rapidly change their plans. In his
speech in the morning hours of 24 February 2022, President Putin tried to coax the
international community into passivity by threatening it with "consequences that you
have never faced in your history". That threat did not intimidate anyone. The
Kremlin underestimated the tenacity and resolve of Ukraine and the
Ukrainian people in defending their homeland, their freedom and their European
future. In strong unity, also underestimated by the Kremlin, we, along with our
international partners, chose to stand with Ukraine by providing it, in line with
Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, with the means to defend itself. That
was and is the right thing to do.
Mr Chair, Russia's war is not only senseless but extremely ruthless. Last week,
when the Russian representative in this Forum was peddling the usual mix of
threats and disinformation, on the 5th floor in the Ratsaal, survivors from the
Kherson region, including a 14-year-old boy, were describing their horrific first-hand experience of what it meant to live under the Russian occupation. Pain, torture,
electroshocking, beatings were some of those traumatic experiences. Those were
cases from the territory of Kherson that was liberated back in November. We can
only imagine what other violations of IHL are happening in other territories of
Ukraine, currently under Russian control. As long as Russia’s brutal war of
aggression and the Russian illegal occupation continue, Ukrainians cannot feel
safe and secure. Systematic and deliberate bombings and shelling of Ukrainian
cities, Ukrainian population and critical civilian infrastructure, regular air-raid sirens,
inhumane treatment of PoWs, and forceful deportation of children must not be
tolerated.
The atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine must end; the sooner the better for
all of us, including for Russia. For the time being, Russia has not shown any
genuine willingness regarding negotiations for a fair and sustainable peace. We
support the peace formula of President Zelenskyy and are committed to
actively work with Ukraine on the implementation of the 10-point plan.
The EU is engaging with Ukraine and international partners to ensure full
accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes in connection with
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including the crime of aggression. We
support inter alia the development of an international centre for the prosecution of
the crime of aggression in Ukraine in The Hague. Its objective will be to coordinate
investigation, preserve and store evidence for future trials.
Mr Chair, the European Union and its Member States are determined to
support Ukraine, the victim of Russia's aggression, for as long as it takes. Last
week, the leadership of the EU travelled to Kyiv to participate in the first ever
meeting of the European Commission with the Ukrainian government on 2 February
and at the 24th EU-Ukraine Summit on 3 February. They delivered a clear message
of solidarity with Ukraine and its brave people.
The EU and Member States have already mobilised €12 billion worth of
weapons and related supplies for Ukraine. €3.6 billion of this amount comes
from the European Peace Facility. Together with macro-financial and humanitarian
aid, our total support to date is approximately €50 billion.
Moreover, the EU and its Member States are an essential provider of military
training for Ukrainian personnel. The EU Military Assistance Mission is on track to
have trained 15,000 troops by May. We will double the effort and train another 15,000 by the end of the year. The EU is also working on a tenth package of
sanctions, having already cut the dependence on Russian energy imports within
just a few months. The war costs the Kremlin dearly, and these costs will only
rise the longer it lasts.
Last but not least, we urge Russia to release the three illegally detained OSCE
staff members and to return the stolen OSCE SMM armoured vehicles to their
legitimate owner, all OSCE participating States.
In conclusion, we urge Russia to stop its war of aggression and to immediately,
completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from
the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We
also urge the Belarusian authorities to stop their support of and refrain from
any further involvement in or facilitation of Russia's illegal war of aggression.
Thank you!
The Candidate Countries REPUBLIC of NORTH MACEDONIA*,
MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE and REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, the
Potential Candidate Country GEORGIA the EFTA countries NORWAY,
ICELAND and LIECHTENSTEIN, members of the European Economic
Area, as well ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this
statement.
* Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be
part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.