1. Mister Chair, thank you again for convening the discussion on humanitarian mine action last week. Presentations made by panellists with their diverse experiences and the participating States’ statements which followed confirmed the importance of this subject for the work of this Forum. In particular, the presentation by Japan, an OSCE partner for co-operation, clearly exemplified how Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine as well as the topic of mine action and victim assistance resonate well beyond the OSCE area.
2. We also continue to look forward to the other three security dialogues envisaged by your Chairpersonship, be it on international humanitarian law, environment and security, or the women, peace and security agenda. These topics are just as relevant as they are timely for the work in the FSC.
3. The onslaught of the Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine has continued since. Shortly before the previous FSC meeting, on 23 January, Russia, as if to further test the cohesion and fortitude of Ukrainians who marked their Unity Day a day before, launched a wave of its missiles deliberately targeting Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine. At least 18 people were killed and more than 100 wounded, with missiles hitting and damaging or completely destroying many residential buildings. Despite these appalling conditions, Ukrainians have once again shown their resolve. And this also applies to the EU and the EU Member States’ political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for them.
4. The Ukrainian soldiers are bravely defending their country and as European Union High Representative Borrell made clear after the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers last week, Ukraine is also defending Europe’s security and European values. The EU will continue to stand by Ukraine in its defence of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders for as long as it takes and for Ukraine to rightfully defend itself against Russia’s brutal war of aggression and achieve the just and lasting peace it deserves.
5. The EU and its Member States reiterate – there is no justification for this horrendous war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia started it and must be held fully accountable for all its reprehensible actions and for the victims all over the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine, be it in Kyiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk or in the Crimean Peninsula.
6. As the European leaders made clear at their latest European Council meeting, ‘the EU and its Member States will continue their intensive global outreach efforts and cooperation with Ukraine and partners from all regions of the world to ensure the widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, with a view to a future Global Peace Summit.’ The participation of representatives from 83 countries in Davos to discuss Ukraine’s Peace Formula demonstrated an overarching desire for peace and the growing isolation of Russia across the globe.
7. Mister Chair, the EU and its Member States reiterate that Russia must immediately stop its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified 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 condemn the continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine provided by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK. We urge all countries not to provide material or other support for Russia’s war of aggression, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and the OSCE’s core principles and commitments.

Thank you.
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, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.