OSCE Permanent Council No. 1564 - EU Statement on the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine
OSCE Permanent Council No. 1564
Vienna, 14 May 2026
EU Statement on the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine
Mr. Chair,
On 11 May in Brussels, the European Union, Ukraine, and Canada co-hosted the High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of the Ukrainian Children. Representatives from nearly 60 countries attended to step up collective action for the return and reintegration of all Ukrainian children forcibly transferred or deported by Russia, as well as to ensure full accountability for these crimes committed by Russia. We welcome the participation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President in the event.
According to Ukrainian estimates, Russia has forcibly transferred and deported nearly 20 500 Ukrainian children, aiming to erase their Ukrainian identity and undermine Ukraine’s future. Millions more have been deprived of a safe childhood. At last week’s side-event on Ukrainian Children at War: Abduction, Accountability, and Repatriation, co-organised by 42 delegations to OSCE, one child shared a harrowing first-hand account of their ordeal.
Russia’s actions constitute grave breaches of international law and a violation of the rights of the child, as also documented by the International Commission of Inquiry and OSCE Moscow Mechanism expert mission. In response, we have adopted further restrictive measures against 16 individuals and 7 entities responsible for the systematic deportation, forced transfer, and assimilation of Ukrainian minors, including through indoctrination, militarised education, and unlawful adoption.
The OSCE Moscow Mechanism remains a crucial tool in our efforts to ensure accountability and we will continue to make full use of it. The OSCE therefore plays and will continue to play a role in view of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The European Union will further support the Ukrainian authorities and civil society organisations working to bring home the deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Additionally, we are allocating an extra €50 million
to strengthen Ukraine's child protection system, expand child-centred and community-based services, support early childhood education, improve access to justice, and reinforce digital systems, including for compensation claims.
Mr. Chair,
The EU’s firm condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine—a blatant violation of international law—remains unwavering. Russia’s strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine remained intense, even during the ceasefire over the weekend, causing further civilian fatalities and destruction. Yesterday and overnight, Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks, with repeated waves of drones targeting multiple regions across Ukraine, killing six people and injuring many more. We unequivocally condemn these attacks and demand Russia to cease its aggression, withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The EU stands firm in its pursuit of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on international law, including the rules and principles of the UN Charter and of the Helsinki Final Act. We urge Russia to show its genuine commitment to peace by agreeing to a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire and engage in meaningful negotiations.
The EU remains steadfast in its comprehensive support for Ukraine—political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic—in close coordination with partners and allies. The EU and its Member States are ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, based on their respective competences and capabilities and in line with international law. We will also ramp up pressure on Russia and its enablers.
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 by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK, among others.
We condemn the breaches of the national airspace of EU Member States, most recently of Romania and Latvia. By waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia is creating risks of security incidents across the wider region. We express our full solidarity with all EU Member States and countries that continue to be provoked and threatened by Russia.
Mr Chair,
While we welcome the news regarding a planned swap of 1 000 prisoners of war, we restate our demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of war and civilians arbitrarily detained by Russia. We also reiterate our call for an immediate and unconditional release of the three OSCE officials: Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov and we expect the Secretary General to continue his efforts to this end.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.