OSCE Special Permanent Council No.1446 Vienna, 6 October 2023

1. Mr. Chair, allow me to start by thanking the North Macedonia OSCE Chairpersonship for organising this special meeting of the Permanent Council.
2. Day after day, through its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression, Russia is systematically causing death and destruction in Ukraine, deliberately targeting Ukrainian cities and civilian objects, including grain storage facilities, energy infrastructure and ports, not only in the Black Sea, but also on the Danube close to the border of EU Member States. Russia’s appalling terror against Ukraine’s civilian population shows no signs of abating and reached another grim landmark yesterday. An attack targeted a café and a grocery store in the settlement of Hroza in Kupiansk, Kharkiv oblast, killing at least fifty two people, including a child and injuring many others.
3. This was yet another heinous attack against innocent civilians, in addition to Russia’s continued daily indiscriminate attacks near the frontlines. Earlier on the same day, Russia had attacked a hospital in Beryslav, Kherson region. This morning, Russia launched yet another missile attack on Kharkiv centre, damaging two apartment buildings and destroying a three-storey residential building. According to reports, a 10-year-old boy was found dead under the rubble, and at least twenty people were injured.
4. The European Union reiterates its strongest condemnation of Russia’s continued attacks. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects is a war crime. Russia’s leadership, all commanders, perpetrators and accomplices of these atrocities will be held to account. The EU is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for all crimes committed in connection with Russia‘s war of aggression against Ukraine, including for the crime of aggression. There will be no impunity.
5. We will continue striving for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula, which is premised on full respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within the country’s internationally recognised borders.
6. Russia must immediately stop its war of aggression, 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 reiterate our strong call on the Belarusian authorities to stop enabling Russia’s war of aggression and providing support to Russia, and to abide by their international obligations.
7. The EU commends the strength, courage, and resistance of the Ukrainian people. The EU stands with Ukraine in firm solidarity and will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, and BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, the Potential Candidate Country GEORGIA, and the EFTA countries ICELAND and LIECHTENSTEIN, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA, MONACO 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.