Dear Colleagues,
4 years of war. 4 years of Russian brutality. 4 years of Ukrainian courage. And let us not forget, 12 years after Crimea.
Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, this war is no longer only a battlefield confrontation. It is a defining moment for European security. It tests whether borders in Europe can be redrawn by force, whether international law still restrains power, and whether the commitments we have undertaken in this Organization still carry meaning.
The responsibility for this war lies with Moscow. It continues because of political choices. It can end through political choices.
Russia hoped for a short war. Instead, it has triggered a long-term strategic awakening in Europe.
There is one undeniable reality in this war. Russia started it and Russia can end it today. Despite repeated claims of readiness for peace, Russia’s actions tell another story. Missile and drone strikes continue. Civilians continue to pay the price. There is no alternative interpretation of these facts.
Norway will continue to translate its commitment to Ukraine into practical support. Through the Nansen Support Programme, we provide long-term military, humanitarian and civilian assistance. We are strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capacity and supporting demining efforts. We are contributing to the restoration and protection of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, helping secure electricity supply through the winter, and supporting reforms that anchor Ukraine even more firmly in the European energy market. We will also continue our efforts to hold those responsible for international crimes to account.
We again call on Russia to end this war of aggression and to immediately release our three unlawfully detained OSCE colleagues: Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov.
Either we reaffirm that sovereignty matters or we accept a Europe defined by spheres of influence. Norway chooses the first.