Once again, the EU condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and OSCE core principles and commitments. We urge the aggressor, Russia, to immediately stop its war of aggression, and to completely and unconditionally withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
As we approach 1,000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we are witnessing a disturbing surge in aerial attacks by Russia targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Last week, a missile attack on Zaporizhzhia killed six people and injured at least 20, followed by a bombing on 7 November that killed four people and wounded 33 others, including a four-month-old girl and two boys. On 11 November, further Russian aerial attacks in the Mykolaiv region and Zaporizhzhia killed at least six people and injured 21 more, including five children, according to Ukrainian regional governors. Over the past two months, the use of long-range drone attacks and the massive deployment of decoy and surveillance drones to mislead Ukrainian air defences by Russian forces has escalated dramatically. This demonstrates a calculated strategy of terror designed to instil fear among the Ukrainian people. On 10 November, two Russian decoy drones even crashed in the Republic of Moldova, violating Moldovan airspace. Nightly bombings have become a grim reality for residents of Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Odesa. Notably, Russia’s large-scale drone attack on Kyiv on the night of 6-7 November, damaged residential buildings, including the apartment block of Estonia’s ambassador to Ukraine, which underscores the indiscriminate nature of these attacks. The EU strongly condemns Russia's aerial attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and reminds Russia that attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, are clear violations of international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes. Russia‘s reckless escalation continues to put civilian lives in Ukraine and neighbouring countries across the region at grave risk.
There can be no impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other crimes committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including the crime of aggression. All those responsible must and will be held accountable.
The EU remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to providing continued multifaceted support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed, based on Ukraine’s urgent needs. Russia must not prevail. Most recently on 8 November, the Council adopted a decision extending the mandate of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) for a further two years, with a budget allocation of nearly €409 million for the period from 14 November 2024 to 15 November
2026.
Russia‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is an attack on a free and democratic Europe and its values. The EU will stand by Ukraine as it fights to retain its independence and sovereignty and regain its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Through its defensive operations to diminish Russia’s capacity to wage its war of aggression, Ukraine is exercising its inherent right to self-defence, in full accordance with international law and as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The EU reiterates its firm support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, and in line with the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, with full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also stress that no initiative about Ukraine can be taken without Ukraine. The EU will remain closely involved in the matter and further joint international efforts.
The EU condemns all attempts by Russia to forcibly and illegally integrate or annex parts of Ukraine’s territory. We reiterate that all such attempts remain futile and constitute a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and all states have an obligation under international law to not recognise such annexations. Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, as well as Crimea are Ukraine.
We will continue to demand the immediate release by Russia of all individuals arbitrarily or unlawfully deprived of their liberty, including the three arbitrarily detained OSCE officials, and their safe return to their Ukrainian families and communities.
The EU remains deeply concerned about the fate of all Ukrainian children and other civilians unlawfully deported and transferred to Russia and Belarus. We reiterate our urgent call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure their safe return to Ukraine. We welcome and strongly support frameworks to help bring Ukrainian children home to their families and communities, such as the Ministerial Conference on the Human
Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula on 30-31 October in Montreal. We look forward to following-up on the Conference’s recommendations, including within the OSCE framework.
The EU strongly condemns the DPRK’s deployment of troops and provision of arms to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine, in violation of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. These destabilising and illegal actions endanger regional and international peace and security. We strongly call on Russia and the DPRK to immediately cease their unlawful military cooperation
and to withdraw DPRK troops from Russia.
The EU reiterates its strong condemnation of third countries’ continued support for Russia’s war of aggression and continues to urges them to cease all assistance. This includes not only direct military support but also the provision of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia’s military industrial base.
The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*,
UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and
GEORGIA, and the EFTA countries ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN and NORWAY,
members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and MONACO
align themselves with this statement.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue
to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process