EU Statement on the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine

As delivered at the 1495th Meeting of the Permanent Council, Vienna, 7 November 2024

  1. 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.

  2. We are deeply concerned about the report presented on 29 October by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (CoI) to the UN General Assembly, which confirms that there is sufficient evidence to determine that Russian authorities have acted pursuant to a coordinated state policy and have therefore committed torture as a crime against humanity. Previously, the Commission had concluded that the use of torture by Russian authorities constituted war crimes. Additional cases of torture against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war indicate that Russia has resorted to widespread and systematic torture in all temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine, as well as in detention facilities within Russia itself. Former detainees consistently described the same harsh practices intended to intimidate, break, humiliate, coerce, and punish. As also previously reported by the HRMMU, the CoI confirms that sexual violence as a form of torture, primarily targeting male detainees, has been recurrent in detention facilities operated by Russian authorities. The Commission also found that detainees in facilities controlled by Russian authorities often faced a general lack or outright denial of medical assistance, including those who were injured, ill, or required treatment following torture.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Russia‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is an attack on a free and democratic Europe. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. The EU strongly condemns the persistent shelling by Russia of Ukraine’s critical civilian infrastructure, in particular its energy infrastructure. According to the 29 October report by the CoI to the UN General Assembly, power cuts have impacted millions of civilians, restricting their rights to health and education and having severe effects on children, older adults, and persons with disabilities or medical conditions. Meanwhile, Kherson and other regional settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River are subjected to daily Russian attacks. On 3 November, Russian shelling injured a paramedic and an ambulance driver in the village of Bilozerka, and damaged a medical facility. On the same evening, Russian forces struck Kharkiv twice with guided aircraft bombs, hitting a supermarket near high-rise residential buildings and injuring 14 people, according to the city’s mayor. The strikes reportedly also damaged power lines and ground electric transport. We remind 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.