Denmark on behalf of 26 EU-members: Statement on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

As delivered at the 1539th meeting of The Permanent Council to the OSCE, Vienna, 23 October.

  1. The European Union strongly condemns the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

  2. Russian forces have continued to launch attacks on Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties and damage. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, total civilian casualties from January to September 2025 are 31 per cent higher than the same period last year. Russia has also continued to target civilian objects, including energy infrastructure, intending to cripple Ukraine’s energy resilience ahead of the winter season. On 19 October, Russia launched a large-scale attack against a coal mine in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, trapping 192 employees underground. There have been six large-scale attacks on DTEK coal enterprises over the past two months. On 20 October, a Russian attack on Chernihiv cut off power to parts of northern Ukraine.

  3. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes.

  4. We condemn the attack on a World Health Organization team accompanying a United Nations convoy in Ukraine. The convoy, delivering medical aid to Bilozerka, came under fire, and two World Food Programme trucks were damaged. Attacks on humanitarian workers, assets and operations violate international humanitarian law and undermine the lifelines that sustain the people affected by the war. The EU echoes the UN’s call to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.

  5. The EU calls on Russia to immediately end its war of aggression, withdraw all its forces from Ukraine, and commit to a full, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire as a basis for genuine peace negotiations. Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defence in full accordance with international law and as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. In coordination with like-minded partners and allies, we will continue to provide multifaceted support, including political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people. Our firm support has been reinforced during recent visits of EU officials to Kyiv.

  6. The EU remains determined to ensure full accountability for war crimes and other serious violations committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as to ensure victims’ rights to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. We reiterate our demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of war and civilians arbitrarily detained by Russia, including the three OSCE officials, Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, as well as for the safe and prompt return of all forcibly transferred and deported Ukrainian children.

  7. We condemn Russia’s ongoing attempts to illegally integrate or annex parts of Ukraine’s territory, in blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, as well as OSCE core principles and commitments. Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea are — and will remain — Ukraine. All states have an obligation under international law not to recognise such annexations.

  8. We condemn the continued support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine provided by third countries, such as the DPRK, Belarus, Iran, and actors and entities therein. We urge all countries to cease all assistance, including the provision of both military and dual-use goods and other sensitive items that sustain Russia’s military industrial base. In this vein, and as stated by the G7 Foreign Ministers and the EU High Representative, China is also a decisive enabler of Russia’s war.

  9. We will continue to raise the cost for Moscow by ramping up sanctions significantly on Russia and its enablers. We will also work with our international partners to put pressure on Russia to end this war. A new sanctions package aims to tighten pressure on Moscow’s energy and financial sectors.

  10. The European Union and its Member States will continue to work, together with international partners, for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on international law. The path to peace cannot be laid out without Ukraine, nor can decisions affecting the security of Europe be taken without Europe’s participation. Meaningful negotiations require a full, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire. We reiterate that any credible approach to achieving peace must necessarily include concrete humanitarian measures. The EU and its Member States are ready to contribute to security commitments, underlining that Ukraine must be able to defend itself, cooperate with third