Thank you, Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the following EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
- The EU reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and OSCE core principles and commitments, and reaffirms its continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
- 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. Ukraine exercises 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 the call on Russia to cease its war of aggression, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and agree to a full, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire as a path to meaningful peace negotiations.
- From the outset, Russia has terrorised the Ukrainian population with its relentless, deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, including critical civilian infrastructure. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. We thank the Finnish Chairpersonship for addressing Russia’s recent brutal attacks against civilians and civilian objects during the Special PC on Tuesday this week. In the following night, Russia carried out an airstrike in the village of Yarova that caused multiple casualties. These attacks have to end! Russia’s war is escalating, not ending.
- We reaffirm EU’s commitment to ensuring that those responsible for war crimes and other most serious crimes committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine are fully held accountable, as well as to ensuring victims’ rights to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. Also the progress made on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and a Claims Commission for Ukraine within the framework of the Council of Europe is an important step towards accountability.
- We will continue to demand the immediate and unconditional release and safe return of all civilians arbitrarily detained in Russia, including the three arbitrarily detained OSCE officials, Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov. We call on Russia to ensure unimpeded access of the ICRC and human rights monitoring mechanisms to prisoners of war and civilian detainees.
- The EU also reiterates its urgent call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure the safe return of all Ukrainian children forcibly transferred by Russia within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine or unlawfully deported to Russia and Belarus. We condemn the military re-education and indoctrination of these children, as well as the deliberate actions undertaken in violation of these children’s rights to their Ukrainian nationality, identity, name and family relations. These violations have been documented by the May 2023 Moscow Mechanism report and other international monitoring mechanisms. We recall the six arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, including against President Putin for the war crime of the unlawful deportation and unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children. All State Parties to the Rome Statute are under the obligation to execute arrest warrants issued by the ICC.
- The EU will continue to demand a just and lasting peace that brings stability and security based on international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force. We reiterate that any attempts to illegally integrate or annex parts of another state’s territory constitute a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, as well as OSCE core principles and commitments. All states have an obligation under international law to not recognise such annexations. Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, as well as Crimea are Ukraine.
- The EU welcomes the efforts of US President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and will continue to actively contribute to all efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine nor can decisions affecting the security of Europe be taken without Europe’s participation. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a full, unconditional, and verifiable ceasefire. The European Union is ready to play its full part in supporting the upcoming steps, together with Ukraine, the United States, and other partners. We reiterate that any credible approach to achieving peace must necessarily include concrete humanitarian measures, including the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of all Ukrainian children and other civilians deported and transferred to Russia and Belarus. We encourage the continued implementation of the agreements reached in the latest round of talks in Istanbul.
- The EU continues to increase pressure on Moscow and will do so as much and for as long as necessary. Sanctions are a key element of the EU's policy to deprive Russia of the means to wage this war. Russia must demonstrate genuine political will to end its war of aggression and engage in constructive and meaningful negotiations.
- The EU and Member States are also ready to further contribute to security guarantees based on their respective competences and capabilities, in line with international law. A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees and key for a lasting peace. There can be no limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces in its cooperation with or assistance from third countries. Russia cannot have a veto on Ukraine’s path to the European Union and NATO.
- We strongly 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 dual-use goods and 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.