Thank you, Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the following EU Member States: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Cyprus, and also, on behalf of the following participating States that joined this statement: Ukraine, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway and North Macedonia.
1. Madam Chair, the EU and its Member States resolutely condemn Russia’s illegal,
unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, as well as core OSCE principles and commitments.
2. On the night of 11-12 February, Russia launched yet another massive airstrike on Ukraine, targeting Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa, focusing on the energy infrastructure including heat and power plants as well as substations connecting transmission and distribution power grids. According to reports, 24 Iskander M ballistic missiles, one cruise missile and over 200 drones of various types were launched by Russia. The attack on the capital lasted for more than three hours, leaving around 2,500 apartment blocks without heating. Over 100,000 households were without electricity. All this at a time of low winter temperatures across the country. This is just one example of what High Representative Kallas highlighted last week: ‘Russia continues to answer diplomacy with missiles.’ During the weekend, power and water were disrupted in Odesa, just ahead of a new round of trilateral talks which started yesterday. Russia’s actions show that Moscow is not interested in peace. The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States.
3. Yet, Ukraine needs peace and no more suffering inflicted by Russian attacks, no more civilians freezing in the coldest temperatures since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression hitting -25⁰C and dying as Russia continues to deliberately and massively target all elements of Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Russia’s war of aggression must end. The EU and its Member States support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We welcome the ongoing diplomatic efforts to put an end to the war and urge Russia to agree to a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire. Ukraine has demonstrated a strong willingness to end the war and has made significant concessions. Thanks to the active role of the United States, there is now room for real progress towards peace. Now it is time for Russian concessions. Ukrainian borders must not be changed by force. Any future agreement must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term security and ability to defend itself and to prevent any future aggression.
4. Russia must stop its aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
5. The EU and its Member States strongly condemn support by third countries, and actors and entities therein, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine. We condemn the continued military support provided by Belarus, Iran and the DPRK.
6. We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to
Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. In this vein, and as stated by G7
Foreign Ministers and the HRVP, China is also a decisive enabler of Russia’s war.
7. We reaffirm our strong commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
8. Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defence and the EU and its Member
States will continue their multi-faceted support, including political, financial,
economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support. EU military support to
Ukraine was again addressed at the meeting of EU defence ministers last week which was also attended in person by Ukrainian Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov. The meeting took place shortly after the European Parliament adopted the Ukraine support loan (total EUR 90 billion), EUR 60 billion of which will be allocated to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities and support the procurement of military equipment.
9. Russia is not invincible. Its casualties on the battlefield are surging and its economy is deteriorating. As the High Representative said before the meeting of defence ministers: ‘Russia is not winning this war’.
Thank you