Thank you, Chairs,
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. Chairs, thank you for giving us the opportunity to address Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine during today’s joint FSC-PC meeting. This is especially
timely as yesterday we solemnly marked four years since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
2. The four years which have passed since are four years which brought unspeakable suffering and destruction to Ukrainians. Be it Ukrainian soldiers exercising their rightful self-defence against the aggressor or Ukrainian civilians subject to Russia’s deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, in particular energy infrastructure, they all bear the brunt of the brutal actions of the Russian Federation. 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. The negative repercussions of the war are felt globally, including in Russia.
3. Russia’s war of aggression has now lasted for almost 1500 days and every day it continues is one too many. The war must end with a just and lasting peace, one that will also provide robust security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent further aggression. A peace that respects Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula are part of Ukraine.
4. To this end, the EU and its Member States will continue providing multi-faceted support, including political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support. We will also continue to use other measures that help undermine Russia’s ability to wage its war, in particular sanctions.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine now entering its fifth year, Russia has gained little and lost a lot. With its casualties continuing to increase and the economic situation in Russia deteriorating, Russia is also inflicting pain on its own population. And while Russia is the one who bears the sole responsibility for starting the war as well as for its continuing consequences, it could also stop the war. Yet, unlike Ukraine, it shows no willingness to do so.
9. 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.
10.Chairs, the EU and its Member States keep standing with Ukraine and its people. Russia will be held accountable for every life it shattered.
Thank you Chairs