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 following participating States have joined the Statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine.
1. Mr. Chair, two days ago we marked a brutal and senseless anniversary: four years since Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine began. It has resulted in more than 50 000 civilian casualties, almost 2 million soldiers dead or severely wounded, and millions of lives shattered. On the eve of this tragic anniversary, Russia continued its targeted attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, further exploiting winter for strategic purposes and causing massive destruction. A large-scale combined attack against Kyiv, Odesa, Kirovohrad and Poltava Oblasts using up to 22 ballistic missiles, 18 cruise missiles and almost 300 drones took place last Saturday. This left at least one dead and many injured. While many of us gather here, in Vienna, to honour the victims of this brutal war, the Russian Federation was allowed to use the OSCE platform to advance narratives that distort the reality of its continued aggression.
2. It has also been four years of incredible resilience of the Ukrainian people; and four years of continuous EU support to Ukraine. We will continue to strengthen Ukraine. We will continue to provide, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people.
3. Four years on, Moscow has failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives. Its military is bogged down. Its oil industry is decimated by sanctions. Its economy cannot sustain the war and is in rapid decline. Russian citizens increasingly feel the brunt of war. In 2025, Russia’s war budget reached 7.2% of GDP. Sustaining this level of defence spending translates into rising taxes for Russian citizens, and detracts from social and civilian needs and from education. Crucially, EU sanctions are increasingly constraining Russia’s economy and industrial base, and their long-term impact on Russia is becoming clearly visible. Russia is not winning this war. We will continue to put pressure on Russia so that it ceases its aggression and begins to treat peace talks seriously by agreeing to a complete, immediate and total ceasefire and engaging in constructive and meaningful negotiations.
4. In coordination with our allies, we continue to pursue a just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law and we welcome the latest talks in Geneva. Any sustainable peace requires robust security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent renewed aggression. The EU and its Member States are ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, based on their respective competences and capabilities and in line with international law. This includes supporting Ukraine’s ability to deter aggression and defend itself effectively. The OSCE plays and will continue to play a role in view of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
5. We reiterate the need to ensure full accountability for war crimes and other serious violations of international law committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The OSCE has an important role through its human rights mechanisms, ODIHR’s monitoring activities and engagement with civil society. We restate 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. We welcome the fact that 2,000 Ukrainian children were brought back home as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, but we call again for the immediate, unconditional, and safe return of all Ukrainian children deported to Russia or forcibly transferred within temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
6. 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 the cessation of all assistance, including the provision of military and dual-use goods and other sensitive items that sustain Russia’s military industrial base. As stated by the G7 Foreign Ministers and the EU High Representative, China is also a decisive enabler of Russia’s war.
7. We reiterate, again, our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Russia must stop its aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine.
Thank you, Chair