Denmark on behalf of 26 EU member states: Statement on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

Thank you, Chair,

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. 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. All victims deserve justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition.
5. From the very beginning of the war, Russia has intentionally been directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects. Over the last week we have seen an escalation of the attacks that caused immense suffering, death and destruction. In one single night, Russia sent over 800 drones to Ukraine. We strongly condemn these attacks. We remind Russia that intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes.
6. We support all efforts to urgently increase Ukraine’s energy security before the winter and address the immediate humanitarian and civil protection needs of the Ukrainian population while making Ukraine’s energy system more resilient in the long-term. The EU has released an extra EUR 40 million to support Ukrainians facing a fourth winter amid Russia’s aggression.
7. We condemn the military re-education and indoctrination of the Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine or unlawfully deported to Russia and Belarus, 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. Recent public report by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab shed even more light on the matter.
8. We will also continue to demand the immediate and unconditional release and safe return of all civilians arbitrarily detained in Russia, including the three OSCE officials, Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov.
9. As stated last week, we also condemn in the strongest terms the unacceptable violation of the airspace of EU Member States by Russian drones, as part of a serious escalation.
10. The European Union also remains unwavering and unequivocal in its strong condemnation of the persistent malicious activities posed by Russia. We strongly condemn Russia's persistent and growing hybrid threats aimed at undermining democratic elections in the Republic of Moldova, including through information manipulation and interference, such as large-scale electoral corruption using local proxies. The European Union is determined to continue supporting the resilience of the Republic of Moldova in countering these destabilizing actions, including through the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova.
11. 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. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be laid out 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 welcomes the efforts towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and 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.
12. On 14 September, Russian authorities hold regional and local elections, including in the illegally annexed Crimea, namely the city of Sevastopol. The EU does not recognise either the so-called “elections” or their results in the temporarily occupied territory. We reiterate that any attempts to illegally integrate or annex parts of an other 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.
13. We will raise the cost for Moscow further 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.
14. 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.
15.  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 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.