Statement on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

As delivered Denmark on behalf of 26 EU-members at the 1536th meeting of The Permanent Council to the OSCE, Vienna, 16 October.

  1. The European Union strongly condemns the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

  2. Recent Russian attacks have again caused multiple civilian casualties, including a seven-year-old child in the Zaporizhzhia region, while many more others were reported injured in Kyiv, in the Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. At least 214 civilians were killed and almost 1,000 injured in Ukraine last month, in an alarming increase compared to previous years, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission. We strongly condemn all these brutal attacks against civilians, and we express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

  3. As noted also in the recent statement of the OSCE Troika, over the past week, Russia has intensified its deliberate attacks by missiles and drones against Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure with major impacts on the supply of essential services to the civilian population. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian forces launched more than 3,100 drones, 1,360 glide bombs, and 92 missiles on Ukraine. We strongly condemn these attacks against civilian objects aimed at crippling Ukraine’s energy resilience ahead of the winter season. As announced by the High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas during her recent visit to Kyiv on 13 October 2025, the European Union has already mobilised €800 million to support Ukraine this winter and we are working on an extra €100 million for generators, shelters and cold weather gear.

  4. We remind Russia that intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes.

  5. The EU calls on Russia to immediately end its war of aggression, withdraw all its forces from Ukraine, and commit to a full, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire as a basis for genuine peace negotiations. Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defence in full accordance with international law and as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. 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. The EU’s firm support has been reinforced during recent visits of EU officials to Kyiv.

  6. The EU remains determined to ensure full accountability for war crimes and other serious violations committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as victims’ rights to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. The progress made on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, to which the EU has pledged 10 million EUR, and on a Claims Commission for Ukraine within the framework of the Council of Europe, are important steps towards accountability.

  7. We reiterate 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, as well as for the safe and prompt return of all forcibly transferred and deported Ukrainian children.

  8. We condemn Russia’s ongoing attempts to illegally integrate or annex parts of Ukraine’s territory, in blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, as well as OSCE core principles and commitments. Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea are — and will remain — Ukraine. All states have an obligation under international law not to recognise such annexations.

  9. We also denounce the repeated violations of the airspace of EU Member States by Russia, which represent a serious escalation and further undermines regional security.

  10. 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 both military and dual-use goods and other 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.

  11. 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.

  12. The European Union and its Member States will continue to work, together with international partners, for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on international law. The path to peace cannot be laid out without Ukraine, nor can decisions affecting the security of Europe be taken without Europe’s participation. Meaningful negotiations require a full, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire. We reiterate that any credible approach to achieving peace must necessarily include concrete humanitarian measures. The EU and its Member States are ready to contribute to security commitments, underlining that Ukraine must be able to defend itself, cooperate with third countries, and be able to freely pursue its path to the EU and NATO.