OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation N°1034 Vienna, 1 February 2023

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OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation N°1034 Vienna, 1 February 2023

01.02.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna

EU Statement on the Russian Federation's ongoing aggression against Ukraine

Mr. Chair, today as every other day since 24 February 2022, the European Union and its Member States reiterate their strongest and unequivocal condemnation ofRussia's brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. This war is a flagrantbreach of international law, including the UN Charter and OSCE principles andcommitments, starting with the Helsinki Final Act. Russia's policy of territorialexpansionism, its denial of Ukraine's statehood, its actions aggravating global energyand food security, its attempts to intimidate Europe and, last but not least, itsirresponsible nuclear rhetoric, have put global security and stability at risk.The Kremlin's narrative, presented in this room and elsewhere, portraying Russia asan alleged victim of "the so-called West", is a complete distortion of reality. There canbe no ambiguity in this unjustified war. Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is thevictim. Russia had a choice to abide by international law, to engage in dialogue andto acknowledge and respect agency of its sovereign neighbours. Russia deliberatelydecided to follow a different path, a path of brute force and destruction, unleashingunspeakable suffering and human tragedy. The devastating consequences for all ofus of such actions, in particular for Ukraine, but also for Russia, will reverberate forgenerations to come.

The EU and its Member States stand unequivocally for international law and the principles and commitments of this Organisation. In fact, we simply follow the pathof law and our values because this is the only right thing to do. We resolutely supportUkraine's inherent right to self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the UNCharter. Our political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance will continue foras long as it takes.We reaffirm our firm solidarity with Ukraine and its people and pay tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives in defence of the sovereignty,territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine.

As this shocking war continues, Russia, in its appalling modus operandi, continues to deliberately strike terror into Ukraine's civilian population, destroy civilianinfrastructure and kill the innocent, the weak and the vulnerable. Last week was noexception. Russia launched another wave of aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities.While Ukrainian air defences work increasingly effectively, some of the missiles, yetagain, caused senseless human suffering and destruction. We strongly condemnRussia's systematic attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure in Ukraine.Targeting of energy, heating, water supply facilities and other indispensableinfrastructure for the survival of the civilian population is cruel and cynical. Thesecontinued attacks underscore once more the need for Ukraine to acquire moreeffective air-defence systems. EU Member States will continue to work towards thisobjective.

We urge the Russian Federation to fully comply with international humanitarian law, notably by treating all prisoners of war humanely, by providing them withappropriate medical treatment and basic necessities as well as protecting them fromhumiliating and degrading treatment. The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) must be allowed access to all Prisoners of War in order to verify this. It is nowsix months from the explosion in the Olenivka facility where more than 50 UkrainianPoWs were killed and Russia has not up to now allowed the access by the ICRC. Weagain strongly condemn the repeated threats voiced by the Russian delegation in thisvery room that foreign nationals serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces could beliquidated. All combatants must be treated in accordance with the respective GenevaConventions.

Mr. Chair, accountability is key. Justice takes time but in the end, it prevails. The court cases concerning Russia's downing of Malaysia Airline Flight MH-17 in July 2014 are a good example in this regard. We are engaging with Ukraine andinternational partners to ensure full accountability for war crimes and the other mostserious crimes in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,including ways to secure accountability for the crime of aggression.

Mr. Chair, against the overall tragic background of Russia's aggression, we must keep exposing outrageous actions conducted by Russia. In the last two weeks we addressed the issue of the illegal transfer of more than 70 OSCE SMM armouredvehicles from Russia to eastern Ukraine. This is plain theft. Russia must return all OSCE assets to their legitimate owner, all OSCE participating States, and prevent any misuse related to its war of aggression. Russia must also immediately and unconditionally release the three OSCE staff members, arbitrarily detained since April 2022.

As the Russian delegation here seems to have an unacceptable and flawed interpretation of international law and territorial integrity, we wish to reiterate our firmposition. We have not and will never recognise the illegal annexation by the RussianFederation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, whichare Ukrainian territories. We equally reiterate our strong condemnation of Russia'sattempted farcical illegal annexation of other Ukrainian territories. Crimea, Kherson,Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukraine.In conclusion, we urge Russia to stop its war of aggression and to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment fromthe entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We alsourge the Belarusian authorities to stop its support of and refrain from any furtherinvolvement in Russia's illegal war of aggression.

Thank you.

The Candidate Countries REPUBLIC of NORTH MACEDONIA*,

MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE and REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, the

Potential Candidate Country GEORGIA the EFTA countries NORWAY, ICELAND

and LIECHTENSTEIN, members of the European Economic Area, as well

ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.

* Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part

of the Stabilisation and Association Process.