Consultations with the FSC Chair Vienna, 15 May 2024

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Consultations with the FSC Chair Vienna, 15 May 2024

22.05.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna

EU Statement on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine

Mr Chair, thank you for the opportunity to make our statement. This full room is a clear testament to how important our weekly FSC meetings are.
1.Mr Chair, we often commend this Forum for its uniqueness and indispensability inpolitico-military matters, for its role in fostering dialogue and restoring confidence as well as striving for security and co-operation in Europe and beyond. Sadly, there are many roles that this Forum currently cannot play for a very simple reason: One participating State has undertaken a full scale invasion of another. For over two years now, Russia has waged its unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, in blatant violation of international law and contravening the most important principles guiding relations among the OSCE participating States enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, and thus the very basis of this Organisation.
2.We are deeply concerned by the latest announcement by Russia on the planned nuclear weapons exercises. Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric further demonstrates Russia's consistent undermining of international peace and security. We urge Russia to abide by the principles enshrined in the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races.
3.In view of the announcement by Russia and Belarus of their intention to jointly conduct an exercise involving nuclear weapons, we call on both to strictly abide by their obligations under international law and urge them to cease their irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.
4.Russia's strategic miscalculation cannot be undone, but it can be ended today if the Russian Federation withdraws from all of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders. Ukraine's Peace Formula will then pave the way towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. The Global Peace Summit hosted by Switzerland on 15-16 June will be a step towards this goal. Several European leaders have already confirmed their participation, including European Commission President von der Leyen and European Council President Michel, who called on all global leaders to support this peace effort.
5. Today, an event called 'Ukrainian Defenders Missing on the Battlefield' is taking place in this building against the backdrop of at least 28.000 missing Ukrainian civilians as well as military personnel. With family members of missing soldiers also participating, the event clearly testifies how important it is to bring peace to Ukraine by ending Russia's war of aggression.
6. Mr Chair, we will continue to stand by Ukraine and its people and to provide military as well as financial, economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic support. The EU and its Member States reiterate that Russia must immediately stop its war of aggression, put an end to the unbearable suffering and devastation of Ukraine and its people, and completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We also condemn the continued military support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine provided by Belarus, as well as Iran and the DPRK. We urge all countries not to provide material or other support for Russia's war of aggression, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and the OSCE's core principles and commitments. Russia's hostile and increasingly escalatory rhetoric cannot mask its growing isolation and its huge losses on the battlefield. Russia's war of aggression is doomed to fail.

Thank you.

The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA, the EFTA countries ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN and NORWAY, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.