OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation N°1091 Vienna, 16 October 2024

EU Statement on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

1. It is the Russian Federation that is fully responsible for its war of aggression against Ukraine, the overwhelming number of victims, both civilian and military, and the crippling destruction. A destruction Russia started a decade ago with the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Russia is the reason for the dreadful, immense and unspeakable suffering of the many millions who did not choose to be in this war.

2. Mr Chair, we wanted to start today’s intervention by stating this clearly in this Forum, as if Russia may be oblivious of the cause of all the pain and devastation inflicted. It is because Russia has been conducting a war of choice with its fullscale aggression towards Ukraine for more than two and a half years now that participating States have to address its repercussions here, week after week. The EU and its Member States consistently continue to categorically condemn Russia’s unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression in the strongest possible terms.

3. In the last few weeks, Russia escalated its attacks on civilian ships carrying grain from Ukrainian ports. On 6 October in the Odesa region, a civilian cargo ship carrying around 6.000 tons of Ukrainian corn was attacked. Then, on 9 October, two ships were hit with ballistic missiles in the port of Odesa causing the death of at least seven people and leaving eleven injured. And just this Monday, two more civilian vessels were hit in a Russian ballistic missile strike with at least one person killed and eight injured. These recent attacks came shortly after Russia bombarded a ship which was en route to deliver grain to Egypt.

4. However, Russia’s gruesome attacks away from the battlefield do not stop there. Russia has also been targeting Ukrainian port infrastructure further curtailing its food export capacity. We strongly condemn these attacks, which constitute blatant violations of international law. With these actions, Russia continues to not only undermine the freedom of navigation, but more critically to undermine global food security and is thereby actively weaponising hunger. The direct targeting by Russia of food supply from Ukraine has far greater consequences outside of the OSCE area in Africa and elsewhere. As such, it is often the most vulnerable who also suffer the extreme consequences of Russia’s reckless actions and possibly also millions of people outside of Ukraine are at risk.

5. Mr Chair, the EU and its Member States reiterate that Russia must immediately stop its war of aggression, put an end to this unbearable suffering and devastation, and completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We strongly 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 any material or support for Russia’s war of aggression, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and the OSCE core principles and commitments. We reiterate our firm support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, and in line with the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, with full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Thank you.