OSCE Permanent Council No.1489 Vienna, 26 September 2024

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OSCE Permanent Council No.1489 Vienna, 26 September 2024

26.09.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna

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

1. Once again, the EU condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and OSCE core principles and commitments. We urge the aggressor, Russia, to immediately stop its war of aggression, and to completely and unconditionally withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
2. There can be no impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other crimes committed in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including the crime of aggression. All those responsible must and will be held accountable.
3. The EU remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to providing continued multifaceted support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed, based on Ukraine's urgent needs.
4. Through its defensive operations to diminish Russia's capacity to wage its war of aggression, Ukraine is exercising its inherent right to self-defence, in full accordance with international law and as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.
5. The EU condemns any futile attempts by Russia to forcibly and illegally integrate or annex parts of Ukraine's territory. Two years after Russia's decrees to illegally annex Ukrainian sovereign territory, we reiterate that any such attempts constitute a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and all states have an obligation under international law to not recognise such annexations. Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, as well as Crimea are Ukraine.
6. Russia's deliberate attacks on Ukraine's energy power system are further examples of its total disregard for international law, including international humanitarian law. According to the UN, between March and August 2024, Russia launched nine waves of large-scale, coordinated attacks on energy facilities across 20 regions of Ukraine, severely impacting the civilian population and essential services, including the country's electricity supply, water distribution, sewage and sanitation systems, heating and hot water, public health, education, and the economy. We highlight the regional implications of such attacks, notably on the Republic of Moldova's energy security. The EU condemns these attacks and will continue to stand with Ukraine. Last week, the EU announced an additional EUR 160 million for winter aid, including nearly EUR 100 million from the proceeds of immobilised Russian assets in the EU. The EU is also working to operationalise the G7 Leaders' commitment to providing approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine, to be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilisation of Russian assets in the EU. Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused.

7. The EU remains deeply concerned about the fate of all Ukrainian children and other civilians unlawfully transferred by Russia within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine or unlawfully deported to Russia and Belarus. We condemn the military re-education and the violation of these children's right to their Ukrainian nationality, identity, name and family relations by Russia. The European Union reiterates its urgent call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure their safe return to Ukraine. We will continue to demand the immediate release by Russia of all individuals unlawfully deprived of their liberty, including the three arbitrarily detained OSCE officials.

8. We recall the six arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, including against President Putin for the war crime of the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. All State Parties to the Rome Statute are under the obligation to execute arrest warrants issued by the ICC.
9. The EU is deeply concerned aboutRussia's ongoing harassment and intimidation of journalists covering war zonesand frontlines.Russia aims to control the information space and discourage international journalists from keeping the global community informed about its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Independent media play a vital role in providing accurate and truthful reporting that helps counter disinformation and exposes the realities of Russia's warfare.As of 11 September 2024, at least sixteen journalists and media workers have been killed and at least forty injured while reporting on the war or due to their profession.
10. The EU remains firm in its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with international law, including the UN Charter, with full respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
11. We condemn the continued military support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine provided by Belarus, as well as Iran and the DPRK. The EU strongly condemns the recent transfer of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to Russia, which is a direct threat to European security and represents a substantive material escalation from the provision of Iranian UAVs and ammunition. We continue to 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.