On Tuesday, February 24, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha took part in the Reinforced Permanent Council meeting via a prerecorded address.
In his statement Andrii Sybiha focused on global security challenges and the OSCE’s role in the future security architecture and post-war reality.
“This meeting sends a clear message: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine remains at the top of the international agenda. Moscow will not sweep its crimes under the rug”, - the Minister emphasized.
The head of the Ukrainian diplomatic service underlined that four years of suffering and countless human tragedies during the full-scale Russian invasion demonstrated that the crisis inside the OSCE is deepening as long as Russia remains its participating State.
He recalled that due to Moscow’s sabotage the OSCE has been functioning without a budget for the fifth year in a row, and often is not able to act promptly and effectively. This year the OSCE is even without a Triika.
The Minister stressed that Moscow is attempting to undermine the international order through its sabotage. He noted that as long as Russia violates the OSCE’s principles, the Organisation must clearly determine its role. It must be a platform for sustained pressure and accountability, not a platform for dialogue with the aggressor.
Andrii Sybiha drew attention to the fact that if we return to business as usual today, genocidal wars will be normalized as a foreign policy tool. This must never be allowed to happen.
The Head of the Foreign Ministry expressed his gratitude to the OSCE for its readiness to support diplomatic efforts directed at ending Russia’s aggression. At the same time, he highlighted that for these efforts to be effective, there should be a clear understanding that Russia is the aggressor.
“Russia’s aggression is not an alternative point of view. It is a crime. It is the gravest crime. And it cannot be justified morally or legally”, - pointed out Andrii Sybiha and stressed that this must be the starting point for any further discussion on how the OSCE can contribute to ongoing peace efforts.
Finally, the Foreign Minister referred to Russia’s illegal detention of three former Ukrainian SMM employees—Vadym Holda, Maksym Petrov, Dmytro Shabanov.
Minister Sybiha called for their unconditional release, emphasizing that the only obstacle is the criminal policy of the Kremlin that treats innocent people as a bargaining chip.
“This open wound must be healed. As well as OSCE itself,” –the Foreign Minister added.