The Ukrainian delegation led by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Olexandr Mischenko, has commenced its work at the 30th Session of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), currently taking place in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The visit aims to advance Ukraine’s foreign policy interests at the multilateral level through active participation in the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), promotion of Ukraine’s candidature to the OPCW Executive Council for the 2026–2028 term, as well as countering the Russian Federation’s continued attempts to influence international arms control mechanisms.
A key element of the delegation’s work was Olexandr Mischenko’s statement on behalf of Ukraine during the General Debate. In his address, the Deputy Minister strongly condemned the actions of the Russian Federation, which, according to confirmed reports, is employing chemical substances as a means of warfare against Ukraine’s Security and Defence Forces — a flagrant violation of both the CWC and international humanitarian law.
“Russia systematically violates the Chemical Weapons Convention and has neither the moral nor political right to claim a seat on the OPCW Executive Council. Its place is not among states that respect international law, but on the defendants’ bench,” — stated Olexandr Mischenko.
The Deputy Minister stressed that the continued presence of the Russian Federation in the Organisation’s governing bodies creates a dangerous precedent that undermines trust in the global regime prohibiting chemical weapons. In this regard, Ukraine urges all States Parties not to remain indifferent. He called on them to support the candidatures of Ukraine, Slovakia and Slovenia to the OPCW Executive Council for the 2026–2028 term and to firmly oppose Russia’s attempts to retain influence within the Organisation despite its grave violations of the Convention.
In his remarks, Olexandr Mischenko underscored that in the context of Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine, only unity and principled action by the international community can guarantee that the prohibition on chemical weapons remains an effective and binding norm of international law rather than a declarative formula. Ukraine continues to defend not only its sovereignty but also the fundamental principles of the global legal order — respect for human life, security, and the rule of law — which Russia systematically undermines through its aggressive actions and blatant disregard for international obligations.
During the first day of the Session, the Deputy Minister also held a series of bilateral meetings with partner countries. In particular, during his meeting with Katarina Arendts, Director-General for International Order, the United Nations and Arms Control at the German Federal Foreign Office, the parties discussed Germany’s continued support for Ukraine, including the provision of military, financial and humanitarian assistance in the context of Russia’s aggression. Special attention was devoted to coordinating efforts within international organisations, including the OPCW, and to preparations for the next meeting of the Ukrainian-German intergovernmental consultations. The Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude for Germany’s consistent support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the comprehensive assistance provided to our country.
In his meeting with Damian Johnson, Director of the Department for Domestic Security and Strategic Threats at the UK Ministry of Defence, the parties discussed the continuation of the United Kingdom’s military assistance to Ukraine, the strengthening of sanctions pressure on the aggressor, and cooperation in international formats, including within the OPCW.
On the margins of the event, Olexandr Mischenko also held meetings with Fatma Ceren Yazgan, Ambassador of Türkiye to the Netherlands, and Dr Greg French, Ambassador of Australia to the Netherlands.
The Ukrainian delegation continues extensive engagement with partner countries at the 30th Session of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in The Hague, with the aim of mobilising support for the Ukraine–Slovakia–Slovenia trio ahead of the vote for seats on the OPCW Executive Council, scheduled for 25 November.