On January 28 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa held a meeting with the Special representative of the OSCE Chairpersonship-in-Office – OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine, Ambassador Petr Mareš and Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine Félix Baumann.

At the outset of the meeting, Mariana Betsa congratulated the interlocutors on the beginning of the OSCE Swiss Chairpersonship in 2026 and called for the consolidation of the Organization's efforts in countering Russian aggression and in restoring respect for the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.

The Deputy Minister drew attention to the significant increase in Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities that ensure the livelihoods of civilians and asked for maximum assistance from international partners to Ukraine.

In this context, the parties discussed the practical possibilities of engaging the OSCE in 2026 to further ensure the priority needs of the Government of Ukraine in the extremely difficult conditions of the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation against our State.

The participants paid special attention to the need for the immediate and unconditional release of the three OSCE staff members illegally detained by Russia, as well as the use of existing OSCE mechanisms to further document Russia’s war crimes and ensure that the aggressor state is held accountable.