OSCE leaders reaffirm their support for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine

BERN/HELSINKI/VIENNA/COPENHAGEN, 24 February – Today, the OSCE Troika - OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen - together with OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pere Joan Pons Sampietro and Secretary General Roberto Montella reaffirmed their support for a negotiated just and lasting peace for Ukraine, grounded in international law and the Helsinki Principles. They also highlighted the devastating human impact of this war, the OSCE’s continued engagement in Ukraine and the Organization’s obligation to address the biggest security challenge in its region. 

The OSCE Troika reiterated its strong condemnation of Russia’s war against Ukraine. They firmly condemned all attacks on civilians, civilian objects, and infrastructure essential to the survival of the population and stressed that international humanitarian law must be respected at all times.

Chairman-in-Office Ignazio Cassis stated: “Four years into the war, we must spare no effort to end this war. The priority of the Swiss Chairpersonship is to support ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war through a negotiated settlement.” He underscored that the Organization stands ready, with its experience and tools, to support a negotiated settlement and its implementation on the ground.

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen stressed: “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a violation of international law. Ensuring accountability for violations, including war crimes and the crime of aggression, remains crucial. Those responsible must be held accountable. Victims deserve justice.” She highlighted the important contribution of OSCE instruments to international accountability efforts, including in addressing the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children.

Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu noted: “The ongoing war in Ukraine should end with a just and sustainable peace. At a time of growing global mistrust, dialogue should remain possible. We need multilateralism to reduce the risks of further destabilization.” He noted that despite the growing tensions, the OSCE continues to provide a forum for all participating States to engage with each other, to exchange views, to hold each other to account and to seek common ground.

President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pere Joan Pons Sampietro underlined: “What truly matters now is unity — unity for Ukraine, unity to bring an end to this aggression, unity to build Ukraine in accordance with the wish of its people: sovereign, secure, and at peace.”

Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Roberto Montella stressed: “Support to Ukraine is and will remain at the top of our agenda ever since 2014. The need to end the suffering there is of paramount importance, as is the need to protect international law and the Helsinki principles and commitments.”

The leaders reiterated their call for the release of the three OSCE staff members - Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov - to ensure that the three are reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible.