OSCE Reinforced Permanent Council, February 2024: UK statement
UK Minister of State, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, addressed a Reinforced meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, underling support for Ukraine and the role of the OSCE and its founding principles.
Thank you, Minister Borg for bringing us all together. And thank you again for your leadership as Chair at such a challenging time.
The OSCE exists to support security in our region.
So it is absolutely fitting that we gather today, two years after the illegal, unprovoked and wholly unjustified invasion of one of our participating States by another.
Ministers discussed this in Skopje. Since then, the fundamentals have not changed.
First, it remains absolutely clear that Russia is responsible.
As time passes, Russia twists itself into even more implausible contortions to justify its position.
But the reality of Russia’s war is tragic.
Because people are still dying every day in Ukraine.
Russia’s defiance of all laws and norms – from the Helsinki Decalogue to the UN Charter - to long-standing principles of just war …
… is not only a threat to security in our region, …
… but it is a threat to the international order.
Nevertheless, it is heartening that there are few illusions here about what Russia is doing.
We must, however, continue to make it absolutely clear: there is no possible defence for Russia’s behaviour.
Secondly, we must stand with Ukraine and stand up for human rights.
Dmytro, your soldiers and your people continue to defy the odds.
They display the utmost bravery and great skill in keeping Moscow under pressure. Consider the news in recent weeks.
Another Russian transport ship sunk by Ukraine – a further blow to President Putin’s hold on Crimea.
A precious A-50 spy plane and over-hyped hypersonic Kinzhal missiles struck down – a further blow to President Putin’s stocks of modern military equipment.
And news that Ukraine is on track to export all its 2023 grain – a further blow to President Putin’s strategy of economic pressure.
Since we last met, my Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Ukraine.
Addressing the Rada, he said: “Be in no doubt…. We are here for Ukraine – for as long as it takes.”
I know this is a shared conviction; I see a quiet determination across most states, to stand with Ukraine, and to stand up for our values.
Finally, we must of course also back the OSCE.
The creation of this organisation heralded a new age.
It took time. But the Cold War ended. And a new age did dawn.
An age in which we all, here at the OSCE, sought to build a more constructive relationship with Moscow.
Sadly, President Putin has rejected this.
Indeed, Kremlin repression in defiance of OSCE principles continues unabated, with the tragic death of Alexei Navalny showing how they silence those who speak out.
It is clear that President Putin will not stop in his reckless actions.
He has rejected the hope represented by the OSCE.
So we must redouble our efforts to maintain this organisation– times like these show us more than ever why it is needed.
Thank you.