PRESS RELEASE : Russia claims that it wants peace – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2024.

At the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC), Ambassador Neil Holland calls on Russia to end its war, withdraw all its forces from all of Ukraine and to re-engage in dialogue and risk-reduction.

Thank you, Mr Chair, dear Mario. I want to start by thanking you and your team for your stewardship of this Forum over the past trimester and for ensuring that this Forum has remained relevant and able to fulfil its mandate.

We fully support your efforts to keep this Forum focused on Russia’s unprovoked, full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine. The invasion is in its third year and continues to violate the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles, including those on sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force. Under your stewardship, we have shown that these principles and this Forum continue to matter and that we will keep on defending both.

Mr Chair, we welcomed the focus of your Security Dialogues on different aspect of the war on Ukraine, particularly Humanitarian Mine Action and Women, Peace, and Security. It remains essential that we continue to champion women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in political and peace processes.

Since 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian people have continued to defend their homeland. As my Prime Minister said this month, we will support Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes to uphold our shared values and our shared security.

Mr Chair, Russia’s invasion of another participating State has undermined the principles of this organisation and of international humanitarian law. Perhaps that is why Russia continues to do everything it can to avoid a discussion on these issues in this Forum. For a third trimester in a row, Russia blocked consensus on holding a formal FSC Security Dialogue. It has blocked standard sessions of the Forum too, while demanding exceptional treatment. Yet, it has been unable to articulate any issues with the mandated Agenda, let alone offer an alternative.

The Rules of Procedure remain clear. Under these, the Chair is mandated to ‘ensure the good order and smooth running of meetings’. The Rules remain clear that it is the Chair’s prerogative to set the agenda. And to select and invite guest speakers.

There remains another path. Russia claims that it wants peace. Peace is in its gift. If that wish for peace is genuine, it can end this war and withdraw all of its forces to outside of Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders. It should do this. Russia claims that it is serious about dialogue and risk reduction. If that is true, it must re-engage with an FSC that meets, as mandated, weekly.

I wish to conclude by thanking Cyprus as it leaves the FSC Troika, and to welcome Spain. The incoming Chair, Denmark, can count on the UK’s full and continued support next trimester – including in its prerogative as FSC Chair. Thank you.