PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s unprovoked, illegal war is an attack on Ukraine, a sovereign, democratic state and an attack on the OSCE’s founding principles – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 February 2024.
Ambassador Neil Holland welcomes the visit of OSCE Chair in Office, Foreign Minister Borg, to Ukraine and condemns Russia’s aggression which is in complete violation of international law.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Firstly, I would like to welcome the visit of our Chair in Office, Foreign Minister Borg, to Ukraine where the Minister underlined his support for Ukraine. We note President Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Kuleba’s expressions of support for OSCE work, in particular on the return of Ukrainian children and the role of participating States in documenting Russia’s egregious actions against Ukraine. The UK is fully committed in supporting you to take forward these priorities.
Last week, the Russian Federation attempted to justify Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine by referencing Article 51 of the UN Charter. This Article states, quote:
‘Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.’
The operative clause here is ‘if an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations’. The only armed attack that took place in February 2022 was by Russia on Ukraine on 24 February. So, no. Russia cannot claim that its so-called ‘Special Military Operation’ is an exercise of the right of self-defence, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. On the contrary. It is Russia’s actions which comprise egregious violations of international law, including the prohibition on the use of force at Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. And to pretend otherwise is disinformation.
Russia’s unprovoked, illegal war is, of course, far more than an attack on Ukraine. It is also an attack on the founding principles of this organisation. These are the pillars on which European security has been built and they are principles to which all of us in this room willingly agreed. We all therefore have a duty to defend these principles. And the best way that Russia can do that right now is to withdraw from the sovereign territory of Ukraine and come back into line with the Helsinki Final Act and the UN Charter.
Madam Chair, it is Russia that started this war, and it is Russia that can choose to end this war. Thank you.
