PCOEW11717 Translation by OSCE Language Services The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document PC.DEL/734/26 and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE 16 July 2026 Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. ENGLISH Original: as delivered Delegation of Canada STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR VÉRONIQUE PEPIN -HALLÉ, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CANADA TO THE OSCE, AT THE 1569th MEETING OF THE OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL 25 June 2026 The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine Mr. Chairperson, Canada condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the Russian Federation’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine, which has been ongoing since 2014 and constitutes a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, while also contravening the principles set out in the Helsinki Final Act. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and recognize the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as an integral part of Ukraine. The Russian Federation bears responsibility for launching this war of aggression and for its devastating consequences. The immense human suffering and civilian casualties resulting from the war, including in Russia itself, are a direct consequence of this unilateral decision. Mister Chair, We call upon the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally release the unlawfully detained officials of the OSCE, Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, and request the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Secretary General to prioritize their release. Mister Chair, We express grave concern about the persisting nuclear safety and security crisis in Ukraine resulting directly from Russia’s actions. The best way to ensure the long-term safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is for it to be returned to the competent Ukrainian authorities in line with repeated IAEA Board and General Conference resolutions. We will continue to impose and strengthen restrictive measures, in coordination with our partners, to increase pressure on the Russian Federation and those enabling its aggression. Last week, we imposed new
- 2 - PC.DEL/734/26 16 July 2026 sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, defence-industrial complex, and disinformation actors, targeting 162 assets of the Russian war machine. We reaffirm our steadfast support for the security of our Allies subject to the Russian Federation’s destabilizing and escalatory actions, including hybrid threats and other malign activities, and reiterate our commitment to collective defence and transatlantic security through NATO, recalling that NATO is a defensive Alliance Finally, Mr. Chair, We call upon the Russian Federation to cease its aggression immediately, to withdraw all its armed forces, proxies and military equipment from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine, and to engage in good-faith diplomatic efforts consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR V ÉRONIQUE PEPIN-HALLÉ UNDER AGENDA ITEM: The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine 1569 th MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL 25 June 2026 Monsieur le Président, Le Canada condamne, dans les termes les plus fermes, l’agression illégale, non provoquée et injustifiable de la Fédération de Russie contre l’Ukraine, qui se poursuit depuis 2014 et constitue une violation du droit international et de la Charte des Nations Unies, tout en étant contraire aux principes énoncés dans l’Acte final d’Helsinki. Nous réaffirmons notre soutien indéfectible à la souveraineté et à l’intégrité territoriale de l’Ukraine à l’intérieur de ses frontières internationalement reconnues et reconnaissons la République autonome de Crimée ainsi que les régions de Donetsk, de Louhansk, de Zaporijjia et de Kherson comme faisant partie intégrante de l’Ukraine. La Fédération de Russie porte la responsabilité du déclenchement de cette guerre d’agression ainsi que de ses conséquences dévastatrices. Les immenses souffrances humaines et les pertes civiles qui en découlent, y compris en Russie, sont le résultat direct de cette décision unilatérale. Mister Chair, We call upon the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally release the unlawfully detained officials of the OSCE, Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, and request the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Secretary General to prioritize their release. Mister Chair, We express grave concern about the persisting nuclear safety and security crisis in Ukraine resulting directly from Russia’s actions. The best way to ensure the long-term safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is for it to be returned to the competent Ukrainian authorities in line with repeated IAEA Board and General Conference resolutions. The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. PC.DEL/734/26 16 July 2026 Original: as delivered
We will continue to impose and strengthen restrictive measures, in coordination with our partners, to increase pressure on the Russian Federation and those enabling its aggression. Last week, we imposed new sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, defence-industrial complex, and disinformation actors, targeting 162 assets of the Russian war machine. We reaffirm our steadfast support for the security of our Allies subject to the Russian Federation’s destabilizing and escalatory actions, including hybrid threats and other malign activities, and reiterate our commitment to collective defence and transatlantic security through NATO, recalling that NATO is a defensive Alliance Finally, Mr. Chair, We call upon the Russian Federation to cease its aggression immediately, to withdraw all its armed forces, proxies and military equipment from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine, and to engage in good-faith diplomatic efforts consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.