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Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna
Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine in response to Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
As delivered by Yurii Vitrenko, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organisations in Vienna to the 1578th meeting of the Permanent Council, 24 September 2026
Mr Chairperson, The Delegation of Ukraine warmly welcomes the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mr Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, and Secretary General, Roberto Montella, back to the Permanent Council.
Dear Mr President, We fully share your support for the Swiss Chairpersonship, and appreciate your strong reaffirmation that Ukraine remains the most profound test of our collective commitment to the Helsinki Final Act. Your words today - that Ukraine must not become the price of peace but rather be part of the peace - fully capture a line that cannot be crossed under any circumstances. A just and lasting peace cannot be negotiated over Ukraine's head, secured through territorial concessions to the aggressor, or reduced to a ceasefire that consolidates the consequences of aggression. We agree that dialogue is essential. Yet dialogue is a tool, not a substitute for compliance with international law. It must advance the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and ensure accountability for all crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.
Mr Chairperson, Ukraine is deeply grateful to President Pons, the OSCE PA Secretary General, their team, and the entire Assembly for the strong and consistent support embodied in the landmark Hague Declaration. We particularly welcome the Declaration’s call for sustained and sufficient political, military, financial and humanitarian support, stronger sanctions and action against circumvention, including through Russia's shadow fleet. Equally, of utmost importance is the landmark resolution “Ukraine as an Indispensable Security Provider”, tabled by the US Senator Roger Wicker. It recognises that Ukraine’s experience in unmanned systems, air defence, electronic warfare and cyber resilience strengthens the entire OSCE area. We welcome its call for deeper co-operation, joint production and training. We value the Assembly’s unequivocal support for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, reparations and the enforcement of arrest warrants; its clear demand for the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians, journalists, ZNPP personnel, and the three OSCE officials; for the safe return of every Ukrainian child deported or forcibly transferred by Russia. Dear Mr President, We highly appreciate your continued support for the OSCE Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, as well as the activity of the Assembly’s Special Envoy on Russian Abductions and Deportations of Ukrainian Children. We welcome the Assembly’s planned participation in the Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians and Prisoners of War, co-hosted by Canada, Ukraine and Norway in Toronto. This is fully in line the Assembly’s historic decision to join the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
Dear colleagues, The Hague Declaration has established a clear parliamentary baseline. The task now is implementation: primarily, maintaining practical support for Ukraine and our legitimate defence, closing sanctions gaps, boosting justice mechanisms, and using every available channel to bring Ukrainian children, civilians and prisoners of war home. This is exactly how dialogue acquires purpose. Ukraine counts on your continued strong leadership, Mr President.
Thank you, Mr Chairperson.