The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document FSC.DEL/311/26 and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE 16 September 2026 Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. ENGLISH only
EUROPEAN UNION OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation N°1145 Vienna, 16 September 2026
EU Statement on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
1. Mr Chair, we resolutely condemn Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of international law including the UN Charter as well as the OSCE’s core principles and commitments. 2. The United Nations reported last month that at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July 2026. According to the UN, this marks a 30% increase compared to June 2026 and a 70% increase in comparison with July the year before. Furthermore, the number of civilians killed was the highest since May 2022 and the number of child casualties was the highest since April 2022. This is the everyday reality of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its only outcome – death, destruction, continued suffering of innocent civilians as well as further sacrifice by soldiers defending their homeland. We continued to witness this pattern over the summer, and the trend seems to be no different as a new trimester starts in the OSCE. 3. Last week alone, on Tuesday Russia killed seven people in its renewed attack on Kyiv. Two people were then reported killed as a Russian drone attacked a shopping centre in Sumy, five people died when Russia used drones, artillery and aerial bombs in its attack on Pavlohrad, and a consequent Russian attack on petrol stations in Kyiv killed two, while further people were injured in a strike on a Kyiv residential block. Strikes were occurring round the clock with air alerts lasting between 10 and 12 hours in Kyiv. Then over the weekend, attacks focused on the western and southern regions of Ukraine, targeting railway infrastructure, passenger trains and petrol stations. These attacks also took place in close proximity to the Polish border, once again demonstrating that Russia’s war of aggression poses a direct and growing threat to European security. All this is just a snapshot from a few days of what Russia’s unjustifiable actions are causing –
eeas.europa.eu/delegations/vienna • PAGE 1/3 and one which does not even capture all other suffering of the innocent people through Russia’s war of aggression. 4. The EU and its Member States remain determined to further increase pressure on Russia and continue weakening Russia’s war economy so that it stops its brutal war of aggression and engages in meaningful negotiations towards peace. 5. Mr Chair, the European Union strongly condemns Russia’s attempted hybrid act of sabotage at Leipzig/Halle airport on 4 August. Following Germany's official attribution of the incident at Leipzig/Halle airport to Moscow, Russian ambassadors and representatives were summoned across multiple European capitals and at EU headquarters in Brussels. The European Union is also moving ahead with more sanctions. The EU stands in full solidarity with Germany. 6. What happened in Leipzig was not an isolated incident. Since 2022, we have seen persistent, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its Member States and its partners, as well as undermining support to Ukraine and its ability to defend itself. Acts of sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, information manipulation and interference are becoming more frequent and more brazen. We also condemn the repeated violations of the sovereign airspace of EU Member States, most recently of Romania, and of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of Russia’s intensified attacks against Ukraine. We stand in full solidarity with all EU Member States and countries that are affected by Russia’s actions. 7. Russia is seeking to sow distrust and fear among our societies, to undermine our freedom and security. But it will fail. We will keep the EU united despite these escalating and serious acts. We remain united in defending our security and in our resolve to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. 8. We will continue our multi-faceted support to Ukraine and its people, including political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support. 9. Mr Chair, the EU and its Member States call on Russia to stop its aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. 10. We urge all countries to immediately cease any assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, whether direct or indirect, and notably through the
eeas.europa.eu/delegations/vienna • PAGE 2/3 provision of dual-use goods and components. In particular, we strongly condemn the deployment of the DPRK’s military forces in the war against Ukraine as well as the continued military support provided to Russia by Belarus, Iran and the DPRK, among others. 11. We also reaffirm our strong commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Thank you.
Albania, Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.
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