1. Russia’s intensified offensive on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region caused further death and destruction over the past week. On 23^rd May, in one of its most intense attacks on Kharkiv and surrounding settlements so far, Russia killed at least 7 people and wounded at least 33 more, destroying a major publishing house and transport infrastructure. On 25^th May, Russia targeted a busy hypermarket, killing at least 19 people, including a 12-year-old girl, and injuring more than 40 others. A second Russian strike on Kharkiv later on the same day injured at least 25 people, including a 14-year-old boy. These latest child casualties are a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of Russia’s war of aggression for Ukraine’s children on a date when the world marked the International Day of Missing Children. Nearly 2000 children have been killed or injured as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, according to UNICEF – but the number is likely to be much higher. Moreover, according to the Ukrainian authorities, Russia has deported and illegally transferred more than 20,000 children to Russia and Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia. 2,000 children have gone missing in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s war. This is deeply worrying and reveals the true face of Russia’s conduct of war, which respects no human or legal boundaries.
2. Russia’s continuous targeting of energy infrastructure since the end of March has destroyed more than half of Ukraine’s power generation capacity. Emergency and scheduled power cuts are currently in place across all regions of Ukraine, with far-reaching humanitarian consequences. At its latest briefing to the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, OCHA described the stark impact of the power cuts on the most vulnerable.
3. Russia’s systematic air strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities as well as all other targeted attacks against civilian objects and critical infrastructure are unacceptable and must stop immediately. They add to the growing evidence of Russia’s war crimes, as reported by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as well as ODIHR’s Ukraine Monitoring and the OSCE Moscow Mechanism expert missions. The EU is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for all crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including victims’ rights to justice and reparation, as well as guarantees of non-repetition.
4. Russia exploits a broad spectrum of tools in its efforts to undermine national security and democratic values in countries near and afar, including in many OSCE participating States. Russia’s malign activities and interference in the OSCE region demonstrate a pattern of aggressive behaviour and hybrid actions, including on Russia’s maritime and land borders in the Baltic Sea region, as exemplified by Russia‘s recent unilateral removal of buoys, demarcating its Narva River border with Estonia.
5. Disinformation and information manipulation feature particularly prominently in Russia’s malign activities toolbox and are an integral part of its military doctrine. As part of its response, on 17th May the EU took the decision to suspend the broadcasting activities of four additional media outlets, under the permanent direct or indirect control of the Russian leadership, which have been instrumental in its futile efforts of promoting, supporting and justifying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and in the destabilisation of its neighbouring countries as well as the EU and its Member States.
6. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We are determined to continue providing Ukraine and its people with all the necessary political, financial, economic, humanitarian, legal, military and diplomatic support for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed, also taking into account the urgent need to speed up and intensify the delivery of all necessary military assistance to Ukraine in its rightful self-defence against the Russian aggressor. The EU Council’s decision of 21^st May to use the net windfall profits from immobilised Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine has been another tangible demonstration of our unwavering support for Ukraine.
7. We will continue intensive global outreach efforts and cooperation with Ukraine and other partners to ensure the widest possible participation in the upcoming ‘Summit on peace in Ukraine’ convened by Switzerland on 15-16 June 2024. Our goal is to secure international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, as well as the implementation of the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, based on the UN Charter. No matter how hard Russia tries to disrupt these efforts, it cannot rewrite the UN Charter and the OSCE’s founding documents, including the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris.
8. In conclusion, we once again demand that Russia immediately end its illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, and completely and unconditionally withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We also condemn the continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine provided by Belarus, as well as Iran and the DPRK. We urge all countries not to provide material or other support for Russia’s war of aggression, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and the OSCE’s core principles and commitments.

The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA, the EFTA countries ICELAND and LIECHTENSTEIN, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and MONACO align themselves with this statement.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.