Opening Remarks by Minister Elina Valtonen, Reinforced Permanent Council of the OSCE

Opening Remarks by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen, Reinforced Permanent Council of the OSCE, 24 February 2025.

Ministers, Excellencies, colleagues,

I wish we did not need to have this reinforced meeting of the Permanent Council. On the 24th of February 2022 the Russian Federation launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, an unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression. Today, three years later, we witness Russia’s continued strikes all over Ukraine.

The consequences are devastating. The loss of lives, the displacement of people and soaring humanitarian needs. Massive destruction of infrastructure and culture, environmental disasters. 

I call on Russia to immediately, and unconditionally withdraw its armed forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

A full-scale war against another participating State of the OSCE is an assault on our shared values and regional security order and international law. 

Russia violates the principles and commitments it has negotiated and signed up to itself: the inviolability of frontiers, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes.   

I call on Russia to end its war of aggression, in respect for international law, the UN charter and OSCE principles and commitments.

Excellencies,

Supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence is at the heart of the OSCE’s work, and our Chairpersonship. The OSCE and autonomous institutions have been swift in responding to Ukrainian needs.

The Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) was a rapid solution to continue the OSCE’s established cooperation with Ukraine. 

Ensuring accountability for violations of international law, as well as for all crimes committed in connection with Russia`s war of aggression, remains crucial. The OSCE plays an important role in the accountability efforts. I commend ODIHR’s work in promoting accountability by monitoring and documenting human rights violations. The Moscow Mechanism reports also play an important role. 

I am deeply alarmed by the situation of thousands of Ukrainian children, who are deported or forcibly separated from their parents. I urge Russia to make their return possible.

I also call on Russia for the immediate release of three OSCE officials — Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov — who remain in detention in Donetsk and Luhansk. As well as an unknown number of civilian detainees, whose families are waiting for their return.

 Dear all,

The situation regarding Ukraine has unraveled quickly in the past weeks.

Peace for Ukraine must be a just and lasting peace. There can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine. Ukraine must have the right to determine its own future.

As Ukraine’s future is an intrinsic element of European security, Europe must be included in negotiations. Ukrainians must be at the table of any peace talks.

The OSCE is well-equipped to contribute to European security and a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and our continent. On Ukraine’s invitation.

As part of the negotiations, an important step is to establish a monitoring mission at the line of contact. This can be built either under the UN or the OSCE umbrella, preferably in either case under a UN mandate. The OSCE is well-equipped to assume a monitoring and observation role provided that credible security arrangements are in place. 

Due to the events in the last weeks, I feel obliged to stress also the obvious: There cannot be any return to “spheres of interests”. Ukraine, as any other participating State has the right to freely choose their security arrangements.

We must not fail the people of the participating States. They deserve to live in freedom, peace and safety, in stable democratic societies. Only a full compliance with the OSCE’s principles and commitments, to which we all fully agreed, can pave the way for a just and lasting peace. In Ukraine, in our OSCE region.

I thank you.