Ambassador Neil Holland reiterates UK support for Ukraine, calls
for Russia to agree an immediate ceasefire, and underlines the
enduring value of the Forum for Security Cooperation for
risk-reduction messaging.
"Thank you to Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Mr Roger, for
his remarks. Madam Chair, dear Kaja, thank you also for your calm
and professional stewardship of this Forum this Trimester.
As I have said before, our Ministers mandated the Forum to
continue our politico-military dialogue even in times of
crisis. That is why we used our weekly statements to
reiterate our support for Ukraine. It is why we continued to call
on Russia to agree an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and
to return to abiding by the principles of the UN Charter and the
Helsinki Final Act. And it is why we supported Estonia's
three Security Dialogue topics to keep the focus on Russia's war
of aggression.
Madam Chair, our Ministers also mandated our Forum with
risk-reduction. It is in this spirit that we have continued
to use this Forum in good faith, including as a NATO Ally, to
send and receive messaging. This includes voluntary briefs on
above- and below-threshold military exercises, and asking
questions to clarify our own understanding. We have done this, as
a responsible State, to maintain dialogue in an appropriate and
diplomatic manner. Because this is about our shared interests of
reducing misunderstanding and preventing unintended escalation.
Let me conclude by thanking Spain as it leaves the FSC Troika,
and to welcome France. The incoming Chair, Finland, can
count on the UK's full and continued support next Trimester –
including in its prerogative as FSC Chair."
