Ambassador Neil Holland says that the UK and partners will stand
alongside Ukraine to protect its future, as well as protecting
the OSCE.
"Thank you, Mr Chair.
Since Russia’s illegal and unjustified full-scale invasion of
Ukraine in February 2022 the UK has pledged to use this forum to
support our Ukrainian friends and colleagues and to hold Russia
to account for its actions. Indeed, at last week’s Ministerial
Council, my Foreign Secretary said, that this organisation plays
a key role in doing both of these. So, each week, we call out
Russia’s complete disregard for the OSCE’s founding principles,
as shown through its assault on Ukrainian territorial integrity
and Ukrainian life.
Russia claims to defend the consensus principle. And yet it is
all but isolated in this forum (and others) on a regular and
sustained basis. We have seen decision after decision subjected
to attack through the need to find consensus. This is the abuse
of a tool that was designed for use by participating States that
shared a common wish to find solutions. That is clearly not the
case now. So, we have to conclude that this insistence on
consensus - against the overwhelming weight of opinion on many
different subjects is not actually a defence of the principle but
actually a defence of obstructionism.
Last week at the Ministerial Council we saw the latest example of
this dynamic. In Skopje, there was a broad consensus across the
community in condemning Russia’s actions and underlining
unwavering support to Ukraine. This was not a terrible conspiracy
by the so-called ‘collective west’. It was a simple and
widely expressed disapproval of what Russia has done by invading
its neighbour and upending its commitments to the Helsinki
principles.
The encouraging news is that the international community remains
united behind Ukraine. On 23 February 2023, 141 UN members voted
to demand that Russia withdraw its troops. 29 countries have now
signed a Joint Declaration pledging to negotiate long-term
security commitments with Ukraine, to help to sustain its ability
to defend itself.
The UK is rolling out sanctions against Russia in lockstep with
our partners. Alongside substantial packages of bilateral support
for Ukraine, the international community has come together to
provide humanitarian support to Ukraine through the international
system response, coordinated by the UN, Red Cross movement and
NGOs. This again underlines the unified response in support for
Ukraine and brings Russia’s isolation into relief.
The UK and the international community stand against Russia’s
aggression. The UK will continue to join the vast majority of
states here in continuing to support Ukraine’s freedom and
sovereignty. We will not be deterred or lose interest. Now is not
the time to falter. Ukraine can and must win this war.
Mr Chair, the UK will stand alongside Ukraine to protect its
future. The UK will also continue to protect the OSCE, standing
alongside participating States and colleagues to ensure that the
consensus principle is not abused. Thank you."
