Russia's victimhood narrative is inconsistent with the facts: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland calls out Russia's victimhood narrative, which is inconsistent with the facts. The UK stands firmly and unapologetically with Ukraine in the face of Russia's aggression.

"Thank you, Madam Chair.  We listened carefully to the statements made by the Russian Federation at last week's Permanent Council.  The esteemed Russian representative noted then the OSCE “remains almost the only forum in the pan-European space where an equal and inclusive exchange of views is still possible.”

The United Kingdom also values this forum for that reason. If we are willing to use it, the OSCE provides a platform for risk reduction, cooperation and confidence-building. And using these capacities to the maximum extent possible would fulfil the shared responsibility we took on for the security of the OSCE region that we took on in Helsinki in 1975.

The signing of the Helsinki Final Act marked a pivotal moment when all participating States agreed to move beyond zero-sum security, which bred so many conflicts of the past. Reflecting this sentiment, Leonid Brezhnev told the 1975 Helsinki conference that the OSCE could “strengthen European and international security and develop mutually advantageous co-operation”.

A lot has been said in recent weeks about trust, which is essential for such advantageous cooperation.  As we look ahead to Helsinki in late July, we must recognise that we build trust in this place when we speak truthfully and uphold the OSCE's founding documents, including the Helsinki Final Act. However, trust is eroded by unfounded assertions and the selective reinterpretation of the commitments in those documents.

Last week, the Russian Federation made several unsubstantiated claims about the United Kingdom in this Council. So, let me deal with these assertions and ask a couple of questions of my own in the hope of some direct answers.

The UK does not seek military tension and regional instability to further our economic objectives. In fact, I think most economists would argue that conflict is bad for economies overall.  The UK's aims for Ukraine are guided by our desire to achieve peace. We believe in upholding the fundamental norms that underpin our shared security, including the sovereign equality of states. We do so through our actions as well as our words.  The Russian Federation regularly reference the concepts of non-interference and inviolability of borders. The question I would put to them is how invading their peaceful neighbour lives up to these concepts.

The Russian Federation also accused the UK of using their war of aggression to militarise its economy and prepare for war. Now it is true that the UK plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, and to 3% in the next Parliament. But I would have thought the reasons for doing so were obvious.  We are increasing defence spending to deter war in the face of Russia's increasing belligerence – not to provoke it. And we are taking on more responsibility for security in Europe, which faces a more serious and less predictable future because of the Kremlin's actions. The hypocrisy of this allegation is of course that Russia's military spending now exceeds 32% of their national budget. It is truly a war economy. My request to the Russian delegation is that they explain what response they expected from the European countries in the face of such rapid militarisation in a country that so regularly threatens its neighbours and whose recent history is one of breaching Helsinki commitments on borders and sovereignty?

Madam Chair, the assertions made about my country reflect a broader narrative of Russian state victimhood that is inconsistent with the facts. The full-scale invasion of another country, illegal annexations, the targeting of civilians and the persistent obstruction of peace are not the actions of a victim – they are the actions of an aggressor. Our support for Ukraine, like our support for the OSCE's mandate and principles, comes from our interest in upholding mutually agreed rules, including rules Russia has agreed to uphold. This is why the UK stands firmly and unapologetically with Ukraine in the face of this aggression.

Thank you, Madam Chair."