Finland's Foreign Minister and current Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Elina Valtonen has said that the way and the conditions on which Russia's war against Ukraine ends will affect peace and stability across the entire OSCE area and beyond.

Source: European Pravda, citing Valtonen's remarks at the OSCE ministerial meeting in Vienna on 4 December

Details: Valtonen said that Russia, through its aggression against Ukraine, violated all the principles of the Helsinki Final Act on which the OSCE is founded.

Quote: "I call on all of us to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace as soon as possible. Because I am convinced that the way this war ends and its legitimacy under international law and the OSCE principles will decisively shape the future of peace and stability across the OSCE region, and beyond."

More details: In her speech, Valtonen mentioned Ukrainian children who have been forcibly taken to Russia and reminded delegates that the OSCE is helping to document such cases and to support children who are brought back.

Quote: "We welcome the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly joining the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. The Moscow Mechanism has also been for accountability, not only for addressing deportations, but for arbitrary detentions of civilians and the treatment of prisoners of war. Collecting evidence and documenting violations is a long process."

More details: Valtonen also mentioned three OSCE staff members who have been held in Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion and said that every possible communication channel is being used to secure their release.

Background:

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has skipped this year's ministerial meeting, pulling out at the last moment and sending his deputy instead. For the first time, the US Secretary of State is also absent, which is a rare occurrence that previously signalled a diplomatic protest.
• Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said during the meeting that Russia, which bears responsibility for war crimes in Ukraine, has no place at the OSCE table.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon !