The Forum addressed the influence of the pandemic on the implementation of confidence- and security-building commitments in the OSCE area, including the exchange of military information, as well as verification and inspection activities under the 2011 Vienna Document.

Particular attention was paid to the impact of the coronavirus on the activities of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine, as well as to the observance of the ceasefire in conflict zones in light of the relevant call of the UN Secretary-General.

In his speech, OSCE Secretary-General Thomas Greminger spoke about the impact of the pandemic on the functioning of institutions, field missions and the implementation of OSCE projects.

Participants stressed the inadmissibility of using the pandemic in disinformation and propaganda campaigns to achieve political goals.

The Ukrainian delegation condemned the continuing violations of the ceasefire by Russia's illegal armed groups in Donbas, the ongoing blocking of the international humanitarian organizations, Russia's active militarization of the Crimean peninsula, its illegal military exercises, as well as the conscription of the Ukrainian citizens into the Russian armed forces. The Ukrainian side also stated that obstruction of the work of the OSCE SMM in Donbas under the pretext of fighting the pandemic is unacceptable.

Against the background of the unity of the international community in the fight against the pandemic, Russia continues to hide data on the spread of the virus in the temporarily occupied territories, neglects the lives and health of the local population and illegally detained Ukrainian citizens.