Mr. Chairperson,

First of all, I would like to thank the Chairpersonship for Minister Osmani’s second visit to Ukraine this year as the OSCE Chair.

In particular, we appreciate that children were in focus of the CIO visit.

We look forward to continuing cooperation with the OSCE and participating States on further initiatives aimed to protect children amidst russia’s war of aggression.

Our goal is to return all deported children and alleviate the negative impact of ongoing russia’s atrocities on others.

I would like also to thank the Chairpersonship and ODIHR for the successful conclusion of the two-week discussions during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.

We are grateful to North Macedonia for its principled position while leading our Organization in this extremely difficult time.

This important event in Warsaw testifies that the OSCE cannot and must not be hostage of russia’s manipulating the rule of consensus.

As shelling with missiles and drones of peaceful cities, mass murdering, hostage-taking of civilians, execution and torture of prisoners of war, sexual violence, deportation of children continue unabated by russia, the OSCE cannot be silenced by the aggressor.

We cannot allow russia to make war crimes, crimes against humanity, and incitements to genocide a new normal at the heart of Europe.

Furthermore, russia must be held accountable for its criminal practices if we do not want these practices to become a tool of terror around the world.

Unfortunately, daily reports from Ukraine are a stark reminder of why the OSCE has to continue to play an important role in documenting russian crimes and ensuring russia’s accountability.

Let me describe a few crimes that happened yesterday, during only one of 603 days of russia’s full-scale war, the war of terror waged on civilians.

Russian terrorists again attacked Zaporizhzhia with missiles.

A five-story residential building was hit.

Five people were killed, including a young couple.

On the same day, another residential area was hit in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

At least, one person was killed and three wounded.

Settlements of the Kherson region were attacked with air-guided bombs. Two people were killed.

Kharkiv was again under attack. Energy infrastructure was damaged.

This attack has reminded us again that, as winter approaches, we have to be prepared for a new russia’s attempt to freeze Ukraine into submission.

Dear colleagues,

It hardly could be questioned that russia is a reality in Europe. However, this is the reality that kills, destroys and destabilizes.

This is the reality that exports violence into other regions, the OSCE partners, by building an axis with Iran and North Korea.

This is the reality we have no right to ignore.

Therefore, russia has to be treated respectively, as the biggest threat to security and cooperation in Europe and beyond.

As President Zelenskyy said at the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format in Brussels, “what is russia’s strength? Let’s be honest. Only the fact that they can destroy lives. Russia is not capable of doing anything else. Is it a security donor? No. A supporter of development? No. A political pole of power? No. A source of economic growth? No. A terrorist? Yes. That is the only thing! That threatens Ukraine and many other nations. We need to get this instrument out of russia's hands – the instrument of terror”.

Despite russia’s statements that they have enough resources to achieve its genocidal goals in Ukraine, moscow cannot handle this war on its own.

Moscow needs Iran, including to attack the Ukrainian ports and, thus, undermine global food security.

Likewise, moscow needs North Korea to sustain its war efforts.

And whatever russia says, it can be effectively forced to leave Ukraine’s territory.

The recent relocation of warships of the russian Black Sea Navy speaks volumes in this regard.

On its part, this enables the functioning of temporary corridors for Ukraine’s grain export, so vital for countries in need.

And this proves that russia always counts on its blackmailing to work out.

But it fails when we act from the position of strength.

That’s why every new sanction imposed on russia and every new defensive system and weapon supplied to Ukraine make a difference on the ground by deterring the aggressor and by saving human lives.

Therefore, we are grateful to all our partners who help us to defend our future every day.

This solidarity with Ukraine is critical to protect our common rules-based order.

At the same time, Ukraine strives not only to repel the aggression and to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We believe that Europe needs a comprehensive, lasting and just peace with the guarantees that there would be no repetition of the war by russia.

Therefore, we will continue to work together with our partners on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

We are grateful to those participating States who among 141 countries supported the UN General Assembly resolution containing Formula’s principles and now help to introduce them into a reality.

Colleagues, the ongoing war is not an ordinary conflict. This is an existential fight for Ukrainians.

The right of our state to exist and right of Ukrainians to life literally depend on the outcomes of this fight.

As we have already seen on many occasions, this war escalates, as soon as russia gets new resources to kill.

As I quoted last time during the special meeting of the Permanent Council on the horrendous attack on the village of Hroza, when the russian president speaks of his dream about Ukraine that has one week to live if weapon supplies are stopped, this leaves no room for guesses.

But this proves that our strategy works and is capable of stopping vladimir putin.

And as Minister Kuleba stated at the press conference with the OSCE Chair, Minister Osmani, “when it comes to life and death, we all have to make a choice”.

Russia has made its choice.

And this choice has nothing in common with security and cooperation in Europe.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.