Madam Chairperson,  

As the Ukrainian Defence Forces repel one of the most powerful offensives since the invasion began, Russia is stepping up its terror against the civilians.

In recent days Russia has attacked Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson and the region, Zaporizhzhia and the region, Dnipro and the region, Sumy and the region, Kharkiv and the region, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

On 1 November, Russia attacked a high-rise building in Sumy. Five people were wounded, including a pregnant woman.

On 2 November, Russia wounded 8 people, including two children in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

On 3 November, Russia again destroyed a section in a high-rise building in the Kharkiv region.

On 4 November, Russia shelled a densely populated areas of Kharkiv, 14 people were injured.  

On 5 November, Russia’s missile attack on Zaporizhzhia claimed eight lives. 25 others were wounded.

In addition, within 24 hours, the occupants launched 301 attacks on 13 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The list of crimes committed by Russia this week is far from exhaustive.  

At the same time, a proposal by the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to impose the Russian language and literature in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is yet another stark reminder of how people under occupation are exposed to forced assimilation and human rights violations.  

But, as Russia's terror against the Ukrainian people continues unabated, we are grateful to partners who are helping Ukraine seek solutions to alleviate human suffering.  

The Montreal Conference, co-organized by Canada and Norway, is one of many such examples. We are also grateful to the CIO and the Secretariat for ensuring that the OSCE was properly represented in Montreal.

The implementation of the results of the conference is vital for thousands of Ukrainian POWs, civilian hostages, and forcibly deported children who are being held in Russia.  

Distinguished colleagues,

In September, Russia launched against Ukraine almost 44 drones a day.

In October, this number reached 62 attack drones per day.

This means, that in October alone, more than 2 000 Shahed drones were used against Ukraine. In other words, the number of drone attacks increased by 40%.

And that means that Russia has managed to smuggle more than 170 000 microchips, microcontrollers, processors, and many different parts to continue killing civilians.

As we can see, Russia and Iran have learned to evade sanctions.

Moreover, Russia is helping Iran to launch its satellites into the space. 

At the same time, another ally of Russia is testing its ballistic missiles.

As President Zelenskyy said, the North Korea has already learned to make better missiles.

The North Korea has also learned to make better artillery.

We know whom to thank.

And now, as we can see, the North Korea believes that it is time to learn how to fight a modern war. In Europe. Should we let them?

That said, we are grateful to both Chairs, Malta and Denmark, for convening a joint FSC/PC meeting to consider this matter.

Yesterday’s discussion provides a number of important conclusions.

First, Russia has not abandoned its plans to destroy Ukraine’s statehood and identity. The lack of resources is the only limit to these plans.

Second, the regime of Putin has once again shown that it does not want to negotiate under the current circumstances. Moscow believes it can get everything it wants with the help of its new ally. 

Let me remind, what Putin confessed in October 2023, when he said that “if defence supplies were cut off tomorrow, Ukraine would have a week to live”.  

And today the Kremlin’s propagandists, like Vladimir Soloviev, are even more frank, saying that “There won’t be any deals! We will finish [Ukrainians] off!”.   

We should remember these words every time, when the Russian diplomats make their statements about the “demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine”. 

Third, the growing involvement of North Korea is yet another evidence that we need to adjust our strategy accordingly by taking new, bold decisions to finally prevent further escalation.    

Dear colleagues, 

Russia understands that it is much weaker that the Free World.

Its economic model, heavily depended on oil and gas sails, is not competitive in the long run. The record high interest rate is one of the indicators. The only innovations Russia can propose to the world are related to the means of killing.

Its ideology of Russkiy Mir is already bankrupt. And it has never been attractive. The destroyed Mariupol Drama Theatre is its true face. While the occupied regions of Ukraine are a stark reminder that this ideology only brings aggression, suffering and coercion. 

That’s why Russia relies on the use of force, including by building partnerships with pariah states. By exporting violence, Russia wants to dictate its rules to the world.

Should we let it?

And this is yet another evidence that lasting stability and a just peace can be achieved only through the strength.   

Moscow must not be given more time to adapt and attract new resources.

To that end, Ukraine's defense capabilities should be strengthened within the Victory Plan.

Self-imposed restrictions to protect life from terror must finally be lifted.

Military bases and sites in Russia must be hit to prevent new attacks and offensives.

Sanctions should be improved and existing loopholes to be closed.

Each and every effort should be taken to ensure that the Russian leadership is held accountable for its crimes, including through the establishment of a Special tribunal.

And Ukraine should finally be integrated into the Euro-Atlantic security architecture.

This is necessary to effectively stop Russia on the battlefield and deter Moscow from repeating aggression against Ukraine or any other participating State in the future,

And these measures are needed to restore Russia's respect for the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, as provided for in the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Let’s remember that these principles have underpinned the decades of stability, peace, and prosperity in Europe and beyond. We have no right to compromise on them.

The world and future generations deserve a real and just peace.   

I thank you, Madam Chairperson.