1. Political aspects, adopted decisions
The issue of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and devastating impact of the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine on the European security architecture is a priority of the OSCE agenda since February 2014. Overwhelming majority of the OSCE participating States recognize the fact that restoration of trust and constructive cooperation in the OSCE area remains impossible without correcting principles and commitments of the OSCE, flagrantly violated by Russia.
Intensive discussions on the abovementioned topic (annually, more than one hundred statements are delivered by Ukraine in the OSCE, its working bodies and during its thematic events, in which the delegation of Ukraine draws attention to the issues related to the Russian aggression against Ukraine) allow to maintain proper attention of the international community and to strengthen international support provided to Ukraine on the restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity in the internationally recognized borders (including through implementation of the Minsk agreements and de-occupation of Crimea). Exchange of views during the meetings of the OSCE Permanent Council also allows to monitor trends in Russia's position on specific issues related to the conflict.
Taking into account the consensus-based adoption of decisions by the OSCE decision-making bodies (Summit, Ministerial Council, Permanent Council, Forum for Security and Co-operation), as of now the following documents were adopted:
- Declaration of the 1034th (special) Permanent Council meeting of 20 January 2015;
2. Mechanisms, established with the participation of the OSCE
Trilateral Contact Group, established in June 2014, became a key mediation tool of the OSCE. Within its framework, the consultations and negotiations on specific steps to implement the Minsk agreements take place among the representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. The TCG is headed by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Ukraine and TCG Mikko Kinnunen. The TCG includes four Working Groups on political, security, economic and humanitarian issues, which regularly meet in Minsk (position of the Ukrainian side on the necessity to establish an additional WG on border is not supported by the Russian side). "Normandy Four" States (Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France) provide political supervision to the activities of the TCG.