Mr. Chairperson,  

Last week, a mother of two twins was looking for wedding dresses.

However, the reason was not the celebration. In Ukraine, there is a tradition of bury unmarried girls in wedding dresses.

Anna and Julia, twin sisters, were about to turn fifteen in September.

But a russian missile cut their lives short in a local pizzeria in Kramatorsk on June 27. 

Russian propagandists joyfully praised this attack – “it is a strike!”. What is the difference between reasons for happiness in our countries.

The famous Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina was in the same pizzeria with a writer and journalist from Colombia.

Three days later, on July 1, she passed away in a hospital. A 10-year-old boy lost his mother. “I am inside the new Executed Renaissance” – wrote Viktoria Amelina a few months ago in the foreword to the diary of Volodymyr Vakulenko, another Ukrainian writer who was executed by russians last year in occupied Izum.

Both Viktoria and Volodymyr wrote books for children.

A new Executed Renaissance is being born before our eyes that starkly reminds us of the 1930s when Ukrainian intelligentsia was massively executed by the Soviet moscow.

Isn’t this an additional solid reason for a boycotting russia’s modern culture agents and sports athletes?

Colleagues, this alone attack on Kramatorsk – where a year ago russia attacked a crowded train station – claimed the lives of 13 people, including 3 children, and left about 60 wounded.   

Likewise, on July 4, russia hit the centre of the city Pervomaisk, Kharkiv region. More than 40 people were injured, including 12 children. The youngest is just three months old.  

Furthermore, this night russia attack Lviv. A multi-story building was hit. Reportedly, 4 people were killed, 32 injured, including a child.

This is not to mention other regional centers that were hit by russia in the last two weeks or dozens of smaller settlements on the frontline.

Day by day russia replicates its pattern of terrorist acts.  

This is how russia still tries to deprive Ukraine of the future in the course of an almost 500-day aggressive war.

By killing civilians. By executing intelligentsia. By deporting children. By torturing civilian hostages and POWs. By destroying critical infrastructure.

By reducing whole cities to rubble. By ruining the regional ecosystem. By terrorizing the world. By committing crimes every day.

Nevertheless, despite eight years of the russian hybrid war in Donbas and Crimea and 500 days of a full-scale invasion, Ukraine and its people have preserved their dignity, their commitment to values and strong confidence about the future. 

But what did this war bring to russia itself?

Nothing but international isolation and degradation of the russian state.

The shaved head of the russian journalist Elena Milashina, her broken fingers, and her head covered with green dye tell a lot about this degradation.

In addition to internal terror, moscow wants to make state terrorism the new norm in Europe.

It plays again with global food security and millions of lives by threatening to block the grain initiative after July 18.  

After the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, russia is planning a possible nuclear disaster at the ZNPP.

As reported, the russian military have placed objects resembling explosives on the roof of several power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Perhaps to simulate an attack on the plant or any other provocation.

This is yet another evidence that russia remains the key threat to nuclear safety in Europe and creates a dangerous precedent for terrorists globally.  

We urge all participating states and international organizations to join efforts in putting an end to russia’s nuclear terrorism.

The complete withdrawal of the russian troops, demilitarization of the NPP and its return under Ukraine’s control must be the only outcome of these efforts.   

Furthermore, terrorism seems to be a critical item of russia’s export to other regions.

After years of denial, putin finally admitted that the Wagner Group was fully financed by the russian state.

Here is a quote from the russian president: “We fully financed this group from the federal budget.

Just from May 22 until May 23 the state paid Wagner companies about 1 billion USD for cash support and incentive payments”.

So, no one is surprised about the continued lies heard from the russian leadership and diplomats. 

But shouldn’t russia be finally designated as a state sponsoring terrorism?

OSCE PA a few days ago clearly stated its verdict.

Do we need more confessions?

Are crimes committed so far by this russian terrorist group in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine not enough?

What is the added value of the participation of this terrorist state in the OSCE?

Or, what country would be a new destination for the bloody business of the Wagner group or – to be correct – of the russian state, if concrete steps are not taken by the international community to stop it?

And if one is still guessing about possible red lines of the kremlin regime, the very recent developments of the russian crisis provided an important lesson for us.

As Timothy Snyder, a historian of Central and Eastern Europe, correctly summarised it – and I quote – “It turns out that when putin's regime faces an actual existential threat, he hops in a plane and writes a cheque”.

So, by further consolidating our unity, tightening sanctions and stepping up support for Ukraine we have to ensure that putin’s next cheque would be a payment of the reparation for Ukraine.  

Dear colleagues,

On the 28^th of June Ukraine celebrated its 27^th Constitutional Day – the best manifestation of russia’s failed plans to destroy our statehood, erase our identity and deprive us of freedom.

As President Zelenskyy stated on the occasion of this Day, “we have already shown that courage gives freedom, and we will prove that freedom gives success.” 

However, to build a successful future Ukraine needs the support of its partners.

Likewise, to preserve a new era of democracy, peace and unity in Europe, as the OSCE Paris Charter declared back in 1990, russia must loose.  

As Minister Kuleba wrote, “Ukraine’s victory, its accession to the EU and NATO and a decision of a Special Tribunal will create a new European reality.

A new Europe built on these three pillars would be a continent of peace based on strong defense and deterrence, not disarmament and appeasement”.

A lot of important steps have already been done in this regard.

We are grateful to our partners for the commitment to improve Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as long as it takes.

Ukraine has gained the status of a candidate for accession to the EU.

And the launch of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression this week in the Hague is another inspiring message for justice to prevail.

However, the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius gives us an opportunity for one more decisive step.

From time to time, we heard from Moscow that the level of unity and solidarity with Ukraine had been miscalculated before the invasion.

Doesn’t this mean that if Ukraine was a full-fledged member of the alliance, this aggression would never have happened?

Doesn’t this mean that the Bucharest 2008 decision was the most expensive for European security in modern history?

Doesn’t this mean that independent and successful Ukraine being outside the alliance would be always a desired target for aggressive russia with respective consequences for European security?

Therefore, we have to grasp a new chance to build a more just and secure Europe with freedoms and rights for generations to come.

The future of European security is in the hands of all of us.

Ukraine’s commitment to transform itself and do its homework is there.

 I thank you, Mr. Chair.