Mr Chairperson,

The longer Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues, the more desperate Moscow’s actions become. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the significant intensification of Russia’s barbaric attacks against civilians and its increasingly reckless provocations directed at third countries in the region.

Just two days ago, during the joint FSC-PC meeting, we addressed the massive Russian strike on the Odesa region, which resulted in a violation of Romanian airspace and had extremely serious consequences, including destruction and civilian casualties.

We also discussed the large-scale overnight attack launched by the aggressor against Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv. During this attack, Russia deployed 656 drones and 73 missiles. As a result, 22 people were killed and 145 others were injured. Among the victims were two children who lost their lives and eight children who sustained injuries.

The overall number of victims of Russia’s aggression continues to rise dramatically. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, nearly 16,000 civilians have been killed and more than 44,000 injured since 2022.

As verified by the United Nations, at least 238 civilians were killed and 1,404 injured in Ukraine in April alone. This marked the highest monthly civilian casualty toll since July of last year.

As rightly underlined by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale: “Instead of enjoying the start of the school summer break, children and their families spent the night in underground shelters, woken up by air raid sirens, explosions and uncertainty.”

This grim reality confronting children in Ukraine is especially significant in light of the recent International Children's Day, observed on 1 June, and today's International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, which coincides with Ukraine's Day of Remembrance for Children Killed as a Result of the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Esteemed colleagues,

It is quite telling that Russian troops demonstrate their superiority only when attacking civilians. Russian forces that face the Defence Forces of Ukraine display a very different level of performance.

Ukrainian troops rely on careful planning, innovative solutions, and the effective use of available strike capabilities. Our forces continue to enhance their strike potential and systematically destroy targets at operational depth. On the battlefield, we are stabilising the front line while steadily increasing the losses of the aggressor.

Facing a clear shortage of manpower and seeking additional ways to increase pressure on Ukraine, Moscow is looking to broaden the scope of the war.

Of particular concern in this regard are Russia’s military activities in Belarus. Regrettably, we continue to observe the growing involvement of Belarusian territory in Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine.

This includes the deployment of troops, joint military exercises, the development of military infrastructure in close proximity to the Ukrainian border, and the use of Belarusian airspace by Russian UAVs conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Equally alarming are efforts to recruit Belarusian citizens to fight in private military companies. All these actions clearly indicate increasing Russian pressure on Belarus to become more actively involved in direct military confrontation against Ukraine.

Under such circumstances, it is necessary to increase pressure on Minsk and compel it to cease any further involvement in Russia’s aggression.

We are particularly grateful to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, which has already expressed its concern over these developments in its statement of 2 June 2026.

Mr Chairperson,

Minister Sybiha has clearly outlined the steps to be taken in response to the further intensification of Russia’s war. Allow me to briefly recall his key messages.

First, utilise the unblocked European Peace Facility to support the PURL programme and procure additional Patriot air defence systems and missiles for Ukraine. Advance the anti-ballistic coalition and increase investment in Ukraine’s long-range capabilities.

Second, intensify pressure on Russia through a new package of sanctions, travel bans for individuals involved in the aggression, the full utilisation of frozen Russian assets, and further international isolation of the aggressor.

Third, take long-overdue strategic decisions, including the opening of EU accession negotiation clusters for Ukraine.

As Minister Sybiha stressed, “Peace efforts will only succeed when they are backed by real pressure on Moscow.” Those responsible for terror in Moscow must understand that their brutal attacks will not achieve their objectives; that the cost for their regime will continue to rise; and that the only way forward for the Kremlin is to end this war immediately.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson.