The European Union and its member states resolutely condemned Russia's illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine during the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation on 1 July 2026, reiterating their unwavering support for Ukraine and commitment to sanctions. In a statement delivered on behalf of the EU at the forum, the bloc called on Russia to show genuine willingness regarding peace, agree to a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire, and engage in meaningful negotiations respecting Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement, published by the EEAS on 3 July 2026, reaffirmed the EU's multi-faceted support to Ukraine — political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic — and stressed that pressure on Russia continues through sanctions, including strengthening enforcement and closing loopholes. The EU noted that twenty packages of sanctions have been adopted since February 2022, with the latest on 23 April 2026 targeting the Russian military-industrial complex. A further set of restrictive measures was adopted two weeks ago, targeting manufacturers and suppliers of drones and other military equipment. The statement also highlighted that additional measures were imposed last year on three Russian entities involved in chemical weapons use.
The EU urged all countries to cease any assistance to Russia in its war, condemning the deployment of DPRK military forces and continued support from Belarus, Iran and the DPRK. It demanded the immediate and unconditional release of three OSCE staff members — Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov — and called for an update from the OSCE Secretary General on efforts to secure their release. The statement was aligned with Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine.