The European Union has called on Russia to agree to a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, with EU Ambassador to the UN Stavros Lambrinidis telling the Security Council on 9 July 2026 that Russia is losing the war by its own standards and must come to the negotiating table. Speaking at a Security Council meeting convened by the Democratic Republic of the Congo presidency, Lambrinidis said Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, killing dozens of civilians in the past week alone. He noted that a hotel housing diplomatic staff, including 20 EU delegation colleagues, was damaged in Kyiv, though no EU personnel were injured.
Lambrinidis stressed that the consequences of Russia's aggression are global, pointing out that Russia dedicates almost 40% of its budget to military and security expenditure rather than development financing. He urged all UN Security Council members to cease any assistance to Russia, whether direct or indirect, and condemned continued military support provided by Iran, Belarus and North Korea. The EU supports a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, including the UN Charter, and backs all diplomatic efforts to that end. Lambrinidis recalled that last year the Council adopted a resolution imploring a swift end to the conflict, which Russia supported, and that Ukraine subsequently committed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire more than 15 months ago, but that readiness for talks has been met with Russian drones and missiles.
The statement, delivered on behalf of the EU and its member states, also aligned candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, as well as EFTA country Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino. Lambrinidis said the EU will continue to increase pressure on Russia's war economy and support Ukraine's right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.