The European Union and its member states condemned Russia's violations of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, during a security dialogue at the 101st Joint FSC-PC meeting in Vienna on 15 July 2026. In a statement published on 17 July 2026 by the EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna, the EU highlighted Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine as a flagrant breach of the Code, which sets standards for democratic control of armed forces, respect for human rights, and accountability under international humanitarian law.
The statement, delivered at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation and Permanent Council joint meeting, noted that Russia has violated the Code for the fifth year of its illegal war, disregarding the Helsinki Final Act and sovereign equality of states. The EU pointed to independent reports from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, ODIHR, and the Moscow Mechanism documenting grave human rights violations caused by Russia's aggression. The EU specifically condemned Russia's attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the deliberate targeting of civilians under fabricated claims of military relevance, which violates the principle of distinction under Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions.
The EU reaffirmed its commitment to accountability for war crimes and other serious crimes committed in connection with the war, including support for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the Council of Europe's Register of Damage for Ukraine. The statement also emphasized that the Code's provisions on command responsibility and individual accountability remain vital, and that all participating states must implement them in letter and spirit. Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, and Ukraine aligned themselves with the EU statement.