The European Union has condemned Russia's continued escalation in its war against Ukraine, citing an unprecedented rise in civilian casualties and new attacks on EU member states, and reaffirmed its support for Kyiv, in a statement delivered at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation on 29 July 2026. The statement, issued by the EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna on 31 July 2026, also voiced solidarity with Latvia and Romania following recent incidents and highlighted the bloc's latest sanctions package targeting Russia's military-industrial complex.
The EU's statement comes amid a sustained Russian air campaign against Ukrainian cities and frontline regions, which the bloc said killed at least 14 people and injured over 100 over the preceding weekend. The EU reiterated its call for a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire and for Russia to withdraw all forces from Ukraine's internationally recognised territory, while stressing that "the aggressor cannot be rewarded" and that borders must not be changed by force. The statement also condemned attacks on Latvia's Honorary Consulate in Sloviansk and four drone incursions into Romanian airspace over four days, calling them direct results of Russia's aggression and vowing to strengthen protection, including through the Eastern Flank Watch initiative.
The EU's latest 21st package of sanctions, referenced in the statement, adds more than 50 military-industrial entities, including key actors in the production of Russia's long-range drones, to the bloc's restrictive measures. This follows the EU's ongoing multi-faceted support to Ukraine, which the statement said would continue across political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic channels. The EU also urged all countries to cease any assistance to Russia, specifically condemning military support from Belarus, Iran and the DPRK, and reaffirmed its commitment to accountability for war crimes.
The statement was aligned with by Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine. The EU's position underscores a cleavage between those prioritising diplomatic pressure and sanctions to end the war and those advocating for stronger military and defensive measures, with the bloc balancing its support for Ukraine against the need to protect its own citizens and borders from spillover effects. The sanctions package imposes new compliance costs on EU businesses and financial institutions, while the emphasis on defence readiness signals potential increased defence spending for member states, particularly those on the eastern flank. The statement's call for a ceasefire and negotiations reflects the EU's preference for a diplomatic resolution, even as it acknowledges Russia's continued escalation, leaving the bloc's approach to Ukraine's security guarantees and long-term defence posture as a key point of ongoing debate among member states.