Europe Asia News

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that, following the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, 42 countries issued a joint declaration condemning Russia’s attacks on civilian energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

The statement noted that, as part of the large-scale offensive launched in 2022, Russia has targeted energy infrastructure across Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties, serious damage to residential buildings and energy facilities, and emergency power cuts in many regions. It was stressed that winter conditions are making the consequences of these attacks even more severe.

The statement also pointed out that strikes against electricity infrastructure, which the International Atomic Energy Agency has described as critical for maintaining external power supply to nuclear facilities, pose a risk to nuclear safety.

The declaration recalled that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a violation of international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime. It emphasized that Russia must be held accountable for these attacks and that impunity is unacceptable.

The statement further called on Russia to halt its attacks and to engage seriously in a negotiation process. The countries affirmed their support for Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on international law.

The joint statement was supported by Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Greek Cypriot Administration, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, as well as the OSCE Asian Partners Australia and Japan.