1509th (Reinforced) Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
Statement by Dr Katie Mead, Australia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Vienna
24 February 2025
Chair, Secretary-General, Ministers, Excellencies
Earlier today, the Australian Government released a statement acknowledging that three years had passed since Russia began its illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
We recognise the immense courage of the Ukrainian people as they stand up to Russia’s aggression.
Russia’s invasion is a flagrant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, by a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. It fundamentally contravenes the principles upon which the OSCE was founded.
Australia has proudly stood with Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
We have committed over A$1.5 billion in defence, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians. With our partners, we have imposed severe economic costs on Russia, including through sanctions and trade measures.
Today, Australia imposed further sanctions against 149 individuals and entities involved in enabling Russia’ war of aggression. We also tightened further trade bans on Russia by prohibiting the supply of commercial drones and components.
Australia will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine as we seek a world where differences are managed through dialogue, not by force or raw power.
Russia’s aggression has serious implications for security in both the Euro-Atlantic and our own region, the Indo-Pacific. This is most clearly demonstrated by the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to fight for Russia against Ukraine.
Like most in this room, Australia wants to see a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Australia welcomes all credible steps towards realising this outcome. For any peace deal to succeed, Ukraine must be a part of negotiations.
We also join the calls by many of our partners for Russia to end its detention of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine officials Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov.
Colleagues will recall that the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission was agreed by all participating States, including Russia, and provided independent and much-needed reporting, before it too became a target of Russia's efforts to obstruct and evade truth and transparency.
Australia calls upon participating States and Partners to reject Russia’s illegal and immoral war and support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Thank you.