I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

1. Today, 19^th of November 2024, exactly 1000 days have passed since Russia started its illegal, unjustified and unprovoked full-scale invasion against Ukraine, causing immense human suffering and destruction. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia.
2. The European Union reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirms its continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.  The EU also strongly condemns third countries’ continued support for Russia’s war of aggression and urges them to cease all assistance.
3. We are extremely concerned about reports of executions by Russian forces of Ukrainian prisoners of war. At least 177 prisoners of war have reportedly died in Russian captivity since the beginning of Russia’s war, according to Ukraine. In October, we received reports about increasingly frequent Russian executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
4. The European Union strongly condemns these appalling killings that represent grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
5. In the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recent report, widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, at the hands of Russian captors, has been documented in numerous regions within the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia.
6. International humanitarian law must be respected. Torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war must end immediately.
7. The occupation of new territories by the Russian Federation has been forcefully carried out in an atmosphere of generalised violence and fear to coerce the local population to co-operate with the Russian occupying authorities while suppressing their Ukrainian identity. The EU strongly condemns the widespread and gross violations of international human rights, and grave violations of humanitarian law that have been committed in the process.
8. The EU congratulates Ukraine for depositing its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute and thus becoming a new State Party to the International Criminal Court as of 1 January 2025. We also encourage Ukraine to ensure swift implementation of the Rome Statute.
9. Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the massive damage caused by its war. The EU is now a Participant in the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which securely records evidence and information on claims for damages, losses or injury in the territory of Ukraine. The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms all the atrocities committed in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s war of aggression and remains firmly committed to ensuring victims’ rights to justice and reparation, as well as guarantees of non-repetition.  The EU supports further efforts, including in the Core Group, to establish a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine that would enjoy the broadest cross-regional support and legitimacy, and a future compensation mechanism.
10. We recall the Reykjavik Summit in 2023. We reiterate our support for acomprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, in line with the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula. We reiterate our commitment to the return of all prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians and unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred children. The European Union remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners.
11. We will continue to work closely with Ukraine and support its continued reform efforts on its European path. The European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed.

The following countries align with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Ukraine, United Kingdom.