OSCE parliamentarians discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a plenary session in Vienna on 24 February 2022.The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine took place the morning that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly met on the first day of its 21st Winter Meeting, with dozens of parliamentarians gathered at the OSCE headquarters in Vienna, and others joining online. At the opening plenary session on 24 February, 28 parliamentarians took the floor with most denouncing the incursion and expressing deep concern for the lives of civilians in Ukraine. Parliamentarians denounced the military operation as “indefensible” and a “gross violation of international law,” and reiterated the role of the OSCE in facilitating dialogue and building confidence.
But the response from OSCE parliamentarians on the morning of 24 February was not the first time that PA had taken up the issue of the crisis in and around Ukraine. Dating back to the events of early 2014, Ukraine has featured prominently in OSCE PA field activities, debates, public statements, and resolutions adopted at Annual Sessions. At the 2014 Baku Annual Session, the OSCE PA “condemn[ed] the clear, gross and uncorrected violation of the Helsinki principles by the Russian Federation with respect to Ukraine, including the particularly egregious violation of that country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The PA has also urged full implementation of the Minsk Agreements to end the conflict in the Donbas region.
As the situation deteriorited in early 2022, the PA's attention increasingly focused on how to support high-level discussions to resolve differences at the diplomatic table rather than through military action.
As OSCE PA President Margareta Cederfelt said in her written report submitted to the Standing Committee on 25 February, “For months now, the military build-up in and around Ukraine has dramatically escalated tensions in the OSCE region. On this issue, the position of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is clear and has been reiterated on numerous occasions since 2014. Our Declarations have consistently condemned violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and we have repeatedly called for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict based on a full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.”
In May 2022 OSCE PA President Margareta Cederfelt appointed Vice-President Reinhold Lopatka as the Assembly’s Special Representative for Parliamentary Dialogue on Ukraine. The appointment was announced on 11 May at an OSCE PA webinar devoted to the Russian war in Ukraine, at which President Cederfelt emphasized that it is important to use all available tools in bringing the war to an end, including parliamentary diplomacy.
A delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly comprising President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) Vice-President Reinhold Lopatka (MP, Austria), Chair of the economic and environmental committee Pere Joan Pons (MP, Spain), Special Representative Kari Henriksen (MP, Norway), and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella visited Ukraine on 28 June 2022.
On 30 June 2023, following a unanimous decision taken by the Standing Committee during the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 30th Annual Session in Vancouver, Canada, the Assembly established the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine to consolidate the OSCE PA's practical and political efforts in support of Ukraine in view of the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
The core objective of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine is to ensure that the war remains at the forefront of the OSCE PA’s activities and that Ukraine’s needs are fully considered by the Assembly. Read more about the Support Team's work here.
OSCE PA Action on Ukraine 2014-2023
OSCE PA Action on Ukraine 2014-2023For videos on OSCE PA debates since the latest escalation of hostilities, please see below:
Fifth Call for Action - Helsinki+50 meeting: The role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine and its consequences, 19 October 2022
Fourth Call for Action - Helsinki+50 meeting: The role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine and its consequences, 7 September 2022
Third Call for Action - Helsinki+50 meeting: The role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine and its consequences, 22 June 2022
Call for Action - Helsinki+50 follow-up meeting: The role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine and its consequences, 11 May 2022
Call for Action – Helsinki +50 meeting: The role of the OSCE in addressing the conflict in Ukraine and its consequences, 23 March 2022
Extraordinary meeting of the Standing Committee on the situation in Ukraine, 11 March 2022
Remarks by SG Roberto Montella at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Standing Committee, 11 March 2022
OSCE parliamentarians discuss situation in Ukraine at PA's Winter Meeting in Vienna, 24 Feb. 2022
Meeting of the Standing Committee, OSCE PA Winter Meeting, Vienna, 24 February 2022
For the OSCE PA's actions and statements please see below:
- Ensuring accountability for Russia’s war against Ukraine requires a strong and inclusive OSCE - 9 December 2022
- Now is the time to support the OSCE and stand with Ukraine, PA President Cederfelt says at Ministerial Council - 1 December 2022
- In Warsaw, parliamentarians address impacts of war in Ukraine on fundamental rights, economics and environment, and OSCE - 25 November 2022
- Unity of purpose needed to end war in Ukraine, participants say at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Autumn Meeting - 24 November 2022
- OSCE PA President Cederfelt presses for Russia’s unconditional withdrawal from Ukraine at Crimea Platform Parliamentary Summit - 25 October 2022
- ‘We can do more,’ participants say at OSCE PA’s webinar on Ukraine - 19 October 2022
- OSCE Troika, Secretary General, OSCE PA President and Secretary General strenuously condemn Russia’s attacks in Ukraine’s civilian centres - 10 October 2022
- OSCE PA issues joint statement condemning escalation of Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine - 10 October 2022
- OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau, OSCE PA President Cederfelt, OSCE SG Schmid and PA SG Montella condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory - 30 September 2022
- OSCE heads condemn the plan to hold illegal “referenda” in occupied territories of Ukraine - 20 September 2022
- OSCE PA webinar participants emphasize importance of continued engagement on Ukraine - 7 September 2022
- High-level OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation visits Ukraine - 28 June 2022
- Ending war in Ukraine and pursuing accountability for aggression highlighted as top OSCE priorities, participants say in PA webinar - 22 June 2022
- OSCE countries must learn lessons from care and treatment of Ukraine’s refugees, says parliamentary migration committee head - 20 June 2022
- Newly appointed Special Rapporteur on War Crimes in Ukraine announces side event for Birmingham Annual Session - 16 June 2022
- OSCE PA’s Reinhold Lopatka appointed Special Representative for Parliamentary Dialogue on Ukraine - 12 May 2022
- Urgent need for increased humanitarian aid for Ukraine and diplomatic push to end war, participants say at OSCE PA webinar - 11 May 2022
- OSCE PA’s Cederfelt and Montella express regret over lack of mandate extension for Ukraine monitoring, urge international unity - 1 April 2022
- OSCE PA Secretary General meets with UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine - 24 March 2022
- Parliamentarians debate ways to increase OSCE’s support for peace in Ukraine - 23 March 2022
- At Polish-Ukrainian border OSCE parliamentarians and OSCE anti-trafficking Special Representative highlight need for solidarity - 15 March 2022
- Strong support for Ukraine expressed at extraordinary meeting of the OSCE PA’s Standing Committee -11 March 2022
- MEDIA ADVISORY: Visit of OSCE parliamentarians and OSCE anti-trafficking Special Representative to Polish-Ukrainian border - 11 March 2022
- Incident at Ukraine nuclear power plant underscores dangers of war, OSCE PA economic and environmental leaders say - 4 March 2022
- OSCE PA President, SG and Bureau members renew calls for an end to Russian invasion of Ukraine, mourn loss of life - 4 March 2022
- OSCE PA President, SG and Bureau members urge ceasefire and humanitarian corridors in Ukraine - 27 February 2022
- With strong focus on Ukraine, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s general committees meet in Vienna - 25 February 2022
- Statement of the OSCE PA leadership supporting the people, government, and parliament of Ukraine - 25 February 2022
- Report by President Margareta Cederfelt to the Standing Committee - 25 February 2022
- OSCE parliamentarians condemn Russian military action in Ukraine, call for de-escalation at Vienna Winter Meeting - 24 February 2022
- Statement of the OSCE PA leadership on Russian Federation military action in Ukraine - 24 February 2022
- Speech by OSCE PA President Margareta Cederfelt at the Joint Session - 24 February 2022
- Joint OSCE statement on Russia’s recognition of certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk - 22 February 2022
- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leaders react to the crisis in and around Ukraine - 21 February 2022
Highlights from Meetings
- Highlights Call for Action 5th meeting on role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine, 19 October 2022
- Highlights Call for Action 4th meeting on role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine, 7 September 2022
- Highlights Call for Action 3rd meeting on the role of OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine, 22 June 2022
- Highlights Call for Action follow up meeting on the role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine, 11 May 2022
- Highlights The role of the OSCE in addressing the conflict in Ukraine and its consequences, 23 March 2022