Declaration on Ukraine, OSCE Ministerial Council, Bazel 2014

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin at Basel Ministerial Council meeting:

“Today I brought for the attention of this distinguished audience a document. We call it Declaration on Ukraine. I brought it not for the sake of consensus, since I am fully aware that it is impossible in current OSCE realities. My intention is just to express our vision on what language we would like to be used in the OSCE documents: clear language to defend clear commitments and OSCE principles. If we really want to be instrumental on international scene we have to call a spade a spade. It will help us to find a relevant and most effective way to tackle a problem based on a simple “Three C’s” formula: Commitments cannot be Compromised for Consensus.”

Declaration on Ukraine

1. We, the members of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe discussed issues related to the current developments in and around Ukraine as well as measures to effectively respond to threats and challenges emanating from the ongoing violations by the Russian Federation of the core OSCE principles.

2. Reconfirming our full adherence to the UN Charter and to all OSCE norms, principles and commitments to which we have agreed, starting from the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris, the Charter for European Security and other OSCE documents, we stress that their undeviating observance by all OSCE States constitutes a basis for maintaining the lasting peace and security in Europe.

Any actions or attempts aimed at partial or total disruption of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity, interference into internal affairs of sovereign states constitute significant threats to stability and security for the whole OSCE area. Therefore we urge the Russian Federation to stop aggression against Ukraine and to fully comply with its obligations under the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and other norms and principles of international law. 

3. We reaffirm our strong support to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders as set forth in the UN General Assembly Resolution “Territorial Integrity of Ukraine” 68/262 of 27 March 2014, and call upon the Russian Federation to do likewise.

We strongly condemn illegal annexation of Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and we will never recognize it. We condemn the deterioration of the human rights situation on the Crimean peninsula since its occupation by the Russian Federation and call for full and unrestricted access there to the monitoring missions of the OSCE, UN and the Council of Europe.

4. We are deeply concerned with the developments in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, where Russian troops and Russia-backed illegal armed groups continue their terrorist activities threatening the constitutional order of Ukraine, inflicting losses upon civilian population and Ukrainian forces, damaging civilian infrastructure.

5. The OSCE is the key international organization with experience, expertise and instruments to assist in resolving the crisis in and around Ukraine. We support the efforts of the OSCE in the settlement of the conflict in Donbas and express our consolidated support for further use of its full potential.

6. The Trilateral Contact Group consisting of senior representatives of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office continues to play crucial role in implementing the Peace Plan and facilitating dialogue between all concerned.

7. The Minsk arrangements should continue to serve as the relevant framework and reference point for steps towards de-escalation and peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas based on respect for Ukraine's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

We urge the Russian Federation as the signatory of the Minsk arrangements to assume its responsibility for their full implementation as well as exercise its influence over the illegal armed groups to this end. In particular, we call upon the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukraine; to stop further penetration of military personnel, “mercenaries”, weapons and military equipment into Ukrainian territory; to provide full support to OSCE monitoring efforts in accordance with the Minsk Protocol, including along the Ukrainian-Russian border.

In the absence of visible progress on these issues and towards de-escalation of the situation we remain committed to consider further restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.

8. We welcome the important role of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine in monitoring of the implementation of Minsk arrangements. The SMM shall ensure continuous monitoring of the situation in and around the area of cessation of use of arms and entire territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine currently under control of illegal armed groups, including along the Ukrainian-Russian state border on the Ukrainian side. We call on the Russian Federation to exercise its influence over the illegal armed groups to ensure full and unrestricted access, security and freedom of movement of SMM monitors in the territories under their control.

Implementation by the SMM of increased monitoring tasks demands that it should be speedily enlarged and properly equipped with necessary technical means. We appreciate contributions of OSCE participating States to the budget of the SMM and emphasize the need for further financial and in-kind contributions to ensure effective functioning of the SMM.

9. We reiterate that resumption of efficient control at the Ukrainian‑Russian border under the OSCE monitoring is critical for sustainable de‑escalation and peaceful resolution of the situation in the east of Ukraine. We believe that the mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission, currently stationed in Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints, should be extended to conduct monitoring and verification at all relevant checkpoints in the Russian territory bordering the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, as well as at the areas between those checkpoints. We call on the Russian Federation to demonstrate its full commitment to implementation of the Minsk arrangements in good faith and to allow proper and comprehensive permanent monitoring on the Ukrainian‑Russian State border and verification by the OSCE.

10. We do not recognize so called elections held by self-proclaimed entities of Donetsk and Luhansk on November 2, supported and respected by the Russian Federation, which were illegal, ran counter to the letter and spirit of the Minsk Protocol of September 5 and thus severely undermined the peace process and de-escalation efforts.

We reaffirm our full support to the idea of holding local elections in accordance with Ukrainian law, as provided for in the Minsk Protocol, as the inclusive instrument to involve to population of certain areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine into all-inclusive national dialogue.