1462nd (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
23 February 2024
Chair, Secretary-General, Ministers, Excellencies
At the outset, Australia rejects absolutely all of the disinformation and disrespect just meted out by the Russian representative here today.
We acknowledge the significance of this meeting, with tomorrow tragically marking two years since Russia’s full-scale, illegal invasion of Ukraine.
One year ago, Australia stood here in front of the OSCE to denounce Russia’s aggression and affirm Australia’s support for Ukraine to end the war on its terms.
Today, I re-affirm Australia’s position. We stand with Ukraine and again condemn Russia’s ongoing war in the strongest terms.
Australia has proudly stood with Ukraine from the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion. We have provided defence, economic, and humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people, and we have worked with partners to impose costs on Russia, including via sanctions and trade measures.
And Australia will continue to stand with Ukraine to hold Russia to account through legal accountability mechanisms. War crimes – torture, mass executions, rape, deliberate shelling of civilians and forced deportations – committed by Russian forces cannot and must not go unpunished.
We closely monitor support provided by other countries to Russia’s war effort and reiterate our calls on all those with influence with Russia to press it to stop its military aggression.
Our efforts, alongside partners present today, have supported Ukraine’s own resilient spirit and its sovereignty. Ukraine must be allowed to determine its own future. We seek a world that is peaceful and predictable, governed by rules and norms, where the fate of a smaller country is not determined by a larger country – a world where each country’s sovereignty is respected.
Russia cannot be allowed to win this war, lest we signal to authoritarian regimes that coercion and conflict is an effective means of statecraft.
We recognise the immeasurable resolve and courage of the Ukrainian people as they stand up to Russia’s continued aggression.
We also acknowledge Russians who have spoken out and protested, despite the Kremlin’s censorship and silencing.
In this context, we remember Alexei Navalny – a man whose courageous resistance inspired so many and came at the ultimate price. Our thoughts are with his family and his supporters.
Despite our geographical distance, Australia will continue to support Ukraine. We will continue to work with partners to bolster resilience and resistance to coercion. We will always pursue a world where differences and disputes are settled through institutions, agreed rules and norms, and not by force.
Thank you.