The first decision of the summer session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is the adoption of a special resolution on Ukraine, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.
The document received broad support from parliamentarians and contains provisions that are important to us. The resolution condemns Russian aggression, confirms unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, emphasizes the inadmissibility of any attempts to change borders by force, and calls for Russia to be held accountable. The document calls for holding the Russian Federation accountable for war crimes, deportation of civilians, including children, and destruction of critical infrastructure and cultural heritage.
The document recognizes sexual violence as a weapon of war. It condemns the use of sexual violence by Russian forces against women, children, and the elderly as an instrument of terror and humiliation. This is an essential step towards international recognition of this practice as a war crime! The resolution points to the systematic use of disinformation, energy blackmail, cyberattacks, and influence on the domestic politics of other countries to destabilize the situation in the OSCE region. The OSCE PA calls for international assistance to Ukraine to restore the destroyed infrastructure and economy.
The resolution also includes an amendment to strengthen OSCE support for humanitarian demining of Ukraine’s territories- for the population’s safety, the restoration of education, the agricultural sector, and medicine.
The Ukrainian delegation initiated and achieved the adoption of key amendments to the resolution.
In my speech, I spoke about the deterioration of the security situation and terror against peaceful cities, the genocidal practices of the Russian occupiers. Since the beginning of the invasion, the Russian Federation has launched more than 28 thousand kamikaze drones against Ukraine. In June alone, Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 3,000 shaheeds. Western parts are found in Russian missiles, and therefore, sanctions are not working as they should.
It called for strengthening sanctions against countries and companies that help the Russian military-industrial complex. The Ukrainian resolution was voted on almost unanimously. Only the aggressor’s satellites – Belarusian “parliamentarians” – were against; several more deputies abstained.
The document is an important political signal that increases diplomatic pressure and mobilizes support for Ukraine.
The resolution became part of the Porto Declaration, which will be approved on July 3 and sent to national parliaments and governments for consideration.