Europe’s security cannot be built on coercion or spheres of influence: UK statement to the OSCE

Europe’s security cannot be built on coercion or spheres of influence: UK statement to the OSCE
Deputy Ambassador James Ford stressed that Europe’s security cannot be built on coercion or spheres of influence, rejecting Russia’s revisionist narratives. He underlined that Russia alone is responsible for the war, reaffirmed support for Ukraine, and called for an immediate ceasefire and genuine negotiations.
Thank you, Mr Chair.
Mr Chair, last week G7 leaders underlined our countries’ shared support for Ukraine. They reaffirmed our firm backing of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And they committed to strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself, while further increasing pressure on Russia’s war economy. This message was clear, united and rooted in the principles on which we have built European security.
By contrast, Mr Chair, Russia continues to advance narratives that seek to rewrite history, to invert responsibility, and to portray Russia as the victim of a crisis it chose to create. An article by the Russian Foreign Minister, also last week, repeated all of these themes.
The actual facts are clear. No state sought to deny Russia’s security. No state planned aggression against Russia. No state launched an unprovoked invasion of Russia.
The developments Russia now complains of – higher defence spending in Europe, further NATO enlargement, support for Ukraine’s self-defence, drone strikes against Russian targets – are patently not the causes of the current crisis. They are in fact the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression.
Russia also continues to call for a new security architecture. But we already have one. It was built together by the states present at this table, including Russia, through the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris. These commitments enshrine sovereign equality, territorial integrity, the inviolability of borders, and the right of every state to choose its own security arrangements.
These principles did not fail. Russia violated them. Again Nobody attacked Russia. And no one sought to dismantle Russia’s security. In fact, it was Russia that used force against others: including in Georgia in 2008 and in Ukraine since 2014.
At the heart of this is Russia’s rejection of sovereignty as a universal principle. Russia believes it has a right to decide the future of its neighbours. It frames independence as provocation and choice as hostility.
OSCE principles are not compatible with this vision of spheres of influence. The OSCE is composed of sovereign states. Ukraine is not Russia’s to control. Nor is Moldova. Nor Georgia. Nor any other OSCE participating State.
Mr Chair, our shared OSCE principles do not need to be rewritten; they need to be respected. Europe’s security cannot be built on coercion, conquest, or spheres of influence.
We keep on listening to Russia’s messaging, including here in this forum. But, unfortunately, we keep on hearing that Russia’s narratives remain false and contradictory. By contrast our message is clear, as the G7 underlined last week: we stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine.
Thank you.