At the OSCE, British envoys accuse Russia of shattering European security, call for immediate ceasefire, and pledge continued support for Ukraine’s defence and recovery
The United Kingdom has sharply criticised Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine at two back-to-back meetings of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), declaring that President Vladimir Putin’s aggression not only violates international law but also inflicts long-term economic damage on Russia itself.
Delivering separate statements in Vienna, UK representatives condemned Russia’s refusal to seek peace while reaffirming British commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to self-defence. They also highlighted the cost of war to Russian citizens, suggesting that Putin’s strategy is impoverishing his own country in pursuit of military dominance.
Speaking at the OSCE’s Permanent Council, UK Military Advisor Lt Col Joby Rimmer described Russia’s full-scale invasion as a “flagrant violation” of the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, accusing Moscow of continuing attacks under the false pretext of seeking peace.
“Despite President Putin’s claims, continued attacks show absolutely no intent to negotiate,” Rimmer said. He cited Russia’s most recent aerial assault on Ukraine, in which 69 missiles and 298 drones struck over 30 cities and towns, killing at least 12 civilians, including children, and injuring many more. The attacks came during Kyiv Day celebrations, a move the UK called “symbolic, cynical, and deliberate.”
Rimmer emphasised the UK’s call for “an immediate, lasting ceasefire” that would allow space for real dialogue and alleviate Ukraine’s deepening humanitarian crisis. “We stand ready to ratchet up the pressure on President Putin with new sanctions,” he warned, if Russia refuses to halt hostilities. Highlighting the war’s toll on Russia’s own economy, the UK noted that Moscow had committed 40% of its 2025 federal budget to defence spending, marking the first time since the Soviet era that military expenditure has surpassed social spending. Interest rates have surged to 21%, while international sanctions have cost Russia an estimated $450 billion in energy revenues and depleted two-thirds of its National Wealth Fund.
“These figures reveal a government that clearly prioritises war over the welfare of its own citizens,” said Rimmer. In addition to military and humanitarian aid, the UK also underscored its investment in Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction. Britain is contributing to the estimated $524 billion needed over the next decade to rebuild homes, schools, and infrastructure destroyed by the war. The UK framed this as both a “moral and strategic investment” in the future of a free, democratic Ukraine.
Meanwhile, speaking at the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation, UK Counsellor Ankur Narayan reinforced Britain’s stance that Russia continues to contravene multiple international agreements. Narayan referred specifically to the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, which forbids states from attempting to impose military dominance over others or station armed forces on foreign territory without lawful agreement.
“Russia remains in breach of multiple commitments in the OSCE’s zone of application — in Moldova, in Georgia and, most egregiously, in Ukraine,” said Narayan. He reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine’s right to choose its own security arrangements, including alliances, without coercion. “In line with the Code, we keep on calling on Russia to withdraw fully and unconditionally from the whole territory of Ukraine, to inside its internationally recognised borders,” Narayan said. “And to return to the path of peace, starting with an immediate, unconditional ceasefire.”
Both UK representatives expressed continued support for Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the OSCE, the UN Charter, and the Helsinki Final Act. They also praised Kyiv’s resolve in seeking a “just and lasting peace,” despite enduring one of the largest and most destructive invasions on European soil since World War II.
The UK’s firm position at the OSCE underlines growing concern among Western allies that Russia’s military actions are becoming more entrenched, while diplomatic efforts for peace remain stalled. With rising civilian casualties, increasing economic fallout, and intensifying global isolation of Moscow, London signalled that it will continue to strengthen both military and diplomatic backing for Ukraine in the months ahead.
