Sybiha at OSCE: Ukraine’s Right to Exist Is Not a Legitimate Russian Security Concern

On the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned its failure to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling on the global community to take decisive action against Russian aggression during an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Malta on December 5.

In a statement delivered to the OSCE, Sybiha highlighted that the Memorandum—which once promised security in exchange for Ukraine’s nuclear disarmament—has become a symbol of broken promises.

Despite the Memorandum’s assurances, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in 2014, which escalated into a full-scale war in 2022. “Since the Second World War, Europe has not seen such a scale of atrocities, murder of civilians, kidnapping of children, execution of prisoners of war, and other horrible crimes,” Ukrainian FM said.

Russia is trying to justify this war with some “legitimate security concerns”, the Minister added.

“My nation’s right to exist is not Russia’s legitimate security concern. My nation’s choice of its own future is not Russia’s legitimate security concern. In fact, Russia itself is the biggest security concern for the world.”

The statement called for “peace through strength,” urging the international community to increase pressure on Moscow by raising the cost of war. It warned against any attempts to impose a new Yalta or Minsk agreement, where zones of influence dictate territorial concessions.

“There will be no Yalta-2 or Minsk-3,” Sybiha stated.

“Ukraine instead wants to win a just peace. And respect for principles for all. These are the two versions of the future that are being decided right now in Ukraine. We need to act now to ensure that the future comes.”

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Sybiha also pointed out the problem of eliminating grey zones, because Russia turns them into zones of influence. Instead, Ukraine needs geopolitical certainty on Ukraine as part of the Euro-Atlantic community.

In addition, the Ukrainian Minister said that Russia is not a “partner” but the biggest threat to our common security, and that Russian participation in the OSCE is a threat to cooperation in Europe.

“Russia is deepening cooperation with Iran and North Korea, interfering in Georgia, Moldova, the Western Balkans, and other states, and waging a hybrid war against Europe. We therefore welcome the fact that resilience will be in the focus of the incoming Chair of Finland,” Sybiha said.

Ukraine urged the OSCE to play a central role in implementing the country’s Peace Formula, which seeks to restore Ukraine’s borders and ensure justice for war crimes. It also demanded the organization hold Russia accountable for its actions, noting the continued illegal detention of OSCE staff members by Moscow.

“This especially matters for three OSCE colleagues, Maksym Petrov, Vadym Golda, and Dmytro Shabanov, who have been in Russia’s illegal custody for almost three years. Russia holds OSCE hostage just as it holds these people hostage,” said Ukrainian FM.

The statement emphasized that Russia’s presence in the OSCE undermines European cooperation, as Moscow continues to deepen ties with regimes like Iran and North Korea while destabilizing neighboring countries such as Georgia and Moldova.

In closing, Ukraine’s delegation stressed that the war is not just about Ukraine’s survival but about ensuring global security and upholding international principles.

“Ukraine continues to fight for its right to exist. And the war criminal at this table must know: Ukraine will win this right and justice will prevail.”