We gathered today in Kyiv and in Bucha to commemorate the victims of the mass atrocities in Bucha, committed during Russia’s temporary occupation of parts of the Kyiv region in 2022, and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to ensuring full accountability of the Russian Federation, for any violations of international law in or against Ukraine, including aggression in violation of the Charter of the United Nations.

We honour the memory of all victims of the massacre in Bucha and other cities, towns and villages across Ukraine, where civilians were subjected to mass killings, torture, sexual violence, forced deportations, and other grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The evidence collected following the withdrawal of Russian forces, underscores the imperative to ensure full and comprehensive accountability.

We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, we welcome recent progress within the framework of the Council of Europe with the support of the European Union towards the operationalisation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the establishment of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. We also express our support for investigations by the International Criminal Court into the situation in Ukraine and call for full cooperation by all State Parties.

We emphasise that accountability is an indispensable element of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, as well as upholding international law.

In this fifth year of Russia’s war of aggression we reaffirm our continuing firm and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.