First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Serhiy Kyslytsya, stated that only force can compel Russia to make peace, and therefore anti-Russian sanctions and support for Ukraine must be strengthened.
He made this statement at the opening of the Annual OSCE Security Review Conference in Vienna.
“I am here today to speak on behalf of a nation that continues to wage a war for survival — a war deeply rooted in Russia’s colonial mindset. Such a mindset is entirely incompatible with the principles and commitments of the OSCE. While we gather here to review security issues, Russia continues to spread insecurity far beyond the OSCE region. Its aggressive war against Ukraine has become the greatest threat to security, to the rules-based international order, and to the civilized world since World War II,” Kyslytsya noted.
He emphasized that this is “a war of choice” by Moscow and part of its deliberate policy:
“Despite international efforts for peace, Russia is clearly not interested in it. On the contrary, Putin is doing everything possible to prolong the war and expand its consequences. Russia’s strategy is deception — creating the illusion of a diplomatic process. Russia’s goal is to mislead our partners and delay sanctions. It is trying to buy time to occupy more Ukrainian territory.”
According to the First Deputy Foreign Minister, Russia — unable to break the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces — has intensified its terror campaign against Ukrainian civilians.
“While Ukraine targets Russian military infrastructure, exercising its right to self-defense under the UN Charter, Russia deliberately strikes residential buildings, cultural heritage sites, hospitals, maternity wards, schools, and kindergartens. Terror has become an integral part of Russia’s aggressive military strategy,” said Kyslytsya.
He pointed out that Russia’s daily massive airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and villages have no military justification. Russian state terrorism is clearly aimed at “breaking the spirit of our people and forcing Ukraine to surrender.”
“But let me be very clear: Ukraine will not surrender,” the official stressed.
Kyslytsya stated that only force will compel Russia to peace:
“It is obvious that Russia will not stop unless it is stopped. The time has come to abandon all illusions. Russia can only be forced into peace through strength. The language of force is the only one Putin understands. The path to peace cannot be paved with appeasement. Peace cannot be achieved through ambiguous compromises on Ukraine’s sovereignty, national identity, or territorial integrity.”
In this context, the First Deputy Foreign Minister called for increased pressure on Russia and the imposition of new, tougher sanctions.
“I would like to reiterate what has been said many times: Ukraine wants peace more than anyone else in the world. But Russia responds to our readiness for peace and our willingness for a full and unconditional ceasefire with new war crimes. Its atrocities include mass killings, torture, the forced deportation of children, execution of prisoners of war, intimidation, and nuclear blackmail. That is why justice must be served. We believe that the creation of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression is not just a legal necessity, but a historical imperative,” Kyslytsya concluded.
