Several different Ukrainian politicians spoke at the meeting. Petro Poroshenko, a former President of Ukraine; Mykyta Poturaiev, the head of Ukraine’s OSCE PA delegation; and Yevheniia Kravchuk, a member of the same delegation, took part. They informed the Standing Committee’s members about the situation on the ground, called for immediate action from the OSCE PA’s members, and demanded an end to all economic dealings with Russia.

Full support for Ukraine

Siv Mossleth, head of the Norwegian delegation to the OSCE PA, and Kari Henriksen, the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on the South Caucasus, took part in the extraordinary meeting of the OSCE PA’s Standing Committee. Photo: Storting

“I gave my full and unequivocal support to Ukraine and its people. Dialogue is at the core of the OSCE’s values. It is a result of the collective suffering of the European people after World War Two. Today this responsibility rests on our shoulders as parliamentarians. We must continue to nurture these values in the years ahead. Dialogue may not always prevent war, but no war can stop without dialogue,” said Ms Henriksen, Special Representative on the South Caucasus for the OSCE PA.

Almost 200 MPs participated in the digital meeting, and many more than usual took the floor during the debate. The war was widely condemned. The Russian Federation was urged in the strongest terms to cease hostilities and to withdraw immediately. Many speakers raised the issue of the unacceptable attack on the children’s hospital in Mariupol. Several parliamentarians directed their words specifically at the Russian members of the assembly who were taking part in the meeting. There was broad acknowledgement of the neighbouring countries’ humanitarian support for the war’s refugees, with particular emphasis on Poland’s efforts. Several of Russia’s neighbours expressed great uncertainty over the current situation.

“We are very grateful that our colleagues in the Ukrainian parliament had the opportunity to brief us on this grave situation,” said Ms Mossleth, head of the Norwegian delegation, after the meeting.

Press release issued by the OSCE PA's leadership after the meeting