The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, and OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu concluded their visit to Ukraine today. In Kyiv, they met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, and other senior Ukrainian officials.
During the meetings, the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary General reaffirmed the OSCE's firm support for a just and lasting peace grounded in international law. They underlined the Organization's readiness to act wherever international engagement is required, drawing on the OSCE's long-standing experience in complex conflict settings and its unique role as an inclusive platform for dialogue.
"Our priority is to support ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war through a negotiated settlement," said Chairman-in-Office Ignazio Cassis. "The OSCE must be prepared, once conditions allow, to contribute to monitoring a ceasefire and to supporting the implementation of a peace arrangement. This visit was an opportunity to present clearly the concrete tools the OSCE can bring to such a process."
Both leaders expressed grave concern about the continued suffering of the civilian population. Federal Councillor and Chairman-in-Office Ignazio Cassis stated: "We are deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of the war against Ukraine. Ongoing Russian attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure are causing lasting damage. International humanitarian law must be respected at all times."
Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu stressed that the OSCE stands ready to act if requested in a negotiated settlement.
"The OSCE has the tools, the experience and the expertise to effectively contribute to stability in Ukraine should it be called on to do so. We continue to maintain a high level of readiness to support if or when we are asked to do so," said Secretary General Sinirlioğlu.
The Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary General once again called for the immediate release of the three detained OSCE staff members: Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov. Following meetings with their families, Secretary General Sinirlioğlu said: "I am and will keep doing everything in my power to ensure that they are reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible."
