The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, made the following statement following the military offensive launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine:
“I strongly condemn the Russian military attack against Ukraine, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the Statute of Council of Europe, and the principles and values it stands for.
“I recall my statement of 22 February 2022 and wish to reiterate our full solidarity with Ukraine and its people and deplore the loss of lives and the damaging consequences of this unjustified aggression.
“I urge the Russian authorities to immediately cease the hostilities and withdraw their troops from Ukraine and choose the path of diplomacy and peaceful settlement of the conflict.
I have called an extraordinary meeting of the Bureau of the Congress to address this critical situation and its consequences.”
See also
- Extraordinary Bureau meeting on the situation in Ukraine | Council of Europe statements
- Council of Europe Congress President condemns the recognition of the so-called ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation
Press contact
Tatiana Baeva, Press Officer/Spokesperson, Directorate of Communications of the Council of Europe, +33 388 41 21 41
