Statement at OSCE Annual Security Review Conference 2026

Statement by Latvia

OSCE Annual Security Review Conference

Vienna, 17 – 18 June 2026

Mr. Chairperson,

Latvia aligns with the statement made by the European Union but allow me to make a few remarks in my national capacity.

Latvia joins others in thanking the Swiss Chairpersonship for convening this Annual Security Review Conference.

We also thank Chairperson-in-Office Ignazio Cassis for his remarks yesterday morning. We agree that, in times of confrontation, the OSCE’s role becomes more important, not less. The OSCE was created to reduce risks, support predictability, and uphold the principles that underpin our common security. But for dialogue to remain meaningful, it must be anchored in those principles and in accountability for their violation.

Today, European security faces its deepest crisis in decades because one participating State has chosen aggression over cooperation. For the fifth year, Russia continues its unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia remains the most significant threat to peace and security in the OSCE area and continues to violate every principle of the Helsinki Final Act.

As Russia fails to achieve its objectives on the battlefield, it has intensified attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Deliberate strikes against energy facilities, hospitals, schools and residential areas continue almost daily. Russia also persists in the unlawful deportation, forced transfer, indoctrination and militarization of Ukrainian children. These crimes are well documented, including through UN reporting and OSCE mechanisms. There can be no impunity. Those responsible must be held accountable.

Mr. Chairperson,

More than three years after the closure of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, Russia continues to unlawfully detain three former OSCE SMM staff members — Maksym Petrov, Dmytro Shabanov and Vadym Golda. Their detention is unacceptable. It is a direct challenge to this Organization, its personnel and its mandates.

We reiterate our strongest demand: Russia must immediately and unconditionally release all three detained OSCE officials.

Russia’s aggression also extends far beyond the battlefield. Across Europe we continue to witness cyber operations, sabotage, disinformation campaigns and incidents involving drones and violations of airspace. Belarus continues to instrumentalize migration, with Russia supporting, enabling and pursuing a broader spectrum of hybrid activities directed against participating States. These actions are part of an effort to undermine our security and resilience.

Latvia will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine. We will maintain our political, military, financial and humanitarian support for as long as necessary. A comprehensive, just and lasting peace cannot be achieved by rewarding aggression. Peace must be based on international law, the UN Charter and the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

Mr. Chairperson,

As Chairperson-in-Office Cassis noted, the OSCE must be ready when opportunities for peace emerge. But peace cannot be built on illusions. Russia’s actions and rhetoric, also in this very Conference, demonstrate no genuine commitment to ending its war of aggression.

Therefore, pressure on Russia and on those enabling its aggression must increase.

The path to peace remains clear: an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire; the release of all unlawfully detained persons, including the three OSCE officials; the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine; and full compliance with international law and OSCE commitments.

From there we will begin rebuilding the security that Russia has so profoundly undermined.

Thank you.