| Ambassadors of the European Union and Ukraine display small EU flags and stand behind the Ukrainian flag in Seoul on Friday. Photo courtesy of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
The ambassadors of the European Union and Ukraine based in Korea issued a joint statement on Monday voicing their unified stance against Russia for invading Ukraine.
The statement came an hour before the Russian Embassy in Seoul held a news conference to make a case for its invasion of Ukraine.
In the statement, the European envoys stressed that Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, calling Russia's invasion an act that violates the fundamental principles of international law in the U.N. Charter.
Following is their joint statement:
The Ambassadors of the European Union, its Member States?and Ukraine to the Republic of Korea, underline EU's unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and call on the Republic of Korea to stand with Ukraine and the wider international community in confronting this unprecedented assault by the Russian Federation on a sovereign country and on international norms.
We are seeing now in Europe the devastating reality of war, with global consequences. We, the Ambassadors of the EU, its member states and Ukraine to the Republic of Korea condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation. Through its illegal military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and the principles of the U.N. Charter. It is also undermining our European and global security and stability as well as the right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny. Any change of status achieved by this Russian act of aggression will not be recognized.
There have already been tragic losses of life and instances of human suffering caused by the Russian aggression and, sadly, many more will inevitably follow. We all stand in solidarity with the women, men and children whose lives have been affected by this unjustified and unjustifiable attack.
Russia's past and present actions against Ukraine are not just a matter for Ukraine or for Europe. They have severe global implications. Violations of the fundamental principles of international law, the U.N. Charter, the rule based order and basic principles of international relations directed towards another state are of serious global concern, including for the Republic of Korea.
The international community will stay resolutely united and impose massive consequences and severe costs on Russia in response to its illegal actions. Even if these measures may also have an economic impact in our own countries, these costs will never be higher than those that would be borne by allowing this aggression and violation of international law to go unchallenged. We firmly believe that the use of force and coercion to change borders has no place in the 21st century.
In this context we welcome the RoK's stance that, as a responsible member of the international community, Korea will support and participate in the response of the international community to Russia's actions, including economic sanctions, to deter armed aggression and secure a peaceful resolution.
The Ambassadors of the EU and its Member States reiterate the European Union's unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and count on the RoK to stand with us, the international community and Ukraine, in the face of this unprecedented global challenge.
Together we are stronger.
Ambassadors of the European Union, France, Czechia, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Austria, Romania, Finland, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia and the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Korea.