On 24 January 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted an updated set of conclusions concerning the security situation in Europe, asserting that European security is indivisible and that any challenge to the European security order affects the security of the EU and its member states.

In summary the Council:

• Condemns Russia’s continued aggressive actions and threats against Ukraine
• Calls on Russia to abide by international law and to engage constructively in dialogue
• Restates its fundamental commitment to the UN Charter and the founding documents of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris

Recalling its Conclusions from December 2021, the Council also reiterates that any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have “massive” consequences and severe costs. This may include a wide array of sectoral and individual restrictive measures that would be adopted in coordination with partners – such as the United States, NATO, Ukraine and other partner countries, as has been seen recently in other scenarios.

The conclusions reconfirm the EU’s unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and other eastern neighbourhood partners within their internationally recognised borders, and it calls on Russia to re-engage constructively in existing international frameworks for the sustainable and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The press release can be found here.

The EU Council’s conclusions can be found here.