Russia's aggression against Ukraine poses biggest challenge in OSCE region – US State Department

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip T. Reeker said this during the winter meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna on February 25, Ukrinform reports.

"Russia’s continuing aggression in Ukraine is the most egregious violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity within the OSCE region. Its flagrant disregard for international law and for the OSCE’s foundational principles has caused a broad deterioration of the European security environment. That erosion of Europe’s security environment, especially since 2014, is the biggest challenge we face today in the organization," he said.

Reeker stressed the importance of rebuilding military transparency in the OSCE region, which, along with the updating of the Vienna Document, is a primary focus of the U.S. Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC).

As Ukrinform reported, the 20th winter meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is taking place on February 24-26 in a virtual format with the participation of about 270 members of parliament and officials of the OSCE participating States. The issue of the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the temporary occupation of Crimea remains one of the main topics of speeches by representatives of the OSCE participating States.

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