February 24, 2026, marks four years since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified full-scale war of aggression and military invasion of Ukraine, which followed armed aggression and occupation of parts of Ukrainian territories in 2014.
This is the most brutal, atrocious war in the XXI century, sowing death, devastation, and destruction across the Ukrainian territory. This is also the most criminal war by the number of violations of the law of conducting wars, crimes against humanity, war crimes, etc. By nature, it is an imperialistic, revisionist war; by substance, it is a war aiming at the subjugation and annihilation of Ukraine as a country and Ukrainians as a nation.
As everyday witnesses to the brutality of this atrocious war, we condemn in the strongest terms the aggression of the RF against Ukraine and call for the immediate cessation of hostilities.
We also condemn Russian strikes on critical civilian infrastructure and other civilian objects of Ukraine, including energy and transport facilities, social objects, and residential areas, as well as diplomatic missions, located in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
We also condemn weaponizing weather conditions to inflict additional damage and hardships during harsh winter temperatures on the civilian population. We consider these actions as barbaric and inhumane.
Under such circumstances, we once again call upon the international community to act more decisively and resolutely in providing the necessary support to Ukraine to enhance the resilience of its society and economy, as well as to strengthen the military and defense capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces to protect its territory from murderous Russian attacks. Further and adequate assistance to Ukraine is vital both for Ukraine’s survival as a nation and for the future of European peace and security.
This war has blatantly broken international law and severely undermined the rules-based order, with potentially dangerous consequences for global peace and security. Therefore, we welcome the laborious and persistent efforts of the international community, first and foremost the USA and the European partners, to end the war and reach a just and lasting peace.
On this very sad occasion, we are remembering all the innocent victims of this brutal war, including children and elderly civilians, and pay tribute to the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people and their glorious armed forces.
We express our unwavering support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people and authorities in their existential struggle to defend their freedom and independence and to preserve their national identity and the right to decide on their future.
We resolutely reaffirm our full support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including territorial sea. Any attempted illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory by the Russian Federation, in violation of the norms and principles of international law, in particular basic provisions of the UN Charter, is inadmissible and shall be considered null and void.
We appeal to the people of the Russian Federation to take over the responsibility for the future of their country and to demand immediate and unconditional cessation of military actions, to put an end to this criminal, senseless, and disastrous war, and withdraw from the territory of Ukraine.
Firmly upholding the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all GUAM Member States, we also call on the international community to enhance its efforts to resolve the Russian-sponsored and supported military conflicts in their territories and to restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova.
We welcome the dynamic process towards establishing lasting peace between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan with the support and direct involvement of the USA, which will have positive implications for peace and stability in the South Caucasus, and open promising opportunities for broad international cooperation.
As a full-fledged regional organization, we reaffirm our commitment and adherence to the norms and principles of international law and our readiness to contribute to peace, stability, and security in the region through means of economic cooperation and implementation of inclusive regional initiatives and projects, which can be an integral part of the emerging connectivity architecture between the East and the West. We call upon our partner countries and international organizations to support such an approach and more actively and closely engage in result-oriented cooperation to that aim.
We firmly believe that the GUAM geography should become a pillar of peace, security, and stability in the wider Black and Caspian Sea regions, serving the interests of the international community.
We wish the Ukrainian people the soonest peace and prosperity! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Ukrainian Armed Forces!
