Ukraine Monitoring Mission Only Under Safe Conditions, OSCE Leaders Demand Reform

In Vienna, ministers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) discussed the prospects for peaceful control in Ukraine and challenges related to Russia.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to European Pravda.

During the ministerial meeting in Vienna on December 4, 2025, senior officials discussed the possibility of deploying a monitoring mission in Ukraine and stressed that its work is only possible under secure conditions. 

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, who chairs the organization, noted that there is currently “a lot of uncertainty” regarding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and that Russia has not yet shown any willingness to agree to a ceasefire.

Valtonen stressed that OSCE representatives can only work in areas where safety can be guaranteed. According to her, the modern nature of the war, in particular the widespread use of drones, complicates monitoring. The line of contact in Ukraine stretches for more than 1,200 km, and the mission will require considerable effort to effectively control the situation.

In addition, Valtonen stressed the need to reform the OSCE so that the organization can effectively perform its functions in the future. She mentioned the Helsinki + 50 discussions, which have already produced concrete proposals for change, some of which are already being implemented. The minister called on all member states to continue working on reforms and ensure the OSCE's ability to operate for the next 50 years.

"Let's protect the rules-based world order not only with words but also with actions, and ensure that this organization remains capable, reliable, and ready to respond now and in the future," said the Finnish Foreign Minister.

Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski harshly criticized Russia's actions, noting that the Kremlin regularly violates OSCE principles, wages hybrid warfare against Europe, carries out cyberattacks, sets fire to infrastructure, and attacks civilians. He stressed that modern Russia is more repressive and aggressive than the Soviet Union in the 1970s and emphasized that it has no place at the organization's table.

"All these hostile actions against Ukraine and against the European Union violate the rules of this organization. Compliance with these rules must be a prerequisite for maintaining membership in the organization,“ Sikorski said. ”This magnificent hall should not be a place for the sick ambitions of those who want to rebuild an empire of evil."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha supported this position, adding that Russia, which is responsible for numerous war crimes in Ukraine, cannot be a partner in solving global problems. 

He cited horrific statistics: 195,000 war crimes, 671 children killed, more than 2,000 wounded, systematic torture, and human rights violations. 

Earlier, Ukraine proposed major reforms to the OSCE to prevent Russia from blocking its operations. Kyiv calls for replacing the consensus rule with a qualified majority vote, expanding leadership powers, and revising appointment processes to make the organization more effective.

Sybiha also emphasized that the OSCE must adapt to today’s security realities, noting that Europe faces a “hot war” and that Russia’s membership is incompatible with the organization’s principles while it wages aggression. The reforms aim to strengthen the OSCE’s role in ensuring security and accountability in Europe.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has triggered the “Moscow Mechanism” to investigate Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, following a joint initiative by 41 member states.