Switzerland stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine has plunged the OSCE into the most serious crisis in its history, while reaffirming its determination to ensure that the current crisis strengthens rather than marginalises the OSCE. The Swiss Chairpersonship also highlighted the urgent need for the OSCE to secure a budget and to pursue pragmatic reforms to improve the Organization’s ability to act. Switzerland has defined five priorities for 2026:

1. The Helsinki Principles – for lasting peace (including contributing to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on international law and the Helsinki principles),
2. inclusive multilateral diplomacy,
3. anticipating technologies – for a safe and humane future,
4. democracy, the rule of law and human rights,
5. the OSCE’s ability to act.

Regarding Ukraine, Switzerland underlined the need to prepare the OSCE to play a targeted and complementary role in the event of de-escalation or a ceasefire, condemned attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and reiterated its call for the immediate release of three OSCE staff members detained by Russia.

Following the inauguration of the Swiss Chairpersonship, an additional Special Permanent Council meeting dedicated to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine was held in Vienna on 15 January in the afternoon. The participating States strongly condemned Russia’s recent intensified attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, recalled grave violations of international humanitarian law and stressed the need to achieve a just and lasting peace based on international law. During the meeting, Czech Ambassador Jan Marian also took the floor, and reaffirmed Czechia’s firm support for Ukraine.