Today is a sad day. Yet another year has passed by since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. This brutal and unprovoked aggression threatens the rules-based international order, the UN Charter and the very basic principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The implications of a nuclear power carrying out wars of conquest affect the entire global community. If we let one country invade another sovereign country and annex its territory, what example does that set? Who could be next? 

As we mark three years since Russia started its full-scale aggression against Ukraine, it is important to reflect not only on the devastating impacts of this conflict in Europe but also on its far-reaching consequences across the Pacific region. 

Ukraine is part of Europe. But defending the principle of sovereignty is a collective task. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are the cornerstone of international order. Russia wages a neo-colonial, imperialist war against a sovereign member of the international community, breaking international law, including the UN Charter. 

The war has shown us that our world is interconnected in unexpected ways; the repercussions of conflict in one region resonate far beyond its borders. The invasion has unleashed a wave of humanitarian, economic, and geopolitical challenges that impact even those of us thousands of miles away from the battlegrounds. The war has disrupted global supply chains, leading to rising costs for essential goods and services. Pacific island nations, often reliant on imports for food, fuel, and other critical resources, have felt the strain of increased prices and reduced availability. Vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, already pressing issues for the Pacific, has been exacerbated by the destructive consequences of global conflict. The EU has worked with its Pacific and other partners to mitigate those effects. But only when peace is restored in Ukraine, can the path to normalisation begin. 

Despite these challenges, what stands out is the unwavering support from the Pacific Island Countries for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This support reflects a shared commitment to the principles of international law, peace, and the fundamental rights of nations to determine their own destinies. I extend my deepest gratitude to the Pacific leaders and citizens across the Pacific region who have voiced their opposition to the aggression that has brought so much suffering to the people of Ukraine. I would like to convey a heartfelt thank you to all our Pacific Partners who have stood up for Ukraine, for the international rules-based order and for the principle of sovereignty, bilaterally and in international fora. 

The EU will continue to stand up for Ukraine whatever it takes. The existence of Ukraine as we know it is at stake. The EU has been stepping up on security and defence and will continue to do so. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in negotiations for peace, fully assuming our responsibilities for Ukraine as a future member of the European Union. 

On this 24 February, we call on our Pacific Partners to continue acting in a spirit of solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. The Russian threat goes beyond Ukraine. Together we need to make sure that this aggression fails and international order prevails, for the sake of the sovereignty of all our respective countries, for now and in the future. The alternative is a world where might makes right. We cannot leave this legacy to our children.

Barbara Plinkert is the Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific.