One year on, the EU continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter.

The EU has reacted swiftly and strongly, with unprecedented support and the largest sanctions packages in its history. It is committed to stand with Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary and on all fronts: humanitarian, economic, political, diplomatic and military. It has also responded through other channels, with campaigns such as #ARTvsWAR.

As it calls on Russia to immediately cease the hostilities and withdraw its military from Ukraine, the EU remains in close cooperation with its partners in Thailand who share interests in the security and defence in the Indo-Pacific. In the fourth of their series of public forums at Chulalongkorn University on 25 April 2023, the EU Delegation to Thailand (EUD) and Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS Thailand) welcomed over 40 students and other local stakeholders to weigh in on the path forward for Ukraine.

‘Russia’s War against Ukraine at One Year: Assessing the Ongoing Situation from Above and on the Ground’ looked at the human cost of the conflict, with around 18 800 dead or injured, 5.5 million seeking asylum or internally displaced and 18 million in need of humanitarian assistance. EU Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Mr David Daly stressed the relevance of this toll not only to Europe but also to Asia and the world, for peace and the rules-based international order overwhelmingly supported by the UN General Assembly.

Alongside current and former ambassadors from the EU, Thailand and Sweden – which holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of June – and professors from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science, a journalist with Thai media outlet PPTV represented the panel from on the ground in Ukraine. Joining in the discussion were youths along with diplomatic and civil society representatives from across Europe and Asia.

The dialogue comes just over a month after the third talk on the EU’s vision for a ‘shared future’ for multilateral cooperation with Thailand and ASEAN, which featured the EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific. As a series, the talks have served to raise awareness of the EU’s long-standing and important relations with Thailand and ASEAN in the broader context of the Indo-Pacific.

The topic and schedule for the fifth talk is pending and will be announced in the coming weeks on EUD’s social media at Facebook and Twitter.