The leaders of the Council of Europe (CoE) – Secretary General of the CoE Marija Pejčinović Burić, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE Tiny Kox, and Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the CoE's Committee of Ministers Simon Coveney – have issued a joint statement to condemn Russia's massive missile attack on Ukraine and called on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.

The text of the statement was distributed by the press service of the CoE on Monday.

"We strongly condemn the Russian air strikes against towns and cities in Ukraine in the last two days which led to multiple civilian casualties, including many children, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Such indiscriminate attacks demonstrate blatant disregard for human life and constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. They must not go unpunished," they said.

In addition, the CoE leaders called on Russia to comply with the "interim measures issued by the European Court of Human Rights on refraining from attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including residential premises."

"The military aggression against Ukraine has inflicted great pain and suffering for too long. We call on Russia to end its aggression, comply with its obligations under international law and withdraw unconditionally from the entirety of the territory of Ukraine," the CoE leaders said.