The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk met with the Austrian delegation headed by the President of the National Council of Austria Wolfgang Sobotka
An Austrian delegation headed by the President of the National Council of Austria, Wolfgang Sobotka, arrived in Kyiv on an official working visit.
As part of the visit, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk met with the delegation and the heads of parliaments spoke to the press. In addition, the President of the Austrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka spoke at the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
During the bilateral meeting, the parties discussed a number of important issues, including Ukraine's integration into the European Union, strengthening sanctions pressure against the russian federation, food security, and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly deported to russia.
First of all, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine thanked his colleague for his personal contribution and efforts in shaping the position of Austria's support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people, as well as for his leadership in bilateral relations. "These relations are not limited to our meetings as parliamentarians, our groups, but also extend to our apparatuses. This level of mutual contacts is the best way to stay in touch and receive absolutely verified and honest information about each other's activities," he said.
At the same time, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted that all the efforts of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Government are now focused on implementing the seven recommendations of the European Commission. "We expect the final positive recommendation of the European Commission in October, as well as the decision of the European Council in December to start membership negotiations," emphasized Ruslan Stefanchuk.
Regarding the sanctions pressure against the russian federation, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized that the pressure should be increased.
In addition, during the meeting, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine thanked Austria for allocating two million euros for humanitarian demining in Ukraine, expressing hope for the continuation of this assistance. Ruslan Stefanchuk also thanked his colleague for the recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a "terrible crime of the stalinist regime" by the Austrian National Council in December last year.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called on Austria to join the initiative to return Ukrainian children forcibly deported to the russian federation. At the same time, Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked Austria for supporting the Peace Formula of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing hope for the country's active participation in the implementation of the Ukrainian peace plan.
"Austria definitely stands by Ukraine and tries to support it in everything," Wolfgang Sobotka, the President of the Austrian National Council, emphasized during the joint press conference. He noted that Austria condemns russia's unjustified aggression and all war crimes committed by the russian military.
"We oppose the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity. It is necessary to restore this integrity by all means — Austria supports the sanctions imposed against russia," said the President of the Austrian National Council, adding that Austria supports the war crimes being condemned by the International Criminal Tribunal.
"The restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity should be considered together with Crimea as a whole," he emphasized.
In conclusion, Wolfgang Sobotka emphasized that Austria supports Ukraine in its European integration aspirations.