Speech by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Distinguished Members of Parliament!
It is such an honour to address you in this house of Ukrainian democracy. As I stand in this majestic hall, my heart is full of emotions: admiration for your courage and endurance, grief for all the suffering that russia has inflicted upon your beloved country, respect for all the incredible legislative work that this house has carried forward even as you fight an existential war. But the strongest of all feelings is gratitude. The whole of Europe feels deeply grateful for what you have done since the beginning of this brutal war. You are fighting not only for your freedom, your democracy and your future, but for ours too. You are fighting for Europe! This is something we are painfully aware of. Dear Members of Rada, dear people of Ukraine! Thank you very much.
On the wall of one of the Parliament buildings there is a beautiful mural by the French artist Christian Guemy. This mural reminds us of the deep ties between the people of Ukraine and the rest of Europe, but also of your courage and determination. The mural shows a hero of Ukraine’s resistance Oleksandr Matsiievskyi. You all know his story. He was captured by the russians in the Battle of Bakhmut. The russians made him dig his own grave and executed him, in one of the too many war crimes of this bloody war. But Oleksandr looked at his killers, there was no fear in his face, he stood bravely in front of them and said two simple words – words of freedom, words of pride, words that meant that russia would never win this war. And now these words are forever engraved on the wall and in the hearts of all free people in the world: “Glory to Ukraine!”.
Oleksandr Matsiievskyi has become a national hero because you all share his spirit. All Ukrainians are standing up against russian brutality. And in front of your bravery, there is only one thing that we, the rest of Europeans, must do – stand alongside Ukraine for as long as it takes. That is why next week we are announcing a 12th package of sanctions against russia. The new sanctions shall include up to one hundred new listed individuals, new import and export bans, actions to increase the oil price cap and tough measures against companies which circumvent sanctions.
For too long, many in Europe thought that we could trade with russia and integrate it into the European security order, but it has not worked and it will not work as long as russia is driven by its delusional dreams of empire. And this is one crucial lesson that you, the people of Ukraine, have taught us throughout this war. So, we shall not repeat the mistakes of 2014 and we will continue to apply maximum pressure on russia until the end of the aggression, until Ukraine reestablishes a just and lasting peace.
Indeed, Europe is learning a lot from Ukraine. This is a message you don’t hear often enough. The people of Ukraine do not need to learn how to be Europeans, you are Europeans. And when the President Zelenskyi addressed the European Council last week, he spoke as a European leader.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has proved much. You are showing the power of democracy, you are showing the power of ingenuity and the power of European values. These are the three main topics I would like to focus on today. And here, in front of elected representatives of the Ukrainian people, I can only start with the power of democracy. I remember very well how when one year ago we presented seven necessary steps that would accompany Ukraine as a candidate on its way towards the EU. Some people said they were too ambitious, but your response was extraordinary: all your democratic institutions mobilised at maximum to fulfil this desire of the Ukrainian people. As the President Zelenskyi said, you did not ask for discounts or workarounds. Instead, you have shown what Ukrainian democracy can deliver. The breadth and depth of the reforms you have undertaken are impressive: constitutional justice reform, the selection of members of the High Council of Justice, the anti-corruption programme, progress against money laundering, important measures to limit the oligarchs’ influence on public life, a new media law, and progress on national minorities. We know it has not always been easy, but this is a normal path of any democracy. We discuss, we disagree, we discuss even harder, then we find solutions, and then we deliver.
And, yes, you have achieved great success, much greater than anyone expected from a country at war. You are undergoing through deep reforms while fighting a full-scale war. And the goal is truly within reach. Further strengthening your anti-corruption efforts, adopting the Law on Lobbying, strengthening two aspects of the asset declaration system, and implementing the remaining recommendations of the Venice Commission on national minorities including education. These are the measures needed to fully complete the seven steps. And you can do it. And you can do it swiftly. You have already completed them by more than 90 per cent. And we will continue to provide all the technical and political support you need. I am confident that you can reach your ambitious goal of making the historic decision to open the accession process this year.
Honourable members! Dear friends! My second point is about the economy of this country and the ingenuity of the Ukrainian people. Let me tell you the story of a young Ukrainian talent named Valentyn Frechka. He was only 17 years old when he invented a new technology to make paper from fallen leaves. Together with local entrepreneurs, he launched a start-up called Releaf. They got in touch with cities that wanted to get rid of tons of fallen leaves and started producing paper bags for companies that wanted to operate in an environmentally friendly way without cutting a single tree.
In 2021, you, the Verkhovna Rada, passed legislation to ban plastic bags, in line with the European Green Deal. This gave a boost to businesses like Releaf. And now, thanks to funding from the EU, this promising Ukrainian company is expanding and selling its products across Europe. This is just one example of the immense talent in this country. Ukraine is a country of innovators, not only of large agricultural enterprises and heavy industry, but also of bright young minds that is already shaping Ukraine’s environmentally friendly digital future.
Yes, Ukraine’s financial needs are daunting, but so is Ukraine’s economic potential and Europe wants to invest in you. That’s why we have proposed a facility for Ukraine, an unprecedented €50 billion plan to help the Ukrainian economy. It will be financed through grants from the EU budget and loans from the capital markets.
We are also working to use the proceeds of immobilised russian sovereign assets. This mechanism will support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction over the next four years. And by comparison, this will be more than any European country received under the US Marshall Plan, which we received to help Western Europe after World War II, and you deserve it.
A critical task to make the best use of these funds. That is why we have developed together the Ukraine’s Plan together. With this plan, you will be able to create a new vision for Ukraine’s future. This is your chance not only to rebuild your economy, but also to give it a new look through a clear programme of reforms and investments and a single coherent programme. By continuing the path to EU membership, you can shape a better country for your younger generation. And the Ukraine’s Plan is not just about channelling European support. It will also provide guidance and coordination for international donors in the interests of Ukraine. That is why it is now up to you to show to the world your commitment to Ukraine’s future.
Honourable Members! People of Ukraine! Two months ago, I decided to conclude my address on the state of the European Union with the words of Viktoriia Amelina. Viktoriia Amelina was a Ukrainian writer, mother and human rights activist. She was killed by russia during the massacre of civilians in Kramatorsk. Viktoriia Amelina was convinced that this war taught Ukrainians a lot. You realised that you can count on each other, and you also realised that you can count on your fellow Europeans. Today, we feel that we belong to one family and one home, because, as Viktoriia said, “home is where we trust each other.”
But this war has also taught the rest of Europe a lot, and the most important lesson is right in front of you – the power of this flag. The power of this flag – a blue flag with yellow stars that you have decided to bring here. I remember very well this ceremony at the heart of Ukrainian democracy, here in this hall. Perhaps too often we forget what this flag stands for: it means freedom and democracy; it means peace and prosperity. It is a symbol of age-old values and a symbol of hope, and you have reminded us of that.
You are teaching us all the true meaning of Europe. And it is this spirit that has brought me here. And it has brought me, as it has brought all the European leaders who have come to Kyiv after more than 600 days of war. We bring the solidarity of European citizens, but we do not bring Europe to you, because Europe is already here. Europe is already here, in your fight for freedom. Europe is here in your democratic debates. Europe is here in your resistance against tyranny. Europe is in the eyes of all Ukrainians who are fighting for a better future. And together we can win this fight, together we can complete our union, together we can bring Ukraine in our common European home – this is the dream of Ukrainian heroes and Ukrainian martyrs. It is also our dream too.
Together we are Europe. Long live Europe! Glory to Ukraine!