The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk met with the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and members of the Lithuanian delegation
First of all, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, who arrived in Ukraine on a visit, paid tribute to the memory of the people’s deputies of Ukraine and employees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine who died as a result of russian armed aggression, and to the memory of the servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine who laid down their young lives defending the state, law and human dignity while serving near the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 31 August 2015.
“This visit is yet another manifestation of solidarity and support for Ukraine,” said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine during the meeting, expressing gratitude to Lithuania and the entire Lithuanian people for their assistance in all areas of priority for our country.
At the same time, Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked Lithuania for its constant advocacy and appeals to partners to provide Ukraine with weapons. He also noted that the most urgent needs include air defence systems, F-16 aircraft, ammunition, long-range artillery, and additional Patriot systems.
The parties also touched upon the issue of strengthening sanctions pressure against russia and Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic path. The parties discussed the adoption of a negotiating framework. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed gratitude for Lithuania's absolute support of Ukraine's path to full membership in the European Union.
As for NATO, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament stressed that Ukraine expects a productive Washington summit: “It is important for us to receive an invitation to start accession negotiations.” “Together we must do everything to bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance. It is beneficial for both Ukraine and the Alliance,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk.
Ruslan Stefanchuk also thanked Lithuania for training, support and rehabilitation of the Ukrainian military.
Finally, the parties paid attention to interparliamentary cooperation. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed gratitude for all the decisions, all 15 resolutions of the Seimas of Lithuania in support of Ukraine.
Following the meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed the importance of the declaration signed by the speakers of the parliaments of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine in the Polish city of Bialystok, where for the first time, at the level of a document, the inter-parliamentary dialogue agreed on the possibility of Ukraine's defence in accordance with international law, which also includes strikes on legitimate military targets in russia, as well as the possibility of engaging instructors from these countries to train the military in Ukraine.
For her part, the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, stressed that Lithuania's support for Ukraine in the face of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine will continue. She also said that the Lithuanian Parliament had adopted 15 resolutions in support of Ukraine, each of which was used to increase assistance to Ukraine, international support, alliances on various platforms, and other pressing issues, such as Ukraine's accession to the European Union and NATO, and the imposition of sanctions against the russian and belarusian regimes.
“I represent not only the Lithuanian Parliament, but also the entire Lithuanian people, who fully support Ukraine,” said the Seimas leader, stressing that Lithuania supports Ukrainian military initiatives and advocates for more military assistance.