Address by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan STEFANCHUK at the NATO Parliamentary Summit
Dear colleagues, leaders of Allied Parliaments,
We gather together under a heavy, but unbowed sky, as we endure the darkest and most challenging chapter of russia's unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine since the initial invasion.
But I will start to speak on Ukraine-NATO agenda, I want to recall yesterday’s terrible, brutal russian missile attack of the well-known Ukrainian children's hospital "Okhmatdyt".
It was a horrific example of a cynical and inhuman attitude to life, to childhood.
Yesterday during one of numerous events in the scope of my visit to Washington D.C I said that Ukrainians and Kyivans demonstrated to the whole world what solidarity is.
Hundreds of people standing in a live chain are clearing the rubble, passing bricks from hand to hand to free those who needed help, light, air, liberation from the rubble.
Brick to brick.
From one hand to another.
Kyiv stood in traffic jams, because people rushed to help the injured, the children, and carried and carried water, food, and basics.
This is also solidarity.
I really want to see each of you, each of our partners in this live human chain of life that overcomes death, aggression, and gives hope.
I really want roads to Ukraine to be jammed with the Air Defense Systems, Aircraft, long range artillery and humanitarian aid.
I fully rely on your assistance.
The shadow of russian war of aggression has been hanging over Ukraine for more than two years, causing a deep wound inflicted without provocation, affecting NATO member states, affecting the whole world.
This war has become a war of attrition.
Economic exhaustion, exhaustion of defense resources, moral exhaustion. putin's regime is trying at all costs to break our resistance and force the world to live by the rules of the past – the law of force, zones of influence and limited sovereignty
The situation on the battlefield is hard, but your unwavering solidarity with ordinary Ukrainians, your arms, your sanctions, and your condemnation of russian barbarity – these are not just acts of political expediency, but a stand for the very principles upon which the free world stands.
putin's attempt to escalate the war by launching a new offensive in eastern Ukraine has been stopped by the courage of our soldiers and the support of you, our dear partners.
The first and foremost is military assistance.
Fulfillment of previous commitments and increased deliveries of air defense systems, F-16 combat aircraft, long-range artillery and missiles, ammunition and armored vehicles are critical.
The russians should give up the illusion that they can achieve their goals through war.
I thank each and every one of your countries for contributing to this effort.
Second, it's the russian assets.
In Ukraine, we highly appreciate the decisions to allocate financial resources from frozen and immobilized russian assets to Ukraine. However, the level of destruction caused by russia's aggression and the cost of this war exceed these funds. Everyone agrees that russia should pay, and so we need to find the right methods to confiscate all their assets.
My third point is the medical needs of our brave soldiers, wounded in the line of duty.
As Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty and freedom, we are working to ensure that those who sacrifice so much for our country receive the highest standard of care and support. Our wounded military personnel need comprehensive medical facilities for to their rehabilitation.
We call on our partners to help us by sharing best practices and providing technical expertise in building these advanced rehabilitation facilities.
The next point is the energy issue.
putin is waging an all-out war against our energy sector. It is extremely important to ensure that russia does not set a precedent for destroying a nation's energy infrastructure. Otherwise, this tactic could be adopted in military doctrines worldwide.
To support our efforts in restoring and protecting our power generation capabilities we need assistance in new power generating equipment, technical expertise and best practices in energy infrastructure.
My last, but not least point is the strengthening of our diplomatic efforts, increasing russia's isolation and consolidation of the international community around the universal values enshrined in the UN Charter.
Ukraine is committed to peace and is therefore working to implement President Zelenskyi Peace Formula.
I ask you and your parliaments to become part of these efforts.
Another initiative is the Crimea Platform, as the liberation of Crimea is an integral part of any peaceful solution. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you, Distinguished Colleagues, to take part in the Third Parliamentary Summit of Platform, which will be held this October in Latvia.
Thank you, dear Daiga, for the important decision to host this year's summit in hospitable Riga.
Dear colleagues,
Ukrainians sincerely believe and work for victory.
This is a matter of our existence.
Membership in NATO is a matter of our existence.
Our struggle and your determination is a matter of our existence.
At the same time, today's war shows that like-minded countries should stick together and then war will not come to their homes.
That is why Ukraine aspires to become a member of NATO, which will strengthen Ukraine and strengthen NATO itself.
We have come to Washington with unchanged ambitions – we expect to advance towards NATO membership.
We expect the NATO Summit to demonstrate the strength of the Alliance, its effectiveness in countering today's threats, giving a worthy response to russia's attempts to build a new coalition of evil.
I am confident that our parliaments can play an important role in this process and in Ukraine's accession path.
Dear friends,
The world is watching, and history is being written now.
Together, we can and we will build a future where aggression is punished, where sovereignty is respected, and where the flame of freedom burns bright for all.
I would like to conclude my statement with the words of the 35th President of the United States, the Honorable John Fitzgerald Kennedy:
"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies. Those whom God has so joined together, let no man put asunder".
Thank you and Slava Ukraini!