The Speech by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan STEFANCHUK during the plenary session of the European Parliament, on the eve of the third anniversary of the resistance to russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine
Dear Madam President of the European Parliament, dear Roberta!
Dear Commissioner Kos,
Dear Members of the European Parliament,
Dear friends!
I am very pleased to be back in this room.
I had the honour to speak here in June 2022, on the eve of the historic day when Ukraine was granted the high status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union!
I remember that day in detail.
In particular, the overwhelming atmosphere of support that prevailed in this historic building, which bears the great name of the French military nurse Louise Weiss.
This legendary woman, who survived the horrors of the First and Second World Wars, decided to devote herself to overcoming aggression and influencing political processes and international relations.
Today, I am once again honoured to address you, dear Members of the European Parliament, and in your person, all citizens of a free Europe, from the most authoritative rostrum of the European continent.
I am addressing you as a representative of the Ukrainian Parliament and as a son of the multimillion Ukrainian people, who, like three years ago, will be eagerly awaiting good news from Strasbourg.
It is waiting for your support and encouragement.
Thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity.
Last year, European elections were held.
On the one hand, they renewed the composition of the European Parliament.
On the other hand, they strengthened its fundamental foundations, which are commitment to a united Europe, commitment to common values and principles.
I want you to know that, as then, so now, tired but undefeated Ukraine is deeply grateful to each and every one of you!
For every vote, every resolution, every action in support of our struggle for freedom and independence!
In this list, a special place is occupied by the resolution ‘The need for continued EU support for Ukraine’ adopted by you on 17 July last year at your first inaugural meeting.
Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the European Union and all its member states for the unwavering, consistent and comprehensive support you have provided to Ukraine in the fight against russian aggression over the past three years and continue to do so.
More than 4 million Ukrainians have been granted the status of persons under temporary protection.
It was you and your colleagues who mobilised €50 billion of military support for Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility programme.
And the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine has already trained more than 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
My deepest gratitude and these sincere applause to each of you, dear friends! (Applause)
Dear colleagues!
In two weeks, Ukrainians will remember the events of 24 February 2022 for the third time, when early in the morning russia launched massive missile attacks on our cities and villages, and its thousands of troops invaded our territory, sowing death and destruction.
But the war does not let us go every day or night.
Every day innocent people die, every day frightened children are afraid, every day mothers cry.
russia, like an inexorable rust, tries to seize Ukrainian lands in the east every day.
It makes desperate attempts to move westwards, towards Kyiv.
And this means towards Warsaw.
Towards Strasbourg and Brussels.
If russia is not stopped, it will only be a matter of time before a russian soldier kicks in the doors of the sleeping citizens of Budapest, as it happened in 1956, or the citizens of Prague, as it happened in 1968.
Just as it happened in Bucha and Irpin just three years ago.
Believe me, the war is much closer than it actually is.
In 1991, when Ukraine became independent, as well as in 1994, when our predecessors signed the Budapest Memorandum, it seemed that the time of trials was over forever.
How naive we were.
Now we know very well that history and all its old and new lessons cannot be forgotten.
History cannot be taken lightly.
It needs to be well known and remembered, especially when it is a history of aggression, occupation, and abuse.
How well do the peoples enslaved by russia know and remember it?
How Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians felt it on their own skin.
As Moldovans and Georgians have learned and, I hope, will never forget.
Unpunished evil will continue to spread as long as we allow it to do so.
Peace can only be achieved through strength.
The power of our unity and determination.
The power of consolidated pressure on the aggressor.
Each of us bears a huge responsibility for the fate of our countries and peoples, for the fate of Europe, for the fate of the civilised world!
Let us not forget about it!
Dear friends,
The only way to stop the aggressive russia and achieve a just and lasting peace is to support Ukraine so strongly that the aggressor will be bogged down not only in Ukrainian soil, but also in international sanctions and its own internal problems.
We all know the urgent needs of Ukraine.
More air defence systems, more planes, more long-range artillery, more electronic warfare equipment, more investment in the Ukrainian military industry!
More effective sanctions that cannot be avoided or circumvented!
More determination in the confiscation and use of russian frozen assets!
More fair and irreversible punishment for the terrible war crimes committed, air and missile strikes on civilians, torture and murder of civilians, our unarmed soldiers!
russia has violated all red lines in this war.
Unlike the aggressor, Ukraine, as a victim of aggression, and its partners have not violated any.
The only lines we have to erase are the lines of fear, indecision, procrastination and despair!
Ladies and gentlemen,
I will never forget the day three years ago, four days after russia's full-scale invasion, when I signed Ukraine's application for membership in the European Union together with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
And I am proud to belong to a nation that, despite unprovoked and brutal aggression, despite terrible losses and inhuman fatigue, has set itself another difficult but vital task – to become a member of a large European family!
It has set a task to return, as I often say, to the common European home!
Since the founding of the European Union, none of the countries that have embarked on the path of integration into the EU has paid such a terrible and bloody price for the legitimate right to be part of the European family as Ukraine has paid and continues to pay.
But the choice has been made and I have no doubt that the goal will be achieved – Ukraine will become a member of the European Union!
And we will definitely become stronger and better after this war.
Because we are committed to the reform process.
Because we have trust between us, friends, as one of our most important achievements.
We have ambitious but achievable tasks ahead of us: the opening of the first negotiation clusters during the Polish presidency.
This will be a powerful impetus for further progress.
This will confirm that Ukraine is not just declaring its desire to be in the EU, but is also implementing it.
Dear Madam President,
Dear Commissioner,
Dear Members of the European Parliament,
The next phase will be crucial for the course of the war, for the future of European security and transatlantic unity.
Our task is to preserve our commonality, to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe.
Establishing peace through strength is the only way to stop the world's tyrannies.
Just like three years ago, millions of Ukrainians are once again waiting with hope for good news from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, from Washington and London, Paris, Brussels, and Berlin.
News that they are not alone in this latest war.
That the war will soon be over, because we have the strength and justice of European and global democracy behind us.
That the time for peace and reconstruction is coming.
Neither I nor you have the right to let them down.
Friends,
It is not by chance that I mentioned the legendary Louise Weiss at the beginning of my speech.
Driven by duty, she put on a uniform and stood up twice to defend her country as a military nurse and as a member of the Resistance Movement.
She did so, as millions of Ukrainians do today, in defence of their dear homeland.
Due to circumstances, I have twice spoken in this hall in tactical uniform.
But I, like my dear compatriots, have a big dream – to replace this uniform with civilian clothes.
To replace weapons with tools.
To replace the air raid alert app in our smartphones.
Or even better, erase it forever!
Replace war with peace!
Thank you for your attention,
Glory to Ukraine!