We expect Iceland to join the Civil Protection Coalition, - Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk met with the Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament
Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Kondratiuk met with Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir. The bilateral meeting took place during the sixth International Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, where Olena Kondratiuk is representing Ukraine.
The Icelandic Parliament delegation, like the Ukrainian delegation, is outraged by the presence of representatives of the aggressor country, the russian federation, at the summit. Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttirn oted during the conversation, she did not participate in a joint photo session with Valentyna Matvienko, the head of the Federation Council of the russian federation, who is under sanctions, as a sign of protest.
«We are grateful to Iceland for its continued support of Ukraine at all levels in defending against russian aggression. We appreciate Iceland's consistent position on joining all EU sanctions packages against russia. It is particularly important that, even without its own army, Iceland is providing military and technical assistance to Ukraine. The total amount of this assistance has already reached $54 million,» Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk emphasised during the meeting.
«Iceland will continue to focus on supporting Ukraine,» the Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament assured in turn.
On behalf of the Verkhovna Rada, Olena Kondratiuk thanked the Icelandic Parliament for adopting a resolution condemning russia's forced deportation of Ukrainian children. She also expressed gratitude to Iceland for participating in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
The parties discussed the escalation of russian aggression, shelling of Ukrainian cities and intensified terror against the civilian population. «We hope that Iceland will join the Civil Protection Coalition, which provides for the creation of a shelter system in Ukraine,» Olena Kondratiuk said.
She emphasised that Ukraine is now appealing to all international partners with a key humanitarian request: to provide modern air defence systems and missiles for them.
«This is extremely necessary to protect the lives of our civilians. We also need long-range weapons. It is already obvious to everyone, including our US partners, that russia only understands the language of force. Only through force can we achieve a just peace for Ukraine,» Olena Kondratiuk noted.