Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk met with a delegation of Chairmen of the European Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of the EU Member States
The Ukrainian parliament hosted a meeting that was another confirmation of the unity of Ukraine and the European Union. A delegation of high-ranking officials from the national parliaments of EU countries and the European Parliament arrived in Kyiv to discuss further military, political and financial support for Ukraine, coordination of security activities, and the next steps on the path to European integration.
Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked his colleagues for their solidarity and stressed that interparliamentary dialogue plays a key role in consolidating efforts: "The first word I want to say to you is 'thank you'. Thank you for your support, for everything you have done and are doing for Ukraine. It is very important that this support comes not only from politicians, but also from the people of your countries," the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada stressed.
The parties also discussed the PURL mechanism, which is designed to ensure a stable supply of weapons, including air defence systems. Stefanchuk stressed that modern air defence systems are key not only to protecting Ukrainian cities, but also to ensuring the security of the whole of Europe.
European integration was an important part of the discussion. Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasised that the opening of the first clusters in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU should not be delayed.
Christian Friis Bach, Chairman of the Danish Parliament's Committee on European Affairs, confirmed that EU enlargement is a key priority of the Danish Presidency: "It is extremely important for us to deepen our understanding of Ukraine's EU accession process and to see the legislative reforms that you are implementing in the Parliament. They should strengthen your position. We are standing at a crucial moment, and Denmark will do everything to open new chapters of negotiations with Ukraine," he said.
Saara-Sofia Siren, Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs of the Finnish Parliament, emphasised: "Finland is a strong supporter of Ukraine. We have our own experience of confrontation with our neighbour, russia. And it is easy to agree that today, not only the future of your country and your independence, but also the entire continent is at stake. Ukraine's EU membership is the key to long-term stability and security."
In turn, the participants noted the impressive pace of reforms in Ukraine, even in times of war, and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in the anti-corruption and judicial sectors.
They also discussed the restoration of historical justice - the recognition of the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people and the deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 as genocide.
A separate topic was the preparation for the IV Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimean Platform, which will be held in November in Stockholm. Ruslan Stefanchuk invited his colleagues to take an active part in this important event.
"The war in Europe is not only a war in Ukraine, it is a threat to each of your countries. We are fighting not only for our freedom but also for the security of the whole of Europe. And that is why we must act together," the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine concluded.
The meeting was attended by the chairmen and representatives of the parliamentary committees on European affairs of Denmark, Finland, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia and Ireland, as well as the Vice-President of the European Parliament Esteban González Ponce. The Ukrainian side was represented by Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on EU Integration.