UNIC 2025: Support for Ukraine and strengthening transatlantic solidarity
During the 71st autumn session of the Assembly, a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC) was held, which was solemnly opened by NATO PA President Marcos Perestrello.
During the event, UNIC Co-Chairs Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Audronius Ažubalis, Member of the European and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Seimas of Lithuania, discussed with NATO partners issues of collective security and support for Ukraine in its fight against russian aggression.
‘I emphasised that Ukraine's victory will not only restore our borders, but also strengthen NATO itself. A secure Ukraine within the Alliance will mean a stronger eastern flank, a more stable Black Sea region and a safer Europe,’ said First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko.
He told the participants of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council about the current security situation in Ukraine — both on the front lines and within the country — which remains extremely difficult: russia continues its daily attacks with missiles and drones targeting our critical infrastructure, gas and energy facilities, cities and ports.
"The goal of these attacks is to exhaust Ukraine and undermine the will of our partners. But this will not happen. Our people remain strong, and our defenders are doing everything possible to hold their positions on the battlefield," said Oleksandr Korniienko, noting that Ukraine urgently needs further support — especially air defence systems, long-range weapons, ammunition and equipment to protect our energy infrastructure.
Oleksandr Korniienko noted that, in addition to immediate assistance, he sees enormous potential in expanding Ukraine's cooperation with NATO member states in the defence industry. He emphasised that our country is ready to share its experience and technologies for the joint production of drones, ammunition and air defence system components.
At the same time, the First Deputy Speaker assured that reforms in Ukraine are continuing despite daily attacks by the aggressor. In particular, the Verkhovna Rada is adopting legislation on defence management, procurement transparency, strengthening anti-corruption institutions and enhancing parliamentary control over defence resources. Ukrainian legislation is gradually being brought into line with NATO standards, and coordination between the security sector, local communities and international partners is improving.
The First Deputy Speaker called on the international community to continue to act with unity and determination to prove that freedom, when defended together, always prevails.
Audronius Ažubalis, Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council, in turn expressed a clear and unwavering position on support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. During his speech, he called for continued financial and defence support for Ukraine, condemned russian aggression, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and terrorist in nature, and stressed that Ukraine's victory is a guarantee of peace and stability not only in the Euro-Atlantic region. Audronius Ažubalis separately emphasised the need to ‘close the sky’ over Ukraine in order to stop the terrorisation of the civilian population.
‘The situation requires our joint and decisive action,’ Audronius Ažubalis concluded.
During the meeting, a report by Yegor Cherniev, head of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, was approved. The report stated that russia is determined to continue its illegal war in the hope that the Western consensus on supporting Ukraine will become ‘fragmented.’
‘Kyiv's ability to resist depends on uninterrupted external support, further expansion of its defence-industrial base, and timely strengthening of air and missile defence networks that can thwart russia's hybrid air-ground offensive,’ Yegor Cherniev emphasised.
Parliamentarians noted that NATO members should not agree to a hasty peace settlement in Ukraine that would undermine the country's sovereignty and reward the russian aggressor.
On behalf of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko expressed gratitude to all NATO member states and their parliaments for the consistent and principled support they continue to provide to our country in the areas of defence, recovery and Euro-Atlantic integration.
“The NATO Parliamentary Assembly and UNIC are more than just platforms for discussion. They are communities of trust built on shared values and shared responsibility. Cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the NATO PA has become a strong bridge connecting our democratic institutions. This is not just about dialogue — it is about action, responsibility and resilience in the face of aggression," Korniienko concluded.