71st Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly: Supporting Ukraine, Defending Europe and Strengthening Transatlantic Security
The Ukrainian delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine took an active part in the 71st annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which took place in Slovenia from 10 to 13 October.
This session was a landmark for Ukraine and all of Europe: NATO parliamentarians called for decisive measures to protect the Alliance's eastern borders from russian aggression, confirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against the enemy, and expressed their intention to increase investment in transatlantic security.
Solidarity with Ukraine and the need for a just and lasting peace were proclaimed. The NATO Assembly also warns against a hasty peace settlement in Ukraine that could undermine sovereignty and encourage the aggressor (Resolution 502).
This global event once again demonstrated the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, which is being pursued in particular by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Active participation in international forums and meetings with delegations from other countries helps to strengthen international support for Ukraine, influence political decisions and enhance the security of our state and of Europe as a whole.
First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko said that during the session, the Ukrainian delegation discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and support for Ukraine with colleagues from other participating countries.
According to him, during the meeting with the delegation of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Ukrainian side thanked, in particular, the Riksdag and the government of the country for their unwavering, comprehensive support for Ukraine — military, political, financial and humanitarian. ‘As members of parliament, we know how much work and leadership it takes to achieve broad political consensus — from committee discussions to plenary debates — and we are grateful to all Swedish parties that have united around the common goal of protecting freedom and peace in Europe,’ Oleksandr Korniienko said.
A meeting was also held with representatives of the United Kingdom, during which Ukrainian parliamentarians spoke in detail about the consequences of the russian attack on energy infrastructure facilities. "We emphasised that the enemy is seeking to cause a blackout on the territory of our state. Therefore, it is now extremely important for us to support the energy sector and strengthen military assistance to protect against air attacks. We also discussed the development of cooperation in the defence sector. We are grateful to the United Kingdom and its people for their substantial assistance to Ukraine," the First Deputy Speaker emphasised.
The Ukrainian parliamentary delegation also met with the Canadian delegation, expressing sincere gratitude for Canada's unwavering support for the Ukrainian people in the face of russia's full-scale armed aggression. ‘We appreciate Canada's long-term military support programme and hope that the government and parliament will approve a new package of financial and military assistance in 2026. We emphasised that we need increased defence assistance to protect our airspace,’ said Oleksandr Korniienko.
During a substantive dialogue with NATO PA President Marcos Perestrello, the parties discussed the results of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council's activities and possible ways to improve its work, in particular new formats. "We look forward to holding one of the next meetings in Ukraine. The NATO PA and UNIC are communities of trust built on shared values and shared responsibility. Cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly 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," Oleksandr Korniienko concluded.
The head of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Yegor Cherniev, announced the NATO PA's call on the governments of their countries to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons and lift restrictions on their use. ‘In its resolution, the Assembly calls for expanding support for Ukraine so that it can not only defend itself but also liberate the occupied territory. It is emphasised that Ukraine should have the right to strike legitimate targets on russian territory with Western weapons,’ Yegor Cherniev stressed.
In addition, according to him, the Assembly called for providing Ukraine with more air defence systems, anti-drone and electronic warfare systems, aircraft, armoured vehicles and intelligence information. It is also important that the resolution calls for the integration of the Ukrainian defence sector with NATO initiatives and the development of joint arms production. Separately, it calls for tougher sanctions against russia and intensified efforts to hold russia accountable, including within the framework of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine within the Council of Europe.
The head of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly also noted the position on the use of frozen russian assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine. "Although NATO PA resolutions are advisory in nature, they are almost always a prelude to real political decisions in the West with a lag of six months to a year. This often becomes the basis on which NATO governments subsequently base their decisions. So, our delegation has fulfilled its tasks by achieving formulations that are important to us. Now we have a strong resolution and are waiting for action from Western governments," he concluded.
It should be noted that during the NATO PA meeting, Roman Hryshchuk, a member of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, raised the issue of russia's cruel treatment of prisoners of war. "Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians return from captivity with severe physical and psychological trauma after being tortured. Unfortunately, many of our people do not survive this torture," he said, noting that russia has withdrawn from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. Ukraine calls for the condemnation of torture and for international observers to be allowed access to places where prisoners of war are being held.
In turn, following meetings with European parliamentarians, Oleksiy Zhmerenetskyi, a member of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, highlighted topical issues of European security: from protection against sabotage operations by the russian federation, in particular countering the recruitment of saboteurs on social media, to protecting undersea internet cables and other critical infrastructure from sabotage. Among the issues on the agenda are the immediate provision of protection against enemy UAVs and the scaling up of appropriate technological means. Particular attention is being paid to the issue of protecting European societies from the russian Federation's information influence.
Halyna Mykhailiuk, a member of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, also noted the importance of high-level interparliamentary cooperation. According to her, it is through constant dialogue that Ukraine consolidates its partners and brings our country closer to victory. She highlighted, in particular, the productivity of meetings with parliamentarians from Germany, the Netherlands and the European Parliament. "Key topics included support for Ukraine's energy security, deepening defence cooperation, developing joint production and financing the Ukrainian defence industry. Special attention was paid to the PURL initiative, which provides for the supply of Patriot systems and the strengthening of Ukrainian air defence, as well as issues of coordination with partners from the US and EU countries regarding further support," she said.
NATO's support in the fight for freedom and security in Europe is extremely important for Ukraine, emphasised Iryna Friz, deputy member of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. At the same time, Ukraine is of strategic importance to NATO, as it is our country that has unique experience in conducting combat operations in the modern conditions of technological warfare using unmanned systems. The fact that this year's session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly focused on the russian threat shows, in her words, that the West is aware of the scale of the risks for the whole of Europe.
Ukraine is grateful to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly for its unwavering support and consolidation of international efforts to defend the sovereignty and security of our country.