Ruslan Stefanchuk: The visit of the President of the Czech Republic to Ukraine is a manifestation of courage and solidarity with the Ukrainian people

This was emphasized by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk during a meeting with President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, who visited Ukraine for the first time as President of the Czech Republic.

“I would like to thank you for your courage and support, which you show by your own stay in Ukraine. After all, last night the enemy continued to attack the civilian population of our country, demonstrating its atrocities and inhumanity. But, despite everything, our friends are with us and your voice of support is extremely powerful,” Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized at the beginning of the meeting.

He also thanked the Czech Republic for inviting him to the Conference of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the EU Member States, which was recently held in Prague and where Ukraine was first presented, in particular, as a candidate for EU membership. According to the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ukraine hopes that in the near future “it will be able to participate in such events not only in the status of a candidate country”.

Ruslan Stefanchuk also expressed his gratitude for the Czech Republic’s initiative to host the Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimean Platform this fall, which once again “testifies to the Czech Republic’s strong support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of our country.”

In addition, the parties discussed a number of issues important for Ukraine in its current struggle against the aggressor and for the post-war future: Ukraine’s full membership in the EU, Ukraine’s course towards NATO and the Czech Republic’s support for them; defense needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sanctions against russia, and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

“Ukraine is ready to implement complex and important reforms to transform Ukrainian society. We will go our way to the EU and NATO with honor, we will go with dignity to return to our European home. And we will go this way side by side and with the help of our Czech friends,” the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized in conclusion.

The President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, for his part, once again emphasized that the Czech Republic would stand by Ukraine both before and after its victory in this war.

“The Czech Republic will do everything possible to help Ukraine restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. The Czech Republic will also support Ukraine in its reconstruction, and not only after the war is over. We are ready to start it now,” Petr Pavel emphasized.

At the same time, he noted that in this context, the Czech Republic seeks to move more from assistance to cooperation and “is ready to talk about possible mechanisms for establishing partnerships in specific areas or specific projects to start working on them in the near future.”

In addition, Petr Pavel emphasized that the Czech Republic will support Ukraine in its efforts to start negotiations on full membership in the EU and NATO, and will “strengthen its voice” in the issue of establishing an international tribunal to punish russia for war crimes in Ukraine that it committed during this war of aggression.

https://www.rada.gov.ua/en/news/News/top_news/235825.html