The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and the President of the European Parliament held a joint briefing
Today, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola paid an official visit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola held a joint briefing.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasised that each visit by the head of the European Parliament is of particular importance for Ukraine. Ruslan Stefanchuk recalled that during her previous visit, journalists were granted access to the session hall, and this time, open broadcasts of Verkhovna Rada sessions were symbolically launched. For the first time, a foreign leader spoke live on the parliamentary TV channel Rada.
«Today, the President of the European Parliament is addressing Ukrainian society live on the parliamentary channel — this is an important step in strengthening the transparency and openness of our Parliament's work,» said the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.
In her speech, Roberta Metsola emphasised that it was ‘very important for her to be back at the heart of Ukrainian democracy — in the Verkhovna Rada.’ She thanked Ruslan Stefanchuk and the members of parliament for the substantive discussions that preceded her speech in the session hall. The President of the European Parliament stressed that russia continues its brutal attacks against Ukraine and threatens the security of the whole of Europe, having carried out more than 3,500 drone strikes this month alone.
«My message today is simple: we will not back down from supporting Ukraine. On the contrary, we will increase our assistance so that you are ready for the cold winter months,» Roberta Metsola said. She announced that the European Union would allocate an additional €40 million in humanitarian aid to provide heat and light, as well as facilitate the supply of generators, housing repairs and improved access to water and sanitation.
During the talks, special attention was paid to cooperation between the parliaments of Ukraine and the EU. «This partnership is based on trust, mutual respect and practical cooperation,» emphasised the President of the European Parliament. She thanked Ruslan Stefanchuk for his active position and recalled their joint participation in the G7 Speakers' Summit in Canada.
According to Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament will continue to support Ukraine's European integration. "Ukraine's future lies in the European Union. We will build bridges between our peoples and institutions,‘ she said. The President of the European Parliament also announced the opening of a new European Parliament office in Kyiv, which will work directly with Ukrainian citizens and parliament. «I am proud of this decision. The voice of the European Parliament will be heard here, in the heart of Kyiv, alongside you, on your path to peace and EU membership,» Roberta Metsola concluded.