Strasbourg 11.02.2025 Today the Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament – Verkhovna Rada,- Ruslan Stefanchuk, addressed a formal Plenary sitting of the European Parliament.

Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.

Thank you @r_stefanchuk for your powerful address to @Europarl_EN today.

The world will continue to witness the courage, defiance and unshakeable determination of the people of Ukraine.#SlavaUkraini 🇪🇺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/SwevSv3ZyE

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) February 11, 2025

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

“I am proud that this Parliament has stood with Ukraine from the very first moment – united, unwavering, and resolute. We will keep pushing for peace. Peace must be just, it must be dignified, and it must be based on the principle of ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’ said the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, while greeting Mr Stefanchuk to the hemicycle.

In his address, Ruslan Stefanchuk, called on the EU to continue, and increase its active support for Ukraine, resisting Russia invasion. His country, he said, needs more defense systems, more airplanes and more investment in its military industry.

The speaker underlined the correlation between this military support, and the future prospect of peace. Much desired peace in Ukraine can be achieved if the EU, and Ukraine stay strong, united, and apply consolidated pressure on the Russia, in order to defend the civilized world, Mr Stefanchuck said. He pointed to Russia’s intention to ruin Ukraine, and marsh further to the West, first towards Kyiv, and then towards Warsaw and Brussels: “The danger is much closer than you think“ the Speaker concluded.

To stop the ongoing aggression and to achieve a lasting peace, it is also essential that Russia faces sanctions it will not be able circumvent, he said, while calling for additional strong measures. The president of the Ukrainian Parliament also called for the punishment of those responsible for war crimes. “Russia has crossed all the red lines imaginable in this war,“ he reminded.

Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.

Thank you @r_stefanchuk for your powerful address to @Europarl_EN today.

The world will continue to witness the courage, defiance and unshakeable determination of the people of Ukraine.#SlavaUkraini 🇪🇺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/SwevSv3ZyE

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) February 11, 2025

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

On Ukraine’s wish to join the EU, Ruslan Stefanchuk said his country will become stronger and better after this war, and it is fully committed to the reform process. Ukraine government hopes to open the first cluster of issues in the negotiations during the Polish presidency, he said.

In a debate preceding the address by Mr Stefanchuk, MEPs considered the prospects of future ceasefire negotiations and a peace deal between Kyiv, and Moscow. Some speakers remarked that nothing must be discussed concerning Ukraine and without Ukraine, and nothing decided without the EU. Europe, they said, must be ready to assume a greater responsibility in providing security guarantees and preparing Kyiv for future NATO and EU memberships. Furthermore, MEPs underlined the need to confiscate Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, while several MEPs expressed serious concerns about how much Europe has paid and will continue to pay the active support Ukraine.