Expensive President Zelenskyy,
Expensive President Nauseda,
Expensive Speaker Stefanchuk,
Expensive Members of Verkhovna Rada,
Thanks for having me with you right here as we speak. It’s a privilege, however extra importantly it’s a duty for me, because the President of the European Parliament to once more have the honour of addressing the Verkhovna Rada on this necessary day.
The Day of Ukrainian Statehood is at all times necessary however this yr, the anniversary has taken on an ever extra necessary which means. All of Europe marks today with you. In solidarity. In friendship and in a bond as Europeans that I hope will likely be formalised quickly.
At the moment we have fun not solely the foundations of Ukrainian statehood, but additionally the braveness, willpower and resolve of all Ukrainians combating to protect Ukraine’s statehood and its territorial integrity. For all those that have died and who give their lives nonetheless.
At the moment is symbolic not only for Ukraine and for Ukrainians however for all of Europe. It’s the day that we reaffirm our dedication to Ukraine as a European nation. As a nation free to make its personal decisions. Free to decide on its personal future. Free and proud to face up for the values that bind us all.
Putin needs a future – the place historical past could be re-written, the place spheres of affect exist, iron curtains are drawn closed, the place may is true, and the place private liberty and dignity denied. With their actions, it’s clear that Russia needs a return to a previous we had consigned to historical past books. A previous the place Europe’s geographical integrity and Europe’s freedom to decide on with whom to cooperate and easy methods to combine is known as into query. For him the true enemy is democracy, freedom and fact. Our lifestyle is seen as a menace to autocracy. That’s what is at stake.
That may be a previous we are able to by no means return to. We are going to by no means settle for the invasion of a peaceable and unbiased European nation like Ukraine.
We are going to by no means flip a blind eye to the atrocities and crimes dedicated by Russia on Ukrainian soil. What occurred in Irpin, in Bucha, in Mariupol, in so many different cities.
We are going to always remember that over six million Ukrainians had been pressured to flee the nation and one other eight million have been displaced internally.
And we’ll at all times keep in mind the braveness, the defiance, the resistance of Ukrainians, your resistance, who fought by means of ache and sorrow to encourage the world.
Mates, pricey colleagues, let me say that we’re with you and we will likely be with you after we begin to re-build and make new once more.
On this necessary day for unbiased and sovereign Ukraine, I need to guarantee you that Ukraine belongs with us. With nations that cherish the values of freedom, independence, democracy, the rule of regulation, the respect for human rights.
Your home, as cemented already by Grand Prince Volodymyr the Nice, is amongst European nations.
And now, the torch is in your arms to take it additional.
With us, you’re amongst equals, amongst mates. We are going to stand by Ukraine’s facet in occasions of tragedy as in occasions of prosperity.
These are usually not simply phrases.
Granting Ukraine candidate standing on 23 June confirms our dedication to strolling side-by-side in direction of your full membership of the European Union. It is probably not a simple street, however the European Parliament, your strongest advocate, is there for you, to help you on each step of the way in which. We’re prepared to supply experience and recommendation to strengthen your parliamentary democracy. We may even proceed to help the Verkhovna Rada with any assist chances are you’ll have to function easily underneath these very tough circumstances and with any help wanted to struggle the results of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
On behalf of the European Parliament, I guarantee you that we are going to dedicate all assets, vitality and know-how accessible to serving to the Verkhovna Rada. A robust parliament is essential for the soundness of any democracy.
And we’ll go additional.
After I was there with you, on the Verkhovna Rada on 1 April, I mentioned that we are going to collectively rebuild Ukraine – each metropolis and each city from Mariupol to Irpin, from Kherson to Kharkiv.
At the moment I’ll go additional. This is a chance to rework Ukraine. To construct-back higher. A contemporary Ukraine. A sustainable Ukraine. A resilient Ukraine.
The Ukraine Solidarity Belief Fund along with the Ukraine reconstruction platform and Ukraine’s Restoration Plan are our masterplan. However we additionally know that Ukraine wants assets coming from totally different sources – from worldwide monetary establishments, but additionally from the personal sector and from frozen property. Relaxation assured that the European Union will proceed to search for all of the means to attain this.
The European Parliament along with the Verkhovna Rada will proceed to comply with carefully the coordination of funds and spending for the aid and reconstruction. On this context, the strengthening of Ukrainian state establishments, which play a vital function in implementing reforms in step with Ukraine’s European path, is significant.
Mates, we all know that you simply and your residents are usually not solely combating on your personal freedom however you’re combating for ours too. I understand how important it’s for the remainder of the democratic world to proceed to supply navy help to Ukraine, and as I promised you and President Zelenskyy on 1 April 1 in Kyiv, I and the European Parliament will proceed to do every thing in our energy to see that occur.
Expensive President,
Expensive Speaker,
Expensive Members,
Expensive colleagues,
Expensive mates,
Thanks on your dedication to Europe.
Thanks on your extraordinary efforts, on your exceptional sacrifice and on your private commitments in sustaining a imaginative and prescient of a European future on your nation, towards all odds.
Thanks for standing up and exhibiting the world.
You’ll prevail.
Slava Ukraini.
