European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visited Kyiv on Europe Day to show the European Parliament’s continuous support and commitment to Ukraine and its European journey. During her May 9, 2024 visit, President Metsola discussed Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland, and the European Parliament’s support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s ten-point peace plan. She also met with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, addressed the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and met with its Chairman, Ruslan Stefanchuk.
The Parliament is among the strongest supporters of Ukraine
Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the European Parliament has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters. They were the first EU institution to call for Ukraine to be granted EU candidate status and later to initiate accession negotiations. On March 1, 2022, the European Parliament organised an extraordinary plenary session, and President Zelenskyy spoke to the world via videolink. On February 9, 2023, President Zelenskyy personally addressed the Parliament.
On April 1, 2022, President Metsola became the first leader of EU institutions to visit Kyiv after the Russian attack, where she addressed the Verkhovna Rada. She also visited Lviv on March 4, 2023, to speak at the United for Justice Conference.
Metsola and Zelenskyy’s talks
President Metsola and President Zelenskyy discussed air defence, sanctions against Russia, using profits from Russian frozen assets for Ukraine’s defence and recovery, and the EU accession negotiations. Furthermore, President Zelenskyy honoured President Metsola with the Order of Merit, First Class.
Presidents Zelenskyy and Metsola spoke to the press after their meeting. President Metsola stated, “The European Parliament will help Ukraine in any way possible to advance on all the necessary steps on its European path. We will remain as vocal as ever on Ukraine, as my visit today also demonstrates.”
“We will stand with you. You will win, and our future will be a common one. Slava Ukraini!” Metsola concluded.
The President of Ukraine emphasised that 79 years after defeating Nazism, Europe has once again become a place of battle that decides the fate of many nations.
“And in this battle, life must prevail. Life must prevail over Russian FABs and KABs, Russian missiles, Russian assaults, and hatred that ruin the lives of millions of Ukrainians and see the lives of millions of Europeans as their target.”
The parties also discussed preparing for the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that the Russian dictator is trying to disrupt the Summit.
“That is why we need a crystal clear position of every state, every leader, every international organization regarding participation in the Global Peace Summit and support of our common peacebuilding efforts,” the President said.
Zelenskyy underlined that Ukraine had fulfilled all the necessary conditions for adopting the negotiating framework and starting negotiations on its accession to the European Union in June.
President Metsola at the Verkhovna Rada
In the afternoon, President Metsola met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and addressed the Rada’s plenary session.
In her speech to the Rada, President Metsola declared that “Ukraine has chosen Europe, and Europe has chosen Ukraine. This is the true victory that we will celebrate together every May 9th.”
“The last time I was in this Chamber, I made three promises to you, promises that I am proud to say the European Union, the European Parliament, has delivered on.
“In the past two years, we stood resolute and firm against Putin’s intimidation tactics and cut our dependencies from Russia. We have adopted 13 packages of hard-hitting sanctions against Putin and his allies, …. which means that hundreds of billions of euros worth of Russian assets are now frozen in the EU.
“I promised that Europe would open up its borders, its homes and hearts to your families, your children, your loved ones, who were forced to flee. … We said we would help you to rebuild your cities, your towns, your villages. The adoption of the 50 billion euro Ukraine Facility is our most recent tangible support for that.
“I also told you that you could count on me, on the European Parliament, to recognise Ukraine’s European aspirations and to support you as you make headway on your country’s integration into the EU. … The European Parliament was the first EU institution to push for Ukraine to receive candidate status and for accession negotiations to start last year. …This is just as much about stability for Ukraine as it is about strengthening the entire EU. … Ukraine’s place is in the European Union,” the President of the European Parliament said.
Chairman Stefanchuk unveiled President Metsola’s plaque on the Walk of the Brave at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
President Metsola addressed the International Summit of Cities & Regions with President Zelenskyy, Chairman Stefanchuk and Prime Minister Shmyhal, highlighting the importance of cooperation between regions and cities in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
She thanked European cities and regions for contributing to the Generators of Hope campaign and emphasised the crucial role of cities and regions in welcoming Ukrainians who had to flee the war. Later, she visited the Centre for the Protection of Children’s Rights, expressing her resolve to bring every single Ukrainian child back to their family.
