Roberta METSOLA travels to Kyiv on the invitation of the Chairman of the Ukranian Parliament Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk. During her stay in Kyiv, Metsola meets the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and speaks to the members of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

Ukraine

EU - Ukraine (T)

Kyiv

visit

troubles in Ukraine (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Volodymyr ZELENSKY, President of Ukraine and addresses the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Volodymyr ZELENSKY, President of Ukraine

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, addressing the Ukrainian Parliament

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I am here today as a representative of the European Parliament of the People of Europe to tell you one thing. We are with you. In good times and in less good times, we are with you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament,  The EU and the world has seen, that you are the defenders of your country, but you are not fighting only to protect, protect your homes and your territory. You are fighting for what we all believe in freedom, democracy, the rule of law. And here in Ukraine, these values are not buzzwords. They are being fought for because you know that without them, there is nothing else.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This invasion of your country puts Russia in direct confrontation with Europe, the international community and the rules-based world order. And it is not something that we will let Putin do unchallenged. We need more and harder sanctions. We will hold those responsible accountable for what they have committed here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, we will take care of your families who are forced to flee. But until the day, they can safely return to their homes and rebuild their lives, and we will help you to rebuild your cities and your towns when this illegal, unprovoked and unjustified invasion is over.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, And we know more than ever that Ukraine looks to the European Union as its destination. We will respond with honesty and with hope in every country has its own path, but the European Union future of Ukraine should never be in doubt.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We are with you today. We will be with you tomorrow and we will never, ever leave your side.