Antonio TAJANI, EP President, opens the plenary session (28-29/11/2018) in Brussels, speaking about the political situation in Ukraine in a context of tension after Russia seized Ukraine naval ships, calling on the Russian authorities to meet their obligations and release those who were arrested.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

plenary session

EU - Russia (T)

Introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the political situation in Ukraine

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/19887682/I164151Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Arrival and cutaways of EP President Antonio Tajani (3 shots)

Cutaways of Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Esteban GONZ&Aacute;LEZ PONS (EPP, ES) and Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro and Social Dialogue, among the audience (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Dear colleagues, on 25 November Russia has impeded the passage of three Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait on their way to Mariopol. They were then ran by a Muscovite warship and subsequently 23 people were arrested, with at least six Ukrainian soldiers injured. Following this event, Ukraine has declared martial law for a 30-day period given the serious escalation of terror. For us, the integrity of the territory of Ukraine is fundamental. Russia is not entitled to impede passage of vessels from other countries into the Sea of Azov and is obliged to respect the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the cooperation agreement with Ukraine signed in 2003. We call on the Russian authorities to meet their obligations and release those who were arrested.

Cutaways of MEPs applauding after the opening remarks