We ask Volodymyr Groysman if the Minsk Agreement will hold and what he sees as the wider strategy of Russia.

Head of Ukrainian Parliament puts case for more EU action

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/11926129/n003-0341-en.srt

The Minsk Agreement, which attempts to  halt the fighting in Ukraine, looks fragile

with persistent breaches of the ceasefire  and heavy weapons still in place.

Volodymyr Groysman, the Chairman of  Ukraine's Parliament, Verkhovna Rada,

came to the EU Parliament  to press Ukraine's case.

First, what is his assessment of the  implementation of the Minsk Agreement?

Ukraine is fully complying  with the Minsk memorandum,

which specifies that a ceasefire  should be implemented as of the 15th,

and on the Ukrainian side  it is being implemented unconditionally.

However, when it comes to Russia, we and  the whole world can see the unwillingness

of Russia to adhere to the agreements  and the agreed protocol, memorandum.

Is the Ukrainian side ready to begin  one phase of this ceasefire agreement

Even more than that,  Ukraine invites all parties

to implement the commitments  they have undertaken.

Indeed, President Poroshenko's peace plan  clearly specifies a sequence of actions

Besides, it is not an internal conflict  from within Ukraine.

It is a blatant aggression  of the Russian Federation

when Russian tanks, grenades and  multiple rocket launches kill civilians

and wipe cities and villages  off the face of the earth.

Therefore, it is imperative  for the whole world to unite

in stopping the  aggressor which is attacking

not only Ukraine and its territorial  integrity but also shared European values

of democracy, freedom, sovereignty  and independence.

These are the foundations  of the contemporary world.

What do you believe Russia's  long-term plans are

I think that this question  worries many people

but it is obvious  that Crimea belongs to Ukraine.

Today, the territory is occupied  by an aggressor.

However, there will certainly come a day  when Crimea will be returned to Ukraine,

The only question  is when will it happen,

but I can say that today we hear the  position of the European Parliament -

that the occupation of Crimea  will never be recognised by anyone -

and we will do everything to return  Crimea to democracy and to Ukraine.

How far will you go  to meet the aspirations 

of those people in the Donbass area who  are Russian speakers and support Russia?

You know, we are speaking  about decentralisation,

about local self-government,  not as a response to Russia's aggression

but as a result of our desire to  change the country’s governmental system,

which should be based  on these territorial communities.

We acknowledge the European principles  of self-government

and are willing to create a system,  within constitutional limits,

In this context,  we are fully prepared to grant powers,

for financial instruments  that have been given –

this process already started in this year –  given over to community level.

Therefore, in this case, we are prepared  to make every effort to enable Ukrainians

to experience this process  of decentralisation.

Of course, we cannot decentralise Ukraine

for the sake of the aggressor's interests,  the Russian Federation.

It is undoubtedly  the sovereign right of Ukraine.

For this reason, our system  of decentralisation,

the reforms of local government will fully  meet the expectations of Ukrainian society.

What is your message here today  in the heart of the European Union?

And, as part of that idea,  do you want EU States to go down the road

that the US is considering,  to sell non-offensive arms to Ukraine?

Speaking about the conflict, or the Russian  Federation's aggression in Ukraine,

it entails some key aspects  that need to be implemented.

The first is a peacekeeping mission  and support for its use in Ukraine.

You know that the President issued  a statement to that effect

and the Ukrainian National Security  Council approved this decision.

The second position is that sanctions  against Russia should not be lifted.

Russia has to pay a price  for what it is doing.

The third position is to support Ukraine  in restoring adequate defensive capacities.

This means supplying defensive weapons  to Ukraine, I emphasise the word defensive.

We have no plans  to attack anyone, ever.

We want to defend ourselves effectively.

And these weapons  would enable us to stop the aggressor.