Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas adressed the House in this debate on the EU’s role in a changing world as well as Europe’s security situation in the wake of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

EU - Ukraine (T)

plenary session

troubles in Ukraine (T)

KALLAS, Kaja (EE)

EU's role in the world and the security situation following Russian invasion on Ukraine: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Let me assure you, Prime Minister, that you will find us together in opposing this invasion, ensuring a clear response to dealing with the Kremlin and in ensuring that democracy prevails. We stand together for Ukraine. We stand together with Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, One story circulating on social media even speaks of a woman who downed the Russian drone by throwing a jar of pickles at it. Later, she contested that it was a jar of pickled tomatoes. How, asked the commentator later, did they expect to occupy this country?

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, Putin's war has also left ordinary Russians without access to the truth. They are living in isolated InfoSpace. We thought that in times of the Internet, this could no longer be possible. But it is our task is to break the wall of lies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, Dear Russian friends. The European union is not acting against you. Our measures are intended to isolate President Putin and his government, which is conducting a brutal war against Ukraine. You are now seeing only the beginnings of deprivation, which will become much worse as our sanctions kick in.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, The EU has acted with an urgency, conviction and unity that has surprised President Putin and the world. And that, dare I say, we have also surprised ourselves. We have indeed acted as a geopolitical union. Our citizens have responded as well by opening their pocketbooks and their hearts, by welcoming refugees often into their own homes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, We need to hard wire our fundamental change of heart into policy of smart containment.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, We need to push harder and faster to cut our energy dependence on Russian gas and oil because we have already committed to the green transition. This will be a win win for our energy independence, but also good for the planet. We also need to move quickly to synchronise Ukraine's power grid with that of continental Europe

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, As we strengthen European defence, we need to work hand in hand with NATO. Time after time we have agreed that stronger Europe means stronger NATO, just as a stronger. NATO implies a stronger European defence.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister, It's not only in our interests to give Ukraine a membership perspective. It is also our moral duty to do so. Ukraine is not only fighting for Ukraine. It's also fighting for Europe. If not now, then when?

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, We also need to continue working to try and achieve a ceasefire, to have peace talks between Ukraine and Russia under the auspices of the United Nations. We need to rethink what we want to do here when we will activate the articles of the treaty that promise that Europe will build a common defence system not in parallel to NATO, but a complement to NATO.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, We also need to continue working to try and achieve a ceasefire, to have peace talks between Ukraine and Russia under the auspices of the United Nations. We need to rethink what we want to do here when we will activate the articles of the treaty that promise that Europe will build a common defence system not in parallel to NATO, but a complement to NATO.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC Please use less gas, reduce our dependence on Russia as they attack Ukraine, make more commitment to our collective defence. That is an obligation under the treaties, to which we have given yo littel attention until now.