EP President Roberta Metsola, together with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, meet with Ukrainians having fled the war at the Otwock school in the region of Warsaw. They speak to the press after meeting the refugees.

troubles in Ukraine (T)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

press conference

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Poland (T)

Poland

Warsaw

MORAWIECKI, Mateusz (PL)

president's agenda

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

Press Point by Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister and Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank Madam President of the European Parliament both for her visit in Kiev and for supporting the fighting spirit and the morale of the soldiers and everyone she met in Kiev. I would also like to thank her for her visit to Hotwock at the reception point, a place where refugees from Ukraine are hosts set for a brief period of time. And then they have an opportunity to meet too more convenient accommodation because we want their lives to be similar to what extent it is possible to life their head at home.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - We lived through a very difficult crisis. A war that has been initiated by Russia is not only destruction,victims of war, crimes, women and children that are being murdered. It also means 10 million of displaced persons. Six to seven million persons are remaining in the western part of Ukraine. This is why we spoke to Madam President that we need to carry out projects also there in Ukraine accommodation, offering support for persons who can remain there because that would give them a possibility to return to their homes quickly.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - Homes in Kiev, in Mariupol, in how to Kiev provided those homes still exist. We also met and now a group of refugees. We spoke to them together with Madam Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, all persons we speak to say that on one hand, they want their normal life back and they want to be able to go back home. They want the war to be over as soon as possible.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - So just a few words on the European policies towards Russia. This is something I have to say very clearly. Sanctions that have been imposed until now are not working. The best proof of that is the exchange rate of the Ruble. So this is a test. We can see that the exchange rate of ruble has already returned to the level to the pre-war level.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - This means All the micro and macro economic efforts and budgetary monetary sanctions have not worked, or at least not worked to an extent expected by some politicians. We have to say it very clearly because some leaders are already saying that we should return to the normal relations.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - They are under pressure from the European business environment. Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot return to normal as long as Ukraine does not defend its freedom, its sovereignty, because if we were to return to normal, we would be humiliated to. We would show that we are powerless. We are not able to defend its fundamental universal values, such as freedom, life right to life.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - This is why it is so important today to say it clearly. Together, we need more real sanctions, sanctions that would work. We also may need more money not transferred from one budgetary line to another, but new European funds. We need more new European funds in order to be able to help people who are here so they have a perspective of a more normal life.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - Ladies and gentlemen of the non-governmental organisations, local authorities, the government, we all together, we have done what we had to do. We acted in the right way. When we see someone who is sinking, we are not wondering whether we should. Actually help this person from and rescue it from drowning or not. So we've done so, we've jumped into the water.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - We have helped our brothers, but some people in Europe are already saying similarly to what we have in Russian literature. They want to maintain their virginity and make some money at the same time. Well, that is not possible. You will lose your virginity and rubles. You will not make. If you think that together with Putin, with Russia, you will have a peace of mind and cheap resources, cheap fossil fuels. That is no longer possible.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - This is a brutal aggressor. Crimes are happening every day. I receive reports every day of children, women killed in Ukraine. We cannot allow for this to happen to you in your capitals. Cannot allow for this to happen. We have to remain united. We have to be very decisive in our actions towards Russia.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - We have to confiscate the funds and this could be a source of new money. And I have been saying this for weeks. There is money that can be accessed. You ask me, where can we access money? Hundreds of billions of dollars are waiting in European banks on the accounts of oligarchs. We do not have to just freeze the accounts. We have to confiscate them.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, - This is necessary in order to be able to help to rebuild Ukraine once the war is over. So, ladies and gentlemen. Yes, we need to support Ukraine today. We need to rebuild it tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Ukraine will have to find a path towards Europe. So thank I would like to thank everyone such as Roberta, today, our working together with us in order to make sure that Ukraine can survive can keep its integrity, its sovereignty, and I hope and believe we can achieve this together and now.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, - Prime minister. Let me start by. Welcoming the commitment, the humanity that has been shown by Poland in this very difficult, unprecedented times. For your country in which you have openly welcomed given refuge, given homes, given medical care to millions of Ukrainians, our brothers and sisters who are fleeing a country that has been ravaged since the 24th of February.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, - I'm here on my way back to Brussels from Ukraine, where I visited Kiev over the past couple of days. I was there on the invitation of the president of the Parliament, the prime minister and the president of Ukraine, where I met with members of Parliament. I met with different representatives that asked for one thing. Ukraine urgently needs help.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, - We have already given a lot of logistical, humanitarian, military and financial assistance, but it is not enough. And my message to the Verkhovna Rada and to the President Zelensky yesterday was that I will take this message here, but I will also take it to our counterparts in different countries and different institutions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, - Yes, more sanctions are needed. Yes, better enforcement of the current sanctions in place is crucial, but also better and more effective delivery of military assistance is desperately needed. We're also looking at a country that is fighting an invasion that was unprovoked, that is not necessary. That has led to the loss, the pointless loss of thousands of lives, thousands of innocent women, men and children.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, - And we are also looking at a country that is fighting for the values and principles that we hold so dear, which is the values of justice, the values of freedom and ultimately, no peace, no exit from this extremely difficult situation challenge. After the 24th of February will be possible without the full guarantee of that freedom and peace.