SEDE extraordinary meeting

EP Plenary session -  The human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - EU Preparedness Union Strategy

Michal DWORCZYK in the EP in Strasbourg

MEPs discuss the human cost of Russia’s war on Ukraine with representatives of the Polish Council Presidency and the Commission. The plenary debate is expected to focus on the latest developments in Ukraine, amid international pressure on Russia to negotiate a peace deal, and Moscow’s relentless drone attacks and bombing of civilians in major Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. MEPs debate (part 1)

The human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression: the situation of illegally detained civilians and prisoners of war, and the continued bombing of civilians: MEPs debate (part 1)

The Commission presents its internal security strategy in plenary, followed by a debate with MEPs. In response to global threats, the EU wants to improve intelligence gathering, strengthen preparedness against hybrid threats, and enhance measures against organised crime. In a second debate, MEPs and the Commission will discuss the “Preparedness Union” strategy, unveiled on 26 March, focused on better crisis response coordination, protecting essential services, stockpiling critical materials, and improved civil-military cooperation.

EU Preparedness Union Strategy: MEPs debate

MEPs and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discuss the need to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes in Ukraine. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian military and authorities have been accused of committing a multitude of war crimes in the occupied Ukrainian territories. There have been deliberate attacks against civilian targets, such as hospitals, medical facilities, and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and indiscriminate attacks on densely populated areas. Other atrocities include the abduction, torture and murder of civilians, forced deportations, including that of children, and the killing and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Following a statement by Ms Kallas, one speaker from each of Parliament’s political groups will take the floor.

Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine: one round of political group speakers

MEPs call on the EU to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and accelerate the phase-out of Moscow’s energy. During the first debate with representatives of the Polish Council Presidency and the European Commission MEPs are set to renew their calls to move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them and using them to support and rebuild war-torn Ukraine. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU, the U.S. and its allies froze over 300 billion U.S. dollars in Russian sovereign assets, with roughly 200 billion dollars held in the Belgium-based securities depository Euroclear. In July 2024, the EU made available the first €1.5 billion transfer of interest generated from immobilised Russian assets to support Kyiv, which was channelled through the European Peace Facility and to the Ukraine Facility to support Ukraine's military and reconstruction efforts.

Russian frozen assets: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs assess the impact of three years of Russia’s war against Ukraine and its repression of dissent following Alexei Navalny’s murder. In a debate with representatives of the European Commission, MEPs mark three years since Moscow launched its brutal military invasion of Ukraine. In a resolution adopted in January 2025, Parliament reiterated its firm support for Kyiv, called on Russia to immediately terminate all military activities, and withdraw from Ukraine. MEPs also called on the EU to expand its sanctions against Russian media outlets conducting disinformation and information manipulation campaigns justifying the Kremlin’s war of aggression.

Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. In recent months, there has been an increase in in instances of ships damaging undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The latest incident occurred in late December 2024 with the severing of an electricity cable running between Finland and Estonia. Shortly after, the Finnish Coast Guard boarded the oil tanker Eagle S and steered it to a Finnish port. Although officially sailing under a Cook Islands flag, there are suspicions the vessel is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”. Following these incidents, NATO has launched a new mission to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the mission dubbed “Baltic Sentry” would involve more patrol aircraft, warships and drones. First part of MEPs debate.

Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea: MEPs debate (part 1)

EPs and EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas debate Russia’s manipulation of history and use of false narratives to justify its war in Ukraine. The debate focus on Russian historical disinformation narratives to discredit and undermine international support for Ukraine, efforts which are intended to hurt Ukrainian independence and sovereignty.

Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine: MEPs Debate (part 3)

MEPs reaffirm their strong support for Ukraine and criticise the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. A statement issued by Parliament’s leaders on 19 November 2024 called on the EU to “step up support for Ukraine in every way, including politically, financially, militarily and with humanitarian aid” and reiterated that “we stand with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory". Second part of MEPs debate.

DWORCZYK, Michał (ECR, PL)

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