The biggest political group in the European Parliament says it supports “freedom and democracy” in Ukraine. The move comes with the Russia/Ukraine conflict showing no signs of abating.
Michael Gahler MEP, EPP Group Foreign Affairs Spokesman and Standing Rapporteur on Ukraine, said, “We encourage and support Ukraine in its right to choose its European path and alliances freely in order to be able to continue its transition towards a stable and prosperous European democracy.
“Facing the massive Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, we encourage friendly nations to continue delivering defensive arms to the country. We are sending clear messages to Russia: stop interfering and destabilising Ukraine. Refrain from any further violations of Ukraine‘s territorial integrity or face unprecedented sanctions”.
Gahler’s comments came after returning from this week’s European Parliament fact-finding mission to Ukraine.
“In Kyiv and Mariupol, our delegation conveyed the European Parliament’s solidarity with Ukraine and our unwavering support for their resolve to defend their territorial integrity and rebuff any Russian attempts to further violate it. We are with them, that’s why we were there. Our impression is clearly that the atmosphere is sober, no signs of panic. Even in Mariupol near the frontline they are leading a normal life. Given the real threat, I find that impressive”, Gahler said.
“The European Parliament expects Ukraine to continue its reforms, thereby implementing the Association Agreement. We have been told that about 60 percent of its substance has been addressed until now. Such development is what Putin fears most: a democratic European Ukraine, increasingly stable and prosperous, would also be an inspiration for the Russian people. And – frankly speaking – it should be. We hope that this situation will be de-escalated by Russia, meaning that Putin will refrain from doing something that we would all regret – Russia as well”, added Radosław Sikorski MEP, Chair of the EP Delegation for Relations with the US, who also participated in the mission.
“Ukraine is determined to defend its freedom and is impressed by the amount of solidarity it is getting from the democratic West including through its constant positioning from the European Parliament. I think we were able to pass on the message that the people of Europe see Ukraine as a potential victim and Russia as a potential aggressor. The time of zones of influence around former empires in Europe has come to an end. Russia needs to accept that Ukraine is an independent and democratic country and has a right to determine its future”, Sikorski concluded.
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