Parubii thanked Mr. Agramunt for substantial support Ukraine and the Ukrainian Parliament receive in the times of the war in the east of the country and simultaneous implementation of reforms. He said that Ukraine is interested not only in assistance in implementation of reforms, but also in world community's tougher sanctions against the aggressor — the Russian Federation.
"I have to stress that any weakening of the sanctions will only provoke the aggressor to act harsher," Parubii said.
At the same time, the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said: "Ukraine has considerable potential for reforms, as the level of today's cooperation between the Ukrainian Parliament and Government is very high." He believes that Ukraine has significant potential to implement all its international obligations.
Parubii noted that first in the history of the Ukrainian legislature the majority of the parliamentary factions have the pro-European position thus, all the issues touching national security, defense and implementation of reforms obtain required number of votes in the session hall. He also called positive the fact that incumbent Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman knows the work of the Parliament from inside very well. "Most of the laws on cooperation with the International Monetary Fund are elaborated by the Government, thus, they require discussion," he said.
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt congratulated Parubii on the appointment as the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and thanked the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ukrainian Government for their hospitality. He also assured Ukraine of support of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Mr. Agramunt said that the PACE supports independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as well as the process of reforms.
He called on the Government and the Parliament to use current dynamics to further speed up the reforms.
He said Ukraine has to be a powerful and wealthy country to achieve peace and welfare on its territory. Mr. Agramunt also noted that all Ukrainian political forces must get much closer then ever before to show real results to the Ukrainian people.