Olena Kondratiuk also thanked the First Vice President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament for agreeing to take part in the events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the tragic events in Babyn Yar. The Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada also appealed to Mr. Jiri to support the Senate of the Czech Parliament's decision to recognize the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine as genocide of the Ukrainian people. She reminded that such recognition was made by the Parliaments of 17 countries, including The United States and the Czech Republic's closest ‘Visegrad Four’ partners – Poland and Hungary.
The Vice Speaker also informed Mr. Jiri Ruzicka that Ukraine is compiling lists of illegally elected deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation in the elections in the occupied Crimea and will send them to all European Parliaments and international institutions to impose appropriate sanctions.
“It is inadmissible for these deputies to be recognized by the Parliaments of other countries and to be members of PACE delegations and other international organizations,” Olena Kondratiuk stressed.
In turn, Jiri Ruzicka assured that as soon as these lists reach the Senate of the Czech Parliament, they will be considered accordingly. He also noted that the Czech Republic certainly stands on the positions of Ukraine's territorial integrity and non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea.
During the meeting, the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada noted that it was important for Ukraine to obtain an action plan for NATO membership and to stop Nord Stream-2, which is a threat to the energy security of the whole of Eastern Europe.
“The Verkhovna Rada is grateful to the Czech Republic for supporting Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations at all levels. We are sincerely grateful to the Czech Republic for the assistance provided to the community of two hundred thousand Ukrainians living in this country, especially in meeting their cultural needs. We also need to strengthen economic cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership,” Olena Kondratiuk said.
At the same time, Jiri Ruzicka stressed that he considers Ukraine's future membership in the EU to be beneficial not only for Ukraine itself, but also for the entire European Union. In particular, to strengthen security on Europe's eastern borders.