Delivering his speech within the framework of the Tuesday meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council and the 92nd Rose-Roth Seminar, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andrii Parubii highlighted the steps in major reforms in Ukraine.
According to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, "much time had been lost before the military aggression of Russia and thus, the number of Russian military is bigger than the one in Ukraine," Parubii said. "Hence, that obliges us to hold the defense reform in Ukraine. There is no other way as Russia may decide to continue its expansion in Ukraine at any time," Parubii said.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada informed that the work of new trust funds is aimed at the partial satisfaction of respective needs: refinancing of logistics and standardization systems, modernization of communication and troops management automation system, medical rehabilitation, re-qualification and social adaptation of servicemen, as well as cyber protection.
Besides, Ukraine suggested that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization establish a trust fund to develop the capacity of our state in the field of strategic communications to counteract the large-scale information warfare unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the West on the whole.
"We count on the political and financial support, stronger economic sanctions against the aggressor and other types of assistance, inter alia provision of Ukraine with weaponry," Parubii said.
He also underlined the need in focusing on the strategy of restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine within the framework of the dialogue between Ukraine and the NATO. "Our major task for 2016 is to return peace to Ukraine. Ukraine observes the Minsk agreement despite the fact that the other party continues to ignore its obligations," he said.
According to Andrii Parubii, there is no alternative to the political way of settlement of the situation in Donbas thus, effective international diplomatic instruments are required. "Russia won't be stopped without exerting solid global pressure. The pressure must be retained unless Moscow starts to respect the sovereignty of its neighbors," he said. He added that Donbas requires wide and effective international presence to help the implementation of the Minsk agreement.
Andrii Parubii provided the "formula for peaceful settlement:" withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, restoration of full control over the Ukrainian border with Russia, holding of local election in Donbas in compliance with the Ukrainian legislation and standards of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. At the same time, he noted the importance of launching international mechanisms of de-occupation of Crimea.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada stressed that "free and independent Ukraine is a formula that will help Europe remain free." I am confident that jointly we have to contribute to the enhancement of security within the Euro-Atlantic space.