The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy expressed his hope that the voice of the East European Parliaments’ speakers on the termination of the North Stream 2 be heard in the western European capitals
On Thursday, the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament met Robert Portman, a senator of the United States Congress, who came to Ukraine for the first time.
The Speaker of the Parliament expressed his gratitude to the senator for the strong, consistent support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Congress and the Senate of the United States. A.Parubiy remarked Robert Portman’s personal leadership and efforts in providing Ukraine with the military assistance, in particular, the defensive weapons, as well as for the support and strengthening of the sanctions in connection with the Russia’s aggressive actions.
Special emphasis was placed on strengthening of the energy security solidarity between Ukraine and the United States, in particular on the condemnation of the North Stream 2 project. The politician also informed the senator that the letter of the project fulmination had been signed by the speakers of parliaments of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, Ukraine and Estonia. "Your standpoint on the North Stream 2 confirms the common position on the Kremlin's aggressive policy, and I hope that this norm will be implemented in the draft law of the Congress,” said the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament.
The parties then discussed the topical issues of the reform implementation in Ukraine. A.Parubiy informed the participants of the meeting about the progress made in this area and the further steps slated, in particular, within the context of adoption of the law on national security and fighting against corruption.
At the beginning of the meeting, the US senator handed over to the Speaker a list of ninety-eight American congressmen who voted for imposing the sanctions against Russia in June 2017, during the then A.Parubiy’s visit to the Congress. "Your arrival gave at that time a great impetus to the decision to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation," observed R.Portman.
Senator of the US Congress Robert Portman highly appreciated the personal efforts of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and confirmed the willingness of the American congressmen to further support Ukraine.
He also commended
the work on the draft law on national security and defence, and, in particular,
on strengthening the control and supervision by the Ukrainian Parliament over
the military sector. R.Portman also noted that the investment aid to Ukraine
could be much higher provided that it effectively combats corruption.
"This is important for the people of Ukraine. To have good investors, professional prosecutors are in need of," he underscored, wishing success and expressing his hopes for "further fruitful cooperation, representing the will of the two peoples".