Ruslan Stefanchuk: Ukrainians are a nation of great people who have the right to unite in a greater Europe

Informatiion Department
Published on 20 May 2022, at 19:26

The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk held a meeting with Mark Daly, Speaker of the Upper House of the Irish Parliament, and Sean O’Farrell, Speaker of the Lower House of the Irish Parliament.

They discussed, in particular, Ireland's active participation in sanctions pressure on Russia, recognition of the genocide of the Ukrainian people, demining of Ukrainian territories, reconstruction of Ukraine and EU integration.

Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked the Irish guests for their support and the first visit of the speakers of the two Houses of the Irish Parliament to Ukraine.

"The people of Ukraine stand up for all democratic values ??and civilizations that exist in the world. And that is why we now feel such an unprecedented unification around Ukraine, because it is a struggle of the whole civilized world with darkness", said the speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine and added that thanks to such unification Russia's plans for rapid invasion and capture " totally collapsed" .

The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine addressed Mark Daly and Sean O’Farrell with a request for the Irish Parliament to recognize the genocide of the Ukrainian people committed by the Russian Federation.

"Apart from legal and political support, I urge you to adhere more strictly to sanctions pressure on Russia," he said, urging Ireland to support a further package of restrictive measures, including an embargo on Russian oil and gas and a freeze the assets of the Russian affiliated companies registered in the International financial service center in Dublin.

"We ask Ireland, as a country with extensive experience in UN operations, to provide an opportunity to involve specialists in the demining of Ukraine," said the Speaker of Parliament of Ukraine.

He also noted that everyone is aware that this war will end in victory for Ukraine, which is why reconstruction is a crucial issue.

"I invite Ireland to take part in the great reconstruction of Ukraine. It is possible to implement the proposal of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy that each country can take patronage over a certain region to help rebuild it," said Ruslan Stefanchuk to the Speakers of the Houses of the Irish Parliament.

The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also asked Ireland not only to support Ukraine's candidate country status for EU membership, but also to become Ukraine's advocate for countries that still have doubts.

"For Ukraine, receiving such support from Europe is a powerful response to Putin, that Ukraine is not alone and its place in civilized Europe," he said.

For his part, Sean O'Farrell, Speaker of the Lower House of the Parliament of Ireland, expressed support for Ukraine's defense of democracy and European and international values.

"Ireland is a neutral country, but it is not neutral when the struggle between freedom and tyranny continues," he said, adding that Ireland strongly supports Ukraine and its legal right to defend its land and freedom.

"The war waged by the Russian regime must end, just as all war criminals must be punished," said Mark Daly, Speaker of the Upper House of the Irish Parliament. He also invited Ruslan Stefanchuk on a working visit to Ireland to address the country's Parliament.

The Speakers of both Houses assured that Ireland "sincerely, firmly and invariably supports Ukraine's movement towards the European Union."

"Difficult times give birth to great people. Ukrainians are a nation of great people who have the right to unite in a greater Europe," said Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.