The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk met with the French delegation headed by the Mayor of Le Havre, the former Prime Minister of the French Republic Edouard Philippe and the Mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye Arnaud Pericard.
At the beginning of the meeting Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed his deep gratitude to the French people and authorities for the support that has already been provided to Ukraine at all levels in its struggle against the russian aggressor.
«The system of our contacts with France is unprecedented today at the parliamentary level. This is an example of real support and solidarity that we feel, » emphasized the Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine in his address to the guests and thanked the mayors personally for the «humanity and big heart» they show towards Ukrainians who have found refuge from the war in France.
During the meeting the parties discussed a number of pressing issues where the decisions of France and its communities are important in strengthening the position of our country in the war. They discussed the military support of Ukraine, especially with the means of air and missile defense; isolation of russia and elaboration of decisions on its recognition as a terrorist state; participation of France in the development of the mechanism of bringing russia to justice for crimes; effective sanctions for the terrorist state.
«It does not matter for Ukraine how many sanctions packages will be adopted. It is important that these restrictions are effective, so that russia is not able to circumvent them. They should influence russia and force it to abandon this war, » said Ruslan Stefanchuk.
In addition, the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament emphasized the role of France in obtaining by our country the status of candidate for EU membership, stressing that it was felt «not only at the highest level of government, but also at the level of local governments and French communities». He also called on the French partners to continue supporting Ukraine in its progress towards the European Union and NATO.
«Ukraine is holding on so strongly because the Ukrainian people are making heroic resistance, and because we feel great support from our partners. It means that the ideals which we are fighting today for, which our best sons and daughters are laying down their lives for, are supported by the entire civilized world, » emphasized the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at the end of the meeting.
The Mayor of Le Havre, the former Prime Minister of the French Republic Edouard Philippe, in his turn, expressed gratitude for the invitation to visit Ukraine and assured of the strong support of the people of France for Ukraine in this war.
«We were extremely impressed by the courage, determination and organizational abilities demonstrated by the Ukrainian authorities and the entire Ukrainian people from the very beginning of this terrible aggression, » emphasized Edouard Philippe.
He also stressed that France would continue to stand firmly on the side of Ukraine in its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
«For the blood you shed, including for the sake of Europe, we must do everything for the accession to the European Union to be fully implemented, » noted the former Prime Minister of France.