During his working visit to Brussels, Belgium, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko took part in a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC).

“Today’s meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Interparliamentary Council took place at an extremely difficult time for Ukraine. Is it possible to stop the russian terror? I am sure that it is possible, and it can be done on the battlefield,” the First Vice Speaker emphasized.

At the same time, he noted that the aggressor can and should be defeated on Ukrainian territory, “so that we do not have to fight with him on the lands of other European nations.”

“This year is crucial. We need new defense solutions that will enable Ukrainian soldiers to throw the russian army out of our land. First of all, it concerns air defense systems, modern tanks and long-range artillery,” said Oleksandr Korniienko, adding that Ukraine needs new sanctions against the aggressor state and a Special International Tribunal to bring russian war criminals to justice.

Following the meeting, a statement by the Co-Chairs of the NATO-Ukraine Interparliamentary Council, the First Vice Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko and NATO PA Vice President Michal Szczerba, was approved.

The main provisions of the adopted document emphasize that NATO PA members remain united in their unequivocal condemnation of russia’s brutal actions, in unwavering solidarity with their colleagues from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and in supporting Ukraine as long as necessary to win.

At the same time, the participants expect the tenth package of EU sanctions against russia to be adopted as soon as possible, to include the belarusian and Iranian regimes in the package, and support the idea of expelling russia from the UN Security Council until russia fully and credibly complies with international law. In addition, the Co-Chairs call on Allies and partners to put pressure on the russian authorities to release all Ukrainian citizens illegally imprisoned and deported to russia.

It is also noted that the participants of the meeting welcome the decisions on further arms transfers announced during the meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defense in the Ramstein format on January 20, 2023.

“Now our partners have moved from helping Ukraine survive to helping Ukraine win,” said Yehor Chernev, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, the Head of the Permanent Delegation of Ukraine to the NATO PA. He said that NATO and Ukraine are practically cooperating: “The emphasis of our partners and NATO has changed. In particular, the issue of training for our soldiers was raised.”

“We are interested in the Ukrainian peace formula being supported by as many countries as possible, so that each country can find a point in it whose implementation will be important for it,” said Oleksandr Korniienko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, inviting our partners to show leadership in guaranteeing peace, just as they are now showing leadership in protecting freedom.

For reference. The Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC) was established in 1998 to ensure greater transparency in the implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Charter and to demonstrate interest in NATO-Ukraine cooperation.

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