This was emphasized by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk during a meeting with the President of the Senate of the French Republic Gerard Larcher and senators, which took place during his official visit to the French Republic.
Ruslan Stefanchuk sincerely congratulated his colleague and great friend of Ukraine, Gerard Larcher, and once again thanked him for his courage during his visit to Ukraine, when the fighting with the invader was taking place almost in the central regions of our country.
“You spoke to our parliamentarians and expressed France’s sincere support for Ukraine. It was a courageous act of you and your fellow senators, who demonstrated their support for us not in words but by their presence,” Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
During the meeting, the parties raised important topics and issues to help Ukraine in its fight against the russian aggressor. In particular, it was about strengthening military support, especially the provision of heavy weapons, tanks and aircraft, which will strengthen our Armed Forces many times over and help Ukraine restore its territorial integrity and borders.
“We clearly see and understand that russia can and must be defeated. We are resisting thanks to your weapons, thanks to your political support and thanks to the great courage of the Ukrainian people and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thank you very much for the fact that France has always been a leader in supporting Ukraine and that the most important issues are adopted on the initiative or with the participation of France,” Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized.
The interlocutors paid special attention to Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration and its support by France, as, according to the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, it was thanks to France’s position that the general trend in the EU changed and Ukraine received the status of a candidate.
In addition, the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament called on his French colleagues to support the peace formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, as well as to make important decisions on political issues for Ukraine, including the recognition of the russian regime as a terrorist regime by the French Senate and the recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people.
“I sincerely know that the friendship between France and Ukraine is a friendship that was founded by the great history of our countries, a friendship that has a great future. I am grateful to France for its unwavering solidarity and comprehensive support of Ukraine,” the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized.
For his part, the President of the Senate of the French Republic Gerard Larcher thanked his Ukrainian colleague for the important visit and noted that this meeting and the speech of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the Senate are of great importance for the future of both interparliamentary relations and relations between the two countries.
He noted that over the past 20 years, the Ukrainian Speaker is one of only three politicians who have been honored to address the Senate, and this is a manifestation of great respect for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people who are fighting for their independence in a brutal war.
“Your presence in the Senate is very powerful and symbolic of the friendship and solidarity we have between our parliaments,” emphasized Mr. Larcher.
He also added that the Senate is ready to continue to support its Ukrainian colleagues, in particular in making political decisions necessary for Ukraine.
“In a few days, the Senate is preparing to adopt a new resolution that will support the provisions of President Zelenskyi’s peace plan and the provisions aimed at fighting russian impunity.
Today, russia is trying to rewrite history, but we will not allow this to happen by working together. We are ready to help you and work together with you to further support Ukraine!” the President of the Senate of the French Parliament emphasized.