The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Ukraine Melinda Simmons.
First of all, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine focused on another heinous crime committed by russia — the blowing up of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station dam. He stressed that russia must be held accountable for all its crimes in accordance with international law.
The parties also discussed Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic future. "We need a defined timeframe and a way to join the North Atlantic Treaty," said Ruslan Stefanchuk, stressing that Ukraine is already professing NATO values and principles and fulfilling the main task of the NATO army, defending the eastern countries of the Alliance from the invasion of the russian federation.
"We want to have a roadmap to move towards both the European Union and NATO, having passed this path with honour," said the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine.
In addition, Ruslan Stefanchuk called on the UK to adopt a document supporting Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic path. Such decisions have already been made by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
He also thanked for the recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people by the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. This is a crucial decision for the establishment of historical justice.
In conclusion, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom for its military, humanitarian and political assistance.