The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, together with the speakers of the parliaments of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Germany, met with the newly elected President of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics.
It is symbolic that during the first international meeting of the President of Latvia, the heads of parliaments and Edgars Rinkevics discussed not only the future of the EU and NATO, but first of all the future of Ukraine in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine conveyed sincere congratulations to the President of Latvia on his election from the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
For his part, the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics, assured the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament that Latvia would fully support Ukraine until the country’s complete victory: “Ukraine is in our thoughts. We are doing everything for the Ukrainian victory. We will help in every way possible. Until your complete victory”.
The Speakers of the parliaments of the European Union also expressed their full readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in its Euro-Atlantic and European integration efforts.
In particular, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, noted that all countries are now united in helping Ukraine and protecting Europe’s eastern flank.
“Our meeting and its composition are not accidental. We are talking about our future. We have to protect ourselves from russia, because the threats from it will not disappear. At the parliamentary level, we have done everything possible and impossible for Ukraine’s accession to NATO. I believe that our voice will be heard by the participants of the Summit in Vilnius,” said Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen.
For her part, the President of the German Bundestag, Baerbel Bas, also expressed her unequivocal support for Ukraine, stressing that “as speakers of our parliaments, we support Ukraine’s path to NATO”.
The Marshal of the Polish Sejm, Elzbieta Witek, stressed that parliamentary diplomacy has become one of the most important tools in helping Ukraine.
“Parliaments should play a key role in the life of our countries, because parliamentary diplomacy is extremely important. We must support Ukraine’s membership in NATO because russia will not change. And we must be resolute. I am confident that with Ukraine, the Alliance will become stronger,” said Elzbieta Witek.
Lauri Hussar, the Speaker of the Estonian Parliament, also noted that Ukraine should receive clear directions to NATO at the Vilnius Summit: “Our meeting two days before Vilnius is historic, because the unity of European countries is important around common values. Today we all stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, which must receive clear directions to NATO.”
At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasised to his colleagues that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is our strategic goal and thanked the parliaments for supporting our Euro-Atlantic aspirations on the eve of the important summit in Vilnius.