First of all, during the meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed gratitude for all the support that France provides to Ukraine. He also emphasised the importance of the signed Agreement on Security Cooperation between Ukraine and France and thanked the French Parliament for supporting this document. “The level of cooperation that exists today between our countries and our parliaments is an example of how relations between countries that respect and help each other should develop,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk.
The parties also discussed cooperation in the defence sector. Ruslan Stefanchuk noted that he looks forward to further supplies of arms and military equipment, as well as to launching long-term projects with French defence companies.
In addition, he informed his French counterpart about Ukraine's defence needs, primarily the protection of Ukraine's airspace and additional air defence systems, long-range missiles, air support for Ukraine and strengthening the capabilities of tactical aviation.
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament thanked France for its decision to freeze russian assets. “It is now important to find a legal mechanism to direct these assets to rebuild Ukraine and compensate Ukraine for its losses,” he said. Ruslan Stefanchuk noted that putin, along with the entire russian people, must be held accountable for this war: “Our task, as parliamentarians, is to find a legal mechanism to ensure such responsibility.”
The parties also raised the issue of Ukraine's path to the European Union and NATO. Ruslan Stefanchuk said that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had adopted all the necessary laws to remove all obstacles to obtaining a negotiation framework with the European Union: “We are ready to move forward with European integration.” At the same time, he expressed gratitude to France for supporting Ukraine on its path to NATO, calling on it to continue to be Ukraine's advocate in this matter in order to obtain an important decision for Ukraine at the Washington Summit. “Ukraine's path to NATO is the only way for our country. And this is the solution that will be mutually beneficial for our countries,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk.
In addition, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to the President of the National Assembly of the French Republic, Yaël Braun-Pivet, to use France's capabilities and authority to engage more countries in supporting the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi. “The Ukrainian peace plan is the only possible formula that can establish a lasting and sustainable peace,” he said, thanking France for its support in this matter.
Following the meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine said that the parties discussed issues on which the parliaments of Ukraine and France can cooperate, in particular, in making important decisions related to the further sanctions regime against russia, freezing and using russian assets.
“France has stood by Ukraine from the very beginning of the russian aggression and will continue to do so until the very end,” said Yaël Braun-Pivet, the President of the National Assembly of the French Republic, noting that France's support has many dimensions and is provided in different areas: diplomatic, economic, humanitarian, financial and military. She assured that this will continue, taking into account the needs of Ukraine in this difficult situation.
“France is making efforts at the European and international levels to involve as many countries as possible in supporting Ukraine,” Yaël Braun-Pivet stressed, adding that she herself had joined the initiative launched by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to sign a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress to ensure that the assistance Ukraine needs is also provided by the American people and is long-lasting and long-term.
“Today, Ukraine is experiencing aggression in its territorial integrity, in its right to express its will, to determine its destiny. That is why we are standing firm in defence of these basic democratic values that are common to us. And this is what motivates our continued support for Ukraine,” said the President of the National Assembly of the French Republic.