Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, welcomed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, emphasizing that his visit is a meaningful solidarity sign of the Council of Europe with Ukraine in a difficult time of war.
During the meeting, Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked the Council of Europe for its support for Ukraine and noted Alain Berset's leadership and personal contribution to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity related to the state.
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament separately expressed gratitude for the support of the Peace Formula. "We are grateful to the Council of Europe for its support of the Peace Formula and active participation in its activities," he added. The parties also discussed the importance of supporting the Victory Plan, presented by Volodymyr Zelensky.
The parties discussed several important issues, including implementing the compensation mechanism during the meeting. "Currently, more than 10,000 applications for compensation have already been submitted to the Register of Damages, established by the decision of the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe as part of a special compensation mechanism," noted Ruslan Stefanchuk, expressing hope for the active participation of the Council of Europe in the establishment of the Compensation Commission and the Compensation Fund.
Another key topic was the prospect of creating a Special Tribunal to hold the russian leadership accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. "It is crucial that the draft Statute developed by experts of the Council of Europe will become the basis for this tribunal," emphasized Ruslan Stefanchuk.
They paid special attention to the issue of the return of illegally removed Ukrainian children. The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament called for increased pressure on the russian Federation to ensure humanitarian access and the return of children home. "The aggressor continues to illegally take our children to russia, belarus, and the occupied territories. Ukrainian children are our future and should grow up in their families," he emphasized.