The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine hosted a meeting between the Chairman of the Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, members of parliament — chairs of relevant parliamentary committees — and a delegation from the European political party Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). The discussion focused on continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war, Ukraine’s European integration, and the strengthening of sanctions against russia.
In his opening speech, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, thanked European partners for their solidarity, political support at the international level. He also stressed the importance of close cooperation with the ALDE party, which is a long-standing ally of the Ukrainian Parliament in promoting the European agenda. «The fact that Ukraine is receiving such support today is thanks to your citizens, whom you represent. And I am confident that this visit will be another step towards our common victory,» Ruslan Stefanchuk noted.
During the meeting, the parties discussed a broad range of key issues, including military assistance, Ukraine’s economic resilience, infrastructure reconstruction, the expansion of the free trade regime with the European Union, and the country’s EU membership prospects. The dialogue also focused on strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and reaffirming a shared vision of a secure Europe—where peace is attainable only through strength and resolve.
Chairwoman of the Budget Committee Roksolana Pidlasa emphasized the importance of strengthening internal cooperation among national political parties across Europe to ensure continued support for Ukraine. She highlighted the European Union’s role as the largest provider of direct budgetary assistance to Ukraine and expressed gratitude to the parliamentarians for their steadfast support, which saves lives and enables the continued functioning of Ukrainian institutions amid war.
«Before discussing any potential peace initiatives, it is vital to remember that Ukraine remains under daily attack. We are grateful for your support—it saves lives—but we also ask you to speak the truth about the horrors of the war russia has unleashed against Ukraine in your own countries. Kyiv is targeted by drone strikes nearly every night. This is not peace. This is the reality of our struggle,» Roksolana Pidlasa stated.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Yehor Cherniev emphasized the need for continued support to Ukraine, particularly from European partners, despite the challenging geopolitical environment and complexities in relations with the United States. He noted that Ukraine has significantly ramped up its defense production—by a factor of 35 compared to 2022—yet current funding covers only 60% of the production capacity.
«If russia truly seeks peace, it could end this war at any moment. But it does not. Therefore, we must rely on ourselves and our partners. Our most urgent need is air defense systems, and we are ready to cooperate with European and American companies to produce them here in Ukraine,» stated Yehor Cherniev.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy Mykyta Poturaiev emphasized that Ukraine has consistently remained open to peace, yet the russian side has persistently avoided any genuine negotiations. He further underlined that the information warfare waged by russia and other authoritarian regimes is global in scope and explicitly targets democracies around the world. In this context, he pointed to the insufficiency of current European information protection instruments, including the provisions of the Digital Services Act (DSA), and called for a reassessment of approaches within national parliaments and the European Parliament. «We are all involved in an information war being conducted by russia and other autocracies against democracies. The current European instruments are inadequate. Europe must create its own strong, transparent, and proactive agency—one that can play the same role as USAID. If Europe wants to be a serious actor, it needs its own instrument of influence,» stated the Committee Chair.
In turn, Vadym Halaiychuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU, emphasized that the EU integration course remains a strategic priority for Ukraine, and this process is treated with the utmost seriousness in parliament. He noted that work is ongoing to finalize amendments to the Verkhovna Rada's regulations to adapt Ukrainian legislation to EU standards. Particular attention is required for the continuation of the preferential trade regime with the EU, which expires on June 5, 2025. Ukraine has already adopted a relevant resolution calling on European institutions and the parliaments of member states to support the preservation of free trade, which is critically important for Ukraine's economy. «There is no opposition to European integration in parliament. However, even despite this, achieving consensus can sometimes be challenging. Nonetheless, we all understand that Ukraine's future lies in the European Union, and for this, we need political support from our partners,» emphasized Vadym Halaiychuk.
Meeting participants noted that regular dialogue with ALDE partners strengthens trust between Ukraine and European institutions and allows for swift responses to common challenges. Such support is key to ensuring that Ukraine does not stand alone in its fight for freedom and European values.