A Ukrainian parliamentary delegation led by First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniienko took an active part in the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on the theme: «Respect for humanitarian norms and support for humanitarian activities in times of crisis.»
The Ukrainian Parliament delegation included Oleksandr Sanchenko, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Music Industry of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Lesya Vasylenko, Chair of the Subcommittee on Climate Change and Air Protection of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, and Artur Gerasimov, member of the Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy.
Hundreds of parliamentarians from around the world gathered in Geneva to discuss global crises, strengthen international cooperation, protect human rights, promote peace and development, support the most vulnerable groups of the population, and consider conflict resolution issues, in particular the war in Ukraine.
On the sidelines of the Assembly, the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with international partners.
During the meeting with representatives of the Philippines, First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko thanked the Philippines for supporting Ukraine and participating in the food security initiative, which ensures the uninterrupted export of Ukrainian food products and contributes to global food stability. The Ukrainian delegation proposed appointing a special trade representative of the Philippines in Ukraine to strengthen and deepen economic relations. «This is important for both our countries, in particular for our colleagues, as it will open access to the EU market and support economic reconstruction for Ukraine,» said Oleksandr Korniienko.
The Ukrainian delegation also had a substantive conversation with Singaporean parliamentarians. The First Deputy Speaker informed his foreign colleagues about the situation in the energy sector — the shelling of critical infrastructure, the consequences, and the aggressor's plans to cause a difficult winter for Ukrainians. The parties also raised the issue of mined territories and considered the possibility of continuing direct dialogue between our countries, particularly at the highest level. Oleksandr Korniienko thanked Singapore for its support of Ukraine and its willingness to continue to stand by the country.
The Ukrainian side discussed cooperation between the ministries of both countries in the fields of agriculture and foreign affairs with the Malaysian delegation. Particular attention was paid to the importance of food security. «I assured that despite all the conditions and challenges, Ukraine continues to work to ensure stability in this area,» the First Deputy Speaker emphasised.
Oleksandr Korniienko provided detailed information about the security situation in Ukraine to the Thai representatives who participated in the Assembly. The parties discussed possible ways to develop interparliamentary cooperation. «We also raised the issue of food security and the need for joint efforts to support the sustainability and development of this process. Ukrainian farmers continue to work despite all attempts by the enemy to interfere,» said the First Deputy Speaker, recalling that in 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched the Grain From Ukraine programme with the aim of overcoming the global food crisis by ensuring the supply of Ukrainian grain, in particular to countries in Africa and Asia.
In turn, during the dialogue with the Brazilian delegation, Oleksandr Korniienko emphasised Ukraine's desire to deepen and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation. «We heard the question: “How can we help you?”. And it is very valuable that the world is sending signals of readiness to be there, bringing a just end to the war closer,» said the First Deputy Speaker. Together with their international colleagues, the Ukrainian delegation recorded a video message to Latin American countries, in which they noted the importance of supporting Ukraine. In this context, they emphasised the need for decisive sanctions, particularly against russia's oil and gas sector, as well as the expansion of military aid packages for Ukraine.
In addition, the Ukrainian side held a meeting with representatives of the United Arab Emirates, expressing gratitude to the UAE for its assistance in returning Ukrainian prisoners. Oleksandr Korniienko called on his foreign colleagues to continue to facilitate this process so that every citizen of our state could return home to their native land. Separately, the First Deputy Speaker reported on the condition of Ukrainians who had been held captive in russia after their return to Ukraine. «I invited the UAE to participate in the next International Conference on Recovery and to actively join in the reconstruction of Ukraine,» added the head of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly also served as a platform for a meeting between the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation and the Indian parliamentary delegation. «The visit of His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to Ukraine in August 2024 was an important milestone in our bilateral relations. Despite all the security conditions and missile threats, he arrived in Kyiv, demonstrating courage and readiness to stand with the Ukrainian people,» said Oleksandr Korniienko.
He expressed his expectation that mutual visits by representatives of India and Ukraine would continue with a view to deepening economic, cultural and trade cooperation. «We are delighted that, for the first time in the history of bilateral relations, a Cultural Cooperation Programme for 2024-2028 was signed during the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Ukraine in August 2024. We hope for its practical implementation in various areas specified in the Programme, such as theatre, music, dance, museums, libraries, and we also look forward to parliamentary cultural exchanges,» said the First Deputy Speaker.
During this meeting, the head of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation emphasised the importance of creating parliamentary groups for interparliamentary relations with foreign states, using this tool to develop bilateral cooperation. «I invited the Indian Parliament to create a corresponding parliamentary friendship group with Ukraine. After all, this step will enable our parliamentarians to engage the necessary mechanisms for the practical realisation of the potential of Ukrainian-Indian cooperation,,» said Oleksandr Korniienko, noting, among other things, that the largest number of foreign students currently studying in Ukraine are from India. He welcomed this fact, assuring that the Ukrainian authorities are working to make studying in our country more comfortable and safer for foreign students.
The head of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation informed the Indian parliamentary delegation about the intensification of russian attacks on Ukraine's civilian and critical infrastructure, which have resulted in dozens of civilians, including children, being killed or injured. «This is putin's response to calls from India and the world to end the war. We must recognise that the russian federation is openly ignoring all peace efforts and only intensifying its terror. As Prime Minister Modi rightly pointed out, ‘this is not an era of war.’ But this is russia's war, and only russia can end it. We are defending our land and our people. A complete and unconditional ceasefire remains the most effective step towards peace,» concluded the First Deputy Speaker, expressing hope for India's contribution to establishing comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly platform provides an opportunity for dialogue with parliamentarians around the world, exchange of information on the current situation, and strengthening of cooperation, including the creation of new avenues for its development. This was stated by Oleksandr Korniienko following a meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and representatives of the Nordic-Baltic Eight, a format that brings together five Nordic countries and three Baltic states. «By 2024, all NB8 countries will have signed security agreements with Ukraine, providing for long-term military, economic and political support, the development of the defence industry, cyber defence and infrastructure restoration,» said the First Deputy Speaker.
Oleksandr Sanchenko, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Music Industry of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, in turn expressed his gratitude for the NB8 statement on Youth Day regarding support for youth and youth policy in Ukraine.
The parties discussed in detail the issue of strengthening military assistance to Ukraine. Oleksandr Korniienko informed his foreign colleagues about the brutal russian attacks on Ukrainian territory and their consequences, including the deaths of Ukrainians, among them children. He stressed the importance of protecting Ukrainian airspace, in particular by providing air defence systems. «In addition, he emphasised the need for active movement towards a decision to provide Ukraine with frozen russian assets. There are many needs, including the restoration of damaged infrastructure. Those responsible must pay for their crimes. Therefore, it would be a fair step to provide financial support to our state in the context of a full-scale invasion,» concluded the head of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation, expressing gratitude to partners for helping Ukraine achieve a just peace in difficult times.
Within the framework of the Assembly, Ukrainian parliamentarians also met with Australian parliamentarians. Oleksandr Korniienko expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support and assistance that the Parliament, Government and people of Australia have consistently provided to our country. Describing the current situation in Ukraine, he noted the needs in the military and humanitarian spheres. «The main ones remain unchanged: air defence systems and corresponding missiles, combat aircraft, artillery systems and shells, long-range missiles, sufficient quantities of electronic warfare systems, engineering equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicles,» said the First Deputy Speaker.
During the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had an important opportunity to meet with members of the 12+ Group, which brings together the countries of the EU, the European continent and NATO. The parties focused on agenda items, particularly those concerning Ukraine. «I expressed my gratitude for the attention paid to the situation in our country on the international stage. It is important that we discuss topics at this forum that could lead to real action to establish lasting and just peace in our country. I assured them that Ukraine continues to fight and defend the democratic values we share with the world,» said the First Deputy Speaker, stressing that russian criminals are trying to justify themselves and use the platform for their manipulations.
Oleksandr Korniienko also took part in a meeting of the working group on the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine. He noted the importance of this format, which brings together parliamentarians from around the world in the search for effective solutions to end the war on the territory of our state. «I started with the facts that russian aggression has brought to Ukrainian citizens: shelling of cities and residential areas, lack of electricity due to missile strikes on infrastructure, deaths of adults and children. russia has no limits to its cruelty. We have long been ready and want a just end to the war,» the First Deputy Speaker emphasised, noting that the statement from the Inter-Parliamentary Union on humanitarian issues had made it possible to intensify diplomatic dialogue in this direction.
A separate important issue at the meeting was the return of Ukrainian children abducted by the russian federation to their homes in Ukraine. «At the same time, russia continues to seek excuses for its crimes by spreading disinformation around the world. This is also an issue that we must resolve — not to allow propaganda to spread,» said Oleksandr Korniienko.
Lesya Vasylenko, Chair of the Subcommittee on Climate Change and Air Protection of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, presented statistics on children abducted by russia to her international colleagues. «19,546 — that is how many cases of child deportation Ukraine has been able to document, according to the Ukrainian President's #BringKidsBack initiative, despite russia's information blockade. The real figure, according to human rights activists, is much higher: up to 1.6 million Ukrainian children are under russian control — either taken to its territory or remaining in the occupied territories,» said Lesya Vasylenko, noting that these are not just numbers, but ‘broken lives, destroyed families and Ukraine's stolen future.’
According to the First Deputy Speaker, the Ukrainian delegation actively participated in the work of the IPU Standing Committees on Democracy and Human Rights, Peace and International Security, Sustainable Development, and the United Nations. «People's Deputies Lesya Vasylenko and Artur Gerasimov defended Ukraine's positions within the committees, in particular, by working on a resolution on russia's war in our country. They confidently stated that there can be no other actions except those that will truly lead to a just end to the war started by the russian federation. There can be no tolerance for an aggressor who kills Ukrainians. There can be no doubt about the intentions of an enemy who illegally abducts children to its territory. There can be no leniency for those who came to foreign land with weapons, who launch missiles at hospitals and residential buildings,» said the First Deputy Speaker.
According to Oleksandr Korniienko, representatives of the russian federation participating in the 151st Assembly tried to justify themselves, change the wording, and hide the true meaning of russia's actions. «It is strange to watch how hands, elbow-deep in blood, cross out certain words that directly point to their guilt. And the blood that has been shed is that of Ukrainian citizens,» said the head of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation. He thanked his colleagues for their principled position and for defending the truth, justice and honour of the Ukrainian people. «The kremlin's war machine has no place in the international arena, where people work for democracy and the stabilisation of the world order,» concluded the First Deputy Speaker.