Within the working meeting to the Republic of Italy, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, held a meeting with the Italy-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Parliament of Italy, headed by Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Giorgio Mulé. The talks took place in an atmosphere of mutual trust and partnership.
Ruslan Stefanchuk highly appreciated the consistent support for Ukraine from Italians MPs, emphasising the importance of personal solidarity of Giorgio Mulé and his colleagues. «Our dialogue is truly friends' conversation,» stressed the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The parties discussed a joint approach to achieve a just and lasting peace. Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasised that Ukraine has been and remains open to diplomatic means, however there are principles that are not subject to negotiation. He noted that Ukraine's renunciation of its own territories cannot be considered a compromise, as a just peace cannot be based on concessions to the aggressor or on violations of international law.
During the meeting it was highlighted that Europe must play a key role in shaping the future framework of lasting and just peace. Ruslan Stefanchuk pointed out that the consequences of russian aggression are already being felt across the entire continent: putin's drone attacks on the European states and coordinated propaganda networks operating in Eastern European countries are part of the war, aimed against Europe as a whole and the international rules-based order upheld by other states.
Separately, they discussed the situation in which certain European Union member states effectively grant russian de facto veto over the decision of the European institutions. Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasised that such a practice contradicts basic principles of the EU and is unacceptable for both the EU and NATO.
The parties agreed that the challenge Ukraine faces today is a challenge for the whole of Europe. Therefore, states must have to act as a united front, strengthen coordination and collective security, and counter the aggressor in all its manifestations.
Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed his gratitude to Giorgio Mulé and members of the friendship group for their unwavering support of Ukraine, attention and constructive dialogue. He stressed that joint efforts would bring closer the day when a just and lasting peace would return not only to Ukraine but to the entire European continent.