On 31 March, the Day of the De-occupation of Bucha, the Second Parliamentary Summit was held in Bucha. The event brought together representatives of parliaments and parliamentary assemblies from 22 countries and international institutions, including Bulgaria, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Finland, Albania, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, as well as the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
“Bucha is not only a place of memory. It is a place where the world saw a torn wound on the body of humanity,” said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk. “Bucha, Irpin, Moshchun, Hostomel… These names have ceased to be just geographical points. They are new terms of international law that we must fill with justice. They must receive a legal assessment, and those responsible must receive fair punishment.”
The Summit participants expressed their unwavering support for Ukraine and emphasised the need to hold russia accountable.
The Speaker Riigikogu, Lauri Hussar, emphasised that Estonia was the first to recognise the actions of the russian armed forces and the military-political leadership of the russian federation as genocide of the Ukrainian people. He also noted that the country recently joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal: “The creation of the commission is an important step towards holding russia accountable.”
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria, Raya Nazaryan, emphasised that Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine remains unchanged, and that relevant international agreements must guarantee Ukraine’s future security.
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland, Jussi Halla-aho, stressed: “Ukrainians demonstrate determination, resilience, and courage, and Europe cannot allow russia to win this war. It must take greater responsibility for its own security and the security of Ukraine.”
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Iceland, Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, reaffirmed the consistency of support: “We respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Our support will continue, and this year it will be the largest since the beginning of the full-scale war. Your struggle is our struggle.”
The Speaker of the Latvian Saeima, Daiga Mieriņa, emphasised: “We will not abandon Ukraine. russia must be held accountable, compensate for the damage, and pay reparations. A just peace is impossible without holding russia accountable.” At the same time, she stressed that Europe must also limit russia’s presence in cultural and sports arenas.
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, Juozas Olekas, noted: “If crimes are not punished, Europe will lose this battle for justice. Ukraine must become a member of the EU — this is a strategic priority for the security of both Europe and Ukraine.”
The Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, stated: “Poland, like Ukraine, knows what russia is capable of. We will support you — and this will not change. Ukraine is Europe. A free and secure Ukraine means a free and secure Europe.” She also emphasised the importance of Ukraine’s swift accession to the EU.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Romania, Mircea Abrudean, stressed: “We must not only make statements but also ensure accountability. Romania supports the return of Ukrainian children, the release of prisoners of war, and your right to independence.”
The Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova, Igor Grosu, emphasised: “Only justice can stop evil,” adding that Moldova seeks to join the establishment of the tribunal, as its support for Ukraine is unwavering.
The President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Marcos Perestrello, emphasised: “We will never forget the war crimes committed in Bucha. Bucha is a symbol of great tragedy, but also of the resilience of the Ukrainian people. We must stand with Ukraine and strengthen our support.”
The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, noted: “Ukraine is defending not only its freedom, but also the European model of democracy.” He stressed that those responsible for the crimes must be punished.
The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Martin Hojsík, added that “Only joint pressure will make russia accountable. We see Ukraine in the EU and together we will build a strong Europe.”
Unwavering support for Ukraine was also expressed by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Albania, Klodiana Spahiu; Vice-President of the Bundesrat of Germany, Anke Rehlinger; Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of Poland, Monika Wielichowska; Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Slovakia, Martin Dubéci; Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Nus Ghani; and the Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium, Kathleen Depoorter.
Following the Summit, a joint statement was adopted, confirming that russia’s aggression against Ukraine is illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified, and that the crimes committed in Bucha and across Ukraine must receive full legal assessment. The statement also emphasised the necessity of the swift establishment of a special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine, the launch of a compensation mechanism, and the return of deported Ukrainian children.
It was also emphasised that russian assets must remain frozen until the aggression ends and the inflicted damages are compensated, while military, financial, and humanitarian support to Ukraine should be strengthened.
“For me, this is not just a diplomatic outcome. It is an important signal: Bucha will not be forgotten, and justice will not be postponed. Every resolution, every decision to support Ukraine, every step to strengthen our defence is a contribution not only to Ukraine’s security but also to protecting Europe from the repetition of such tragedies.
We cannot afford fatigue. For the fatigue of democracy always becomes nourishment for dictatorship. Our struggle is not only a fight for Ukraine. It is a fight for whether there will be a place in the future world for law, justice, and human dignity.
Today, Bucha is a voice of truth. And this voice must be heard in the parliaments of the entire world,” concluded Ruslan Stefanchuk.