On July 13, the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko held a meeting with Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space.
The parties discussed the security situation in Ukraine, further comprehensive support for our country, as well as current issues regarding Ukraine's advancement on the path to European Union membership.
First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko thanked the European Union and EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius for their comprehensive support of Ukraine over the past four years, particularly for the military and financial assistance that is extremely vital in the face of the ongoing russian aggression.
He also highlighted the decision to provide Ukraine with an EU loan of 90 billion euros for 2026–2027. “This loan facility is of paramount importance today for strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities,” emphasized Oleksandr Korniienko.
Oleksandr Korniienko emphasized that the security situation in Ukraine remains complex: russia continues its daily and nightly attacks on the civilian population, employing a vast array of weaponry and expanding the geography of its strikes. In this context, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed the need to further increase international pressure on russia, particularly by expanding sanctions to force the aggressor state to end the war.
“The current situation demands swift and proactive decisions from our partners. We do not know what russia's next steps will be; therefore, the democratic world must act preemptively, strengthening its own security while supporting Ukraine,” stated the First Deputy Speaker.
The participants of the meeting paid special attention to the issues of Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration. According to Oleksandr Korniienko, today the security of Ukraine and Europe are inseparable, and thus the partnership between Ukraine and European nations must grow even stronger.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, thanked Andrius Kubilius for the constructive dialogue, unwavering support for Ukraine, and readiness to continue working together on decisions aimed at strengthening the security of Ukraine and all of Europe.
The meeting was also attended by Oleksandr Zavitnevych, Chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence; Yehor Cherniev, Deputy Chairman of the Committee and Chairman of the Sub-committee on International Military Cooperation, Integration into NATO and the European Union; Solomiia Bobrovska, Chairwoman of the Sub-committee on Human Capital Development of the Committee; and Iryna Nykorak, Chairwoman of the Sub-committee on Veterans' Rehabilitation of the Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights.