Ukrainian MPs, NATO PA President hold online political consultations
27 May 2020, 12:01
The President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Ukrainian delegation discussed the state of play in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
On May 25, there was held a video conference between the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Attila Mesterhazy (Hungary) and the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the NATO PA headed by Yehor Cherniev, MP. The meeting was also attended by Ukrainian MPs Mariana Bezuhla, Solomiia Bobrovska, Liudmyla Buimister, Halyna Mykhailiuk, as well as Ojars E. Kalnins (Latvia), NATO PA Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC).
- “We are not, unfortunately, in a position to meet in person this week, but it is extremely important for me to exchange views with the Ukrainian delegation on the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss other pressing issues, including the situation in the Donbas deteriorated by the ongoing destabilization on the part of Russia, as well as the state of cooperation between NATO and Ukraine," Attila Mesterhazy stressed.
- "We are convinced that international solidarity and mutual support is the most effective way to overcome the crisis caused by COVID-19 as well as its socio-economic consequences, and the opportunity to strengthen the resilience of our states. We express full solidarity with all countries fighting the pandemic," Yehor Cherniev, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, said to his colleagues on the Assembly.
The President of the Assembly and the Ukrainian delegates talked over the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the NATO-Ukraine cooperation against the pandemic, the aftermath of the crisis on parliaments’ work, and how the Alliance and Ukraine are fighting the disinformation campaign that has intensified during the crisis.
One of the main topics of the meeting was the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Donbas. Members of the Ukrainian delegation informed the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly about the state of things with the ongoing Russian aggression and the current situation in the security and political spheres, as well as in the field of health care in eastern Ukraine and the Crimea.
- "Russia considers the crisis caused by the pandemic as an opportunity to lift sanctions imposed in response to its evident aggression against Ukraine. However, it is necessary to maintain the sanctions and the political pressure upon Russia as an important tool to force the Russian authorities to implement the Minsk agreements, stop the Russian aggression in the Donbas and begin the de-occupation of the Crimea," the head of the Ukrainian delegation Yehor Cherniev clarified.
- "The Assembly has repeatedly expressed its strong support for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity and strongly condemned the illegal and illegitimate occupation of the Crimea by Russia, as well as the deliberate destabilization of the situation in eastern Ukraine. And I repeat this today," Attila Mesterhazy underscored.
Participants of the meeting also discussed the latest political events in Ukraine, in particular, the state of implementation of reforms.
- "The Assembly continues to strongly support the process of reforms in Ukraine. These reforms are key to achieving Ukraine's goals of European and Euro-Atlantic integration," NATO PA President Attila Mesterhazy underlined.
The meeting also granted an opportunity to discuss the state of relations between Ukraine and NATO, including the progress in implementing the Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine endorsed by the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016.
*** The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is a special partner of the NATO PA thanks, in particular, to the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC), which supports Ukraine on its path of reforms and integration into NATO.
In early April, in connection with the pandemic, Ukraine, as the host country, and NATO President Attila Mesterhazy agreed to put off the 2020 Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Kyiv. The Assembly and the Ukrainian delegation are working in harness to set alternative dates for the session in Ukraine.