The Vice-Speaker Olena Kondratiuk: NATO Parliamentary Assembly is determined to support Ukraine, which is fighting for freedom of the whole Europe
06 February 2023, 13:41
The Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk and the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Joelle Garriaud-Maylam visited Borodianka.
They got acquainted with the consequences of the destruction of the residential sector, civilian infrastructure and living conditions of local residents in the modular town for those who lost their homes as a result of russian aggression.
This is the second meeting between the Vice Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament and the newly elected President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
“We met for the first time in Brussels in December. We discussed the importance of adopting a resolution by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly recognizing russia as a terrorist state and the need to create a special tribunal to punish the political elite of russia.
I am grateful that Ms. Joelle came to Ukraine to see with her own eyes the horrors and realities of russia’s war against Ukraine. I am sure that it is impressive and works much more effectively than diplomatic negotiations in offices,” said Olena Kondratiuk.
According to her, during her visit to Borodianka, the NATO PA President was shocked to tears by what she saw.
“From the monument to our Taras Shevchenko, destroyed by racist bullets, to the residential buildings destroyed by rockets, under the rubble of which 42 people died. I heard how Ms. Joelle said, “It’s just a shock... how can this be done to civilians, families, children...”. Ms. President had tears in her eyes,” said Olena Kondratiuk.
Visiting the modular town with Joelle Garriaud-Maylam, which is now home to more than 270 residents who lost their homes, the Vice Speaker noted that “this is a clear demonstration of how Ukraine is recovering and rebuilding, and that we need weapons, ammunition and air defense from our Western partners.”
“We need to deploy an air defense system in Ukraine that would allow people to live, work and study in Ukraine without fear that one day missiles will fall on their homes, schools or kindergartens again,” the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized.
“We in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly are determined to continue to strongly and steadily support Ukraine, in particular in providing humanitarian, financial and military assistance. We recognize that Ukraine is fighting not just for itself, its choice and its freedom, but also for democracy and freedom of choice for the people of all of Europe,” Joelle Garriaud-Maylam assured.
“We in Ukraine also expect that all European parliaments will join the initiative taken by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, namely, to recognize russia as a terrorist country and establish a special tribunal,” emphasized Olena Kondratiuk.