The Ukrainian delegation held a series of meetings on the sidelines of the NATO PA
21 May 2023, 18:30
During a working visit to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Ukrainian delegation held a series of meetings.
During the meeting with the UK delegation, Ukrainian parliamentarians expressed their gratitude for the new weapons that bring Ukraine’s victory closer, as well as for the training for Ukrainian defenders. “This is a very important and real help for Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Korniienko.
The Ukrainian delegation also discussed with the Spanish representatives the necessary support for Ukraine, in particular, in matters related to Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
“It is important for us to start negotiations with the EU on accession this year. This would be a powerful signal of the EU’s support for Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and International Cooperation, during a meeting with a delegation of MEPs. At the same time, the Ukrainian MPs informed the MEPs about the fulfilment of the seven promises made when obtaining candidate status and the Association Agreement. The parties also discussed the results of the Jean Monnet Dialogue and further steps to strengthen cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the European Parliament.
With the Luxembourg delegation, the Ukrainian delegation discussed the experience of building a fair and stable diplomacy, as well as Ukraine’s vision of the next steps towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration – the opening of the negotiation phase on Ukraine’s accession to the EU this year and specifics on the issue of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
“During the dialogue with the Finnish delegation, we stressed our expectations from the decisions of the Vilnius Summit – a clear algorithm of movement, invitation of Ukraine to join the Alliance and security guarantees,” said the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko. He noted that Ukraine is very grateful to its international partners for their support and substantial assistance in all our endeavours: “We hope for their continuation in the future. Together to victory”.
“At the NATO PA session in Luxembourg, we are conducting extremely difficult negotiations on the text of the final declaration,” said Yehor Chernev, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Ukraine to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He emphasised that the Ukrainian delegation “firmly insists on the wording that will call on NATO countries to vote in favour of Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance at the Vilnius Summit”.
At the same time, Yehor Chernev said that, in addition to the preliminary work on the sidelines, he would insist on making additional amendments and additions to the final text of the declaration during his speech before the vote: “The NATO PA resolution will be an additional factor for the decisions of the Vilnius Summit. So, we are fighting to the end.”
The meetings were also joined by Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union, Halyna Mykhailyuk, the Deputy Chair of the Committee on Law Enforcement, Dmytro Kysylevskyi, the Deputy Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Solomiia Bobrovska, the Member of the Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence, Roman Hryshchuk, the Member of the Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, and Oleksii Zhmerenetskyi, the Member of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy.
For reference. The First Vice Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko is on a working visit to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 18-22 May.