The meeting of the Ukraine-EU Parliamentary Association Committee took place in Brussels

On 10-11 November 2025, the 17th meeting of the Parliamentary Association Committee between Ukraine and the European Union took place in Brussels. Members of the Ukrainian Parliament and Members of the European Parliament took part in the meeting.

During the first working session, participants discussed EU support for Ukraine and bilateral relations in the context of countering russian military aggression, bringing those responsible for crimes of aggression to justice, the EU's role in economically deterring russia's aggressive war, and the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine.

The meeting began with an address to parliamentarians by Ukrainian veteran Andrii Madzharov, who walked to Brussels, telling Europeans the truth about russia's war against Ukraine along the way. Addressing MEPs with a call to increase aid to Ukraine, Andrii Madzharov stressed that the current war is not just russia's war against Ukraine. It is a war of democracy against dictatorship, good against evil, light against darkness. «By consolidating your forces and political will, you can preserve not only lives, but also the peace that you currently enjoy, which could be disrupted if Ukraine falls. I urge you not to stop helping, but to increase your assistance as much as possible,» Andrii Madzharov appealed.

Dmytro Khilyuk, a Ukrainian citizen who was abducted from his home by russians during the occupation of the Kyiv region and held in inhumane conditions until 24 August this year, when he was finally able to return home thanks to an exchange for russian prisoners of war, also addressed the meeting participants. Speaking in the European Parliament, Dmytro Khilyuk called on its members to impose personal sanctions against russian torturers whose identities have already been established. «I urge the European Parliament to contact Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and impose personal sanctions against the leadership of the colonies that make decisions about the torture of Ukrainian prisoners,» said the former captive.

The PKA participants discussed the issue of sanctions policy and economic pressure on russia, the use of frozen russian assets to create a Reparations Fund, and ways to ensure sustainable financing for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian co-chair of the PCA, Vadym Halaichuk, stressed that securing sustained international support is critically important for Ukraine. «This is a war of attrition, which means that the economic component is extremely important here,» Vadym Halaichuk emphasised. He is convinced that together with allies whose economies are many times stronger than russia's, Ukraine can resist the russian federation and continue to exert economic pressure on the aggressor. However, predictable and stable funding for Ukraine from its partners must be a key factor. The Ukrainian co-chair of the PCA also insisted that it is important to continue monitoring evasion of sanctions already imposed for russian aggression, as well as to work to ensure that not only the proceeds from frozen russian assets, but also the assets themselves are used for the benefit of Ukraine.

The second day of the meeting was devoted to the parliamentary dimension of Ukraine's integration into the EU. Participants reviewed the progress made in aligning Ukrainian legislation with European Union law and the state of implementation of reforms.

First Deputy Chair of the Ukrainian part of the PCA Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine today not only defend Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, but also serve as a shield for the European Union. «russia has sharply increased the scale, intensity and frequency of attacks throughout Ukraine - on civilian objects and civilian infrastructure. This means that we must restore a sense of urgency in every action taken by Ukraine's European partners,» she stressed. Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze noted that despite the war, Ukraine must work on reforms to achieve its strategic goal enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine - membership in the EU. In this context, she highlighted the special role of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and society in protecting democracy. Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze also insisted on the need to open negotiations with the EU on the «Fundamentals» cluster as soon as possible. In her opinion, this will ensure additional oversight, attention and assistance from the European Union. It will also protect and strengthen the reform agenda in Ukraine, restore the functioning of Parliament and oversight of the government, and help restore the balance of powers in Ukraine.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to the situation of Ukrainians in EU countries, and a joint statement and recommendations of the PAC were adopted following the meeting. In particular, in the document, the PAC participants call on the russian federation to immediately cease military actions against Ukraine; condemn the executions and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and demand their immediate release; strongly condemn the violent actions of the russian federation and belarus' complicity in the cruel treatment of Ukrainian children, including murder, forced displacement and deportation, illegal adoption, sexual violence and exploitation, forced russification and militarisation; demand an immediate end to these crimes and that russia disclose the identities and whereabouts of all deported Ukrainian children and ensure their well-being and safe and unconditional return; condemn russia's intensified deliberate attacks on Ukraine's energy sector; call on the EU and its Member States to maintain and strengthen their political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to participate in peace negotiations; welcome the progress made in establishing a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

The final document did not take into account amendments that drew attention to the need to lift the ban on travelling abroad, in particular for opposition MPs, and emphasised the inadmissibility of political persecution of opponents and the parliamentary opposition.  «Unfortunately, despite the fact that these were amendments that had already been repeatedly mentioned in the European Parliament's resolution, they were de facto removed by the Ukrainian delegation,» said Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze.