"Strategic partnership between Ukraine and Poland is a pillar of security and stability for all of Europe," says the First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko
26 June 2026, 13:23
The First Deputy Speaker, Oleksandr Korniienko, paid a working visit to Gdańsk, where he took part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which was co-organised by Ukraine and the Republic of Poland.
The URC 2026 was attended by the international leaders, parliamentarians, government officials, business leaders, experts, and civil society representatives.
On the eve of this event, the 15th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland took place, co-chaired by Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Monika Wielichowska.
In his welcoming speech, the First Deputy Speaker emphasised the importance of maintaining a parliamentary dialogue between Poland and Ukraine and expressed his gratitude to the Polish side for its unwavering support of the Ukrainian people since the first day of the full-scale invasion.
"We appreciate all of the support and assistance throughout these years. I am convinced that our solidarity, our unity, and our strategic partnership will remain an important pillar of security and stability for all of Europe. Ukraine and Poland have proved on more than one occasion that they are able to overcome the most difficult challenges," said Oleksandr Korniienko.
Ukraine's integration into the EU was a specific topic of discussion at the assembly. The First Deputy Speaker expressed his gratitude to Monika Wielihowska for their close cooperation within the framework of implementing the European integration component of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and Poland.
"We are actively working toward full EU membership and demonstrating our commitment to these intentions in practice. The proof of this can be seen in the fact that the first negotiation cluster was recently opened," said Oleksandr Korniienko.
On the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Oleksandr Korniienko also took part in the roundtable discussion "United for Ukraine - The Role of the Parliamentary Diplomacy in Building European Security and Resilience."
During his speech, he emphasised that parliamentary diplomacy is not about mere protocol meetings, but also the ability to advance key positions and be heard.
The First Deputy Speaker underscored that Verkhovna Rada delegations manage to achieve tangible results, as the Ukrainian parliament remains absolutely united in its positions in the international arena.
In particular, People's Deputies from various factions work effectively within the delegations to the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and others.
“These are brilliant teams capable of forging ties and effectively leveraging contacts to advance Ukraine's interests in the 'here and now.' I also have experience engaging with speakers from countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In some cases, these represent our state's first official contacts in nearly 35 years,” emphasized Oleksandr Korniienko.
He noted how People's Deputies effectively reshape the international partners' perception of Ukraine and Europe, dispelling old Soviet myths.
"It is a tremendous honor for us to host world leaders directly in the Verkhovna Rada. More than 50 speeches by international partners have already been delivered from our rostrum,” stated Oleksandr Korniienko.
Prior to the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the First Deputy Speaker also joined the YES panel discussion "What Ukraine Needs Now."
The First Deputy Speaker emphasised that a just peace remains a crucial condition for the security of Ukraine and the security of Europe.
"Our duty is to fight for democracy and ensure financial guarantees for our army, despite any obstacles. We are capable of unity and demonstrate it in all decisions for the state, in particular in the international arena," noted Oleksandr Korniienko.