Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, addressing participants at COSAC: “Is everything done to help Ukraine win?”

The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU delivered her speech at the COSAC meeting in Madrid. COSAC, the Conference of Committees on European Affairs, comprises Member States of the European Union, as well as countries pursuing European Integration and seeking EU Accession. The current COSAC meeting was part of Spain's EU presidency's parliamentary dimension.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze thanked her European colleagues for their military, humanitarian, economic and political support, as well as the Spanish presidency in the EU for prioritising the Ukrainian issue on the EU agenda. “Last night in Kyiv was terrible again. 18 kamikaze drones and 17 Russian cruise missiles were shot down by our air defence forces — with the air defence you helped us with,” said the Chair of the Committee. She urged her European colleagues not to get used to war and not to think that all the help that should have been provided has already been provided. “Expectations from Ukraine's counteroffensive skyrocketed, as if we live in a Hollywood movie. But we don't live in a Hollywood movie. We live in a terrible reality in which we try to survive every day. It's time to ask yourself — is everything done to help Ukraine win?” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

According to her, Ukrainians die every day in their homes, on the streets and at workplaces: “Our cities are being destroyed, and children are traumatised and scared. Families are separated, people are deported and tortured. Our nation, which has chosen freedom and fights for independence and democracy, needs your continued support.” According to the Chair of the Committee, Ukraine needs help in three key areas: to win the war, to rebuild the country, and to carry out transformations to achieve not only its strategic goal, but the dream of the whole nation — to become members of the EU and NATO. “It is possible if we unite our efforts and remain united. I hope that you share my approach and understand that you should help Ukraine not out of charity or pity, but because you believe in the things we are fighting for. With gratitude for everything that has been given to us and done for us, we ask for more. More weapons and ammunition, more artillery shells, tools for demining Ukraine, as well as long-range weapons, so that our Defence Forces can protect us and liberate all our land. The enemy did not wait for us to prepare for a counterattack. The enemy acted. Every square meter of occupied land is now filled with explosives.” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

Even during this barbaric war, according to the Chair of the Committee, Ukraine continues reforms and moves towards its strategic goal of joining the European Union: “We are focused on fulfilling the seven conditions that accompanied the granting of candidate status to Ukraine. And we hope for a positive evaluation of the European Commission regarding the work done. Based on this, we hope to open negotiations on membership in the European Union.”

She warned the participants against calls for Ukraine to cease fire: “Russia does not want peace. Russia wants Ukraine to surrender. And this is not the kind of peace or ceasefire that Ukraine can agree to. It would only allow Russia to mobilise new resources to launch a new attack. And if we agree to negotiations with Hitler of the 21st century, it will mean the collapse of the international order, international law, hopes for the inviolability of internationally recognised borders, as well as the weight of international institutions.” The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU noted that this would give impetus to all the world's dictatorships to change international borders by force. She also called for work on sanctions, especially those that would close loopholes in the sanction packages already in place: “We are so proud of ourselves that we stopped importing Russian gas, but we are ashamed of the fact that sales of Russian liquefied gas have increased by 30% this year. We must do everything to close the loopholes in the sanctions.”

Lastly, she emphasised that both Ukraine and Europe would benefit from Ukraine's EU accession, making the continent stronger in terms of values, military capabilities, economy, and culture.