Home >
All publications
International activity
17 March 2022, 13:37
The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU took
part in an online meeting with the members of the Parliament of the
Netherlands.
She told her colleagues that the entire territory of Ukraine is now the centre of attention of the Russian occupiers: “Their goals are not only the east, the south and the north of Ukraine, but also other regions, in particular, the centre and the western regions. And, unfortunately, they target civilians”. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said that the occupiers began to use new brutal tactics. In addition to bombing, shelling of the civilians and the use of banned bombs, they abduct community leaders, mayors, local authorities, community activists, and doctors. They tortured their prisoners and then tried to exchange them for their captured soldiers”.
But Ukraine is facing it bravely, shows incredible courage and resilience. The Ukrainians are united around the idea of defending their country: “We understand that the main goal of Russia is to erase us from the map of the world. This is what they are trying to achieve now. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, many seeking asylum in the European Union, but many Ukrainians have returned to defend their homeland”. According to the Chair of the Committee, more than 140,000 people have returned from abroad. Therefore, weapons and ammunition are also needed for the territorial defence.
The Chair highlighted the main areas where Ukraine needs immediate assistance. This is, firstly, strong military support: “Anything you can do at the level of your governments or at the level of the alliances you belong to, please do. Ukraine needs air defence, weapons, ammunition for fighters and territorial defence. We ask you to close the sky over Ukraine. At least provide air corridors over the areas from which people should be evacuated. We ask you to close the sky over our nuclear power plants and cultural monuments that are being brutally destroyed by the Russian barbarians”.
According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze the second important area is humanitarian. Not only refugees need help, but also internally displaced persons who remain in Ukraine.
The third area of assistance is the neutralisation of Russian propaganda and a significant increase in sanctions. It is not enough to disconnect 15% of Russian banks from SWIFT: “We call for an embargo on Russian gas and oil imports. This may be difficult, but it must be done because the EU is now financing Russia's war against Ukraine by buying oil and gas from Moscow. Personal sanctions should be imposed not only against deputies and oligarchs, but also against their families. They have a great time in France, the Netherlands and other European countries, while innocent people are dying in Ukraine. This must be stopped”.
The Chair of the Committee reminded her colleagues from the Netherlands that their government is currently not ready to support Ukraine's status as a candidate for the EU accession: “This is a critical decision for us to support Ukrainian people, who are now fighting for their country and for the right to live”. Therefore, the parties agreed to organize a meeting between Ukrainian deputies and those political forces of the Netherlands who are sceptical about Ukraine's candidacy for the EU to work with them directly and change their opinion.
“The EU is financing the war against Ukraine by buying oil and gas from Russia”, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze called for an embargo
She told her colleagues that the entire territory of Ukraine is now the centre of attention of the Russian occupiers: “Their goals are not only the east, the south and the north of Ukraine, but also other regions, in particular, the centre and the western regions. And, unfortunately, they target civilians”. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said that the occupiers began to use new brutal tactics. In addition to bombing, shelling of the civilians and the use of banned bombs, they abduct community leaders, mayors, local authorities, community activists, and doctors. They tortured their prisoners and then tried to exchange them for their captured soldiers”.
But Ukraine is facing it bravely, shows incredible courage and resilience. The Ukrainians are united around the idea of defending their country: “We understand that the main goal of Russia is to erase us from the map of the world. This is what they are trying to achieve now. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, many seeking asylum in the European Union, but many Ukrainians have returned to defend their homeland”. According to the Chair of the Committee, more than 140,000 people have returned from abroad. Therefore, weapons and ammunition are also needed for the territorial defence.
The Chair highlighted the main areas where Ukraine needs immediate assistance. This is, firstly, strong military support: “Anything you can do at the level of your governments or at the level of the alliances you belong to, please do. Ukraine needs air defence, weapons, ammunition for fighters and territorial defence. We ask you to close the sky over Ukraine. At least provide air corridors over the areas from which people should be evacuated. We ask you to close the sky over our nuclear power plants and cultural monuments that are being brutally destroyed by the Russian barbarians”.
According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze the second important area is humanitarian. Not only refugees need help, but also internally displaced persons who remain in Ukraine.
The third area of assistance is the neutralisation of Russian propaganda and a significant increase in sanctions. It is not enough to disconnect 15% of Russian banks from SWIFT: “We call for an embargo on Russian gas and oil imports. This may be difficult, but it must be done because the EU is now financing Russia's war against Ukraine by buying oil and gas from Moscow. Personal sanctions should be imposed not only against deputies and oligarchs, but also against their families. They have a great time in France, the Netherlands and other European countries, while innocent people are dying in Ukraine. This must be stopped”.
The Chair of the Committee reminded her colleagues from the Netherlands that their government is currently not ready to support Ukraine's status as a candidate for the EU accession: “This is a critical decision for us to support Ukrainian people, who are now fighting for their country and for the right to live”. Therefore, the parties agreed to organize a meeting between Ukrainian deputies and those political forces of the Netherlands who are sceptical about Ukraine's candidacy for the EU to work with them directly and change their opinion.