The Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU held an online meeting
with the members of the German Bundestag. The Chair of the Committee
thanked German colleagues for their visit to Lviv last month. According to
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, such visits are extremely important because
they give an understanding of the scale of Russia's crimes in Ukraine, as
well as an opportunity to see for themselves the destruction and
humanitarian crisis in Ukraine caused the Russian war.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze stated that Russia's attacks on Ukraine have
intensified. Russians regularly shell the entire territory of Ukraine.
Therefore, not only Ukrainians must boldly resist these attacks, but also
the entire international community: “This requires great determination and
courage from all our partners. So be brave, as Ukrainians are, this is my
appeal to all foreign politicians”. The Chair of the Committee expressed
hope that German colleagues would take the initiative to negotiate for the
provision of additional weapons and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Fortunately, discussions regarding which weapons to provide to Ukraine —
offensive or defensive ones — have already stopped, said Ivanna
Klympush-Tsintsadze. According to her, all weapons are protective for
Ukraine: “In this war, we are fighting for all our territories within
internationally recognized borders. I think, no one in the world should
have any doubts that Ukraine must regain its territory. Because Russia is
using these territories as a springboard for new attacks. Now we have to
go even further, we have to talk about the complete defeat of Russia, so
that it can never get up from its knees and attack another country.”
The Chair of the Committee also reminded that it is not only the Russian
dictator who is responsible for the war against Ukraine, but also all
Russian people: “It is not Putin who is killing us personally. It is not
him, who personally tortures our people, rapes our women and children,
kills and takes our people captive, forcibly takes our citizens out of
Ukraine. And this is not only the responsibility of the Russian army. More
than 80% of Russians support Putin. This is the collective responsibility
of the Russian Federation.”
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze reminded that today Ukraine does not only
protects its own territory, its beliefs and values. Russia, in fact,
attacked the entire Western world, the Western type of world order.
Therefore, it is a matter of honour for every free Western country to help
Ukraine in this struggle: “It is our common cause to do everything
possible in order not to let despotism win.” Therefore, Ukraine relies on
Germany's leadership in tightening sanctions and abandoning Russian fuel
completely: “The embargo on Russian oil is already on the agenda. We
understand how difficult it will be to give up on Russian gas, but we also
need to start this discussion to ensure that Russia does not receive more
money to finance its terrorist activities in Ukraine.”
The Chair of the Committee noted that the EU should take unprecedented and
non-standard decisions regarding Ukraine's European future. This must be a
political decision, as Ukraine has worked effectively over the years to
implement one of the broadest and largest Association Agreements the EU
has ever concluded with third countries: “For many years we have worked on
transformations in various fields. Of course, we will need additional
assistance and the mobilization of additional resources to reach the level
and standards of the EU in order not only to become worthy but also a
competitive member of the European community. But this is possible. And it
must begin with a political decision.”
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze informed German colleagues about the decisions
and appeals made by three Verkhovna Rada Committees to international
parliaments and organizations to combat Russian propaganda. She asked the
members of the Bundestag to study this document and get actively involved
in the process of combating Russia’s propaganda machine, which is still
operating in the world, including Germany.
The Chair of the Committee also called on the Bundestag to recognize
Russia's war in Ukraine as genocide against the Ukrainian people, as the
parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Canada have already done.