1000 days: Statement on Ukraine by European Parliament’s leaders

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

Parliament’s President and political group leaders adopted the following statement marking 1000 days of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine

“Today, we mark 1,000 days since Russia unleashed its brutal war on Ukraine.

We, the leaders of the Political Groups of the European Parliament, reiterate our strong and unwavering support for and solidarity with Ukraine on this terrible milestone of 1000 days since the start of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression.

We stand firm in our call for the European Union to show courage, resolve and vision at this crucial moment: stepping up support for Ukraine in every way, including politically, financially, militarily and with humanitarian aid.

We have started EU accession talks with Ukraine as it moves towards taking its rightful place in our European family. The gradual integration of Ukraine into the Union will be a central task for all EU institutions in this legislature, along with providing long-term financial and military assistance and much-needed support.

However, the action of Europe alone is not enough to protect Ukraine from this cruel and bloody invasion. We call on all international partners of Ukraine to act together in maintaining the broadest possible support for Ukraine. This action must be based on full respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the principles of international law, accountability for war crimes and the crime of aggression committed by Russia and its proxies, and the need for Russian reparations and other payments for the massive damage caused in Ukraine.

To this end, we will send a letter to Parliaments around the globe calling on the democratic world to continue its support Ukraine in its moment of absolute need. Keeping this ongoing crisis at the top of the global agenda. Because a threat to one democracy is a threat to every democracy.

This Parliament also calls on fellow democracies to join the European Union in condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Iran, Belarus and China for their continued unlawful arms transfers to Russia and the deployment of DPRK forces to Russia, supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Moreover, we need to work together for the release on Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilian hostages and for the return of kidnapped and illegally adopted Ukrainian children.

We expect the incoming Trump administration to maintain support for Ukraine and remain steadfast in its commitment to NATO, as Europe continues to establish a genuine defence Union and strengthen its defence capabilities. And we call for significant expansion of sanctions against Russia as well as a search for more effective ways for like-minded partners to join us in the effort to bring down Russia’s war machine.

We reiterate that the ultimate goal remains to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine on Ukraine’s terms, ensuring the safety and dignity of its people within a peaceful and stable Europe.

Together, the democratic world must send a clear, simple message: we stand with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory.

Slava Ukraini.”