Dear President of LUkraine, dear Nicolas

Dear President of the Chambre des députés, dear Claude

Dear Head of Commission in Luxembourg, dear Anne

Dear Ambassador, dear Vlad

Dear President of the Youth Parliament, dear Sam

Three years.

Three years of barbarian violence, cynical destruction, and horrific war crimes that Ukrainians had to endure at the hands of a vicious Russian aggressor.

Over 1.000 days of personal tragedies, of lives uprooted and forever changed, and of immense sacrifice.

But also three years of Ukrainians standing up to their aggressor, undaunted by the odds stacked against them, displaying indomitable courage and unrelenting resilience in the most difficult of circumstances.

Of the European Union standing at the side of Ukrainians and supporting them as best as our collective decision-making has allowed, knowing that it has not always been enough.

And of fighting for the same values and the common future we aspire to.

If we stand here today, and I thank the organisers for organising this solidarity march once again, it is to remember that Ukrainians need our continued unity, resolve and support.

Now maybe more than ever.

In this war of aggression, the moral equation seems obvious:

The aggressor, invading and trying to subjugate a sovereign country and its people, seeking to erase its past and steal their future, should have to pay for its actions and crimes.

But in these bewildering times, not everyone is using the same moral compass.

Dear all,

We all want peace.

Ukrainians, I imagine, more than anyone else.

But we cannot accept bending the term of peace beyond recognition.

Peace must be just, it must be anchored in the dignity of Ukrainians, and ensure their freedom and their security, now and in the future.

And as the President of the Parliament Roberta Metsola has recently reiterated: “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”.

The EU’s fate and security are inextricably linked to those of Ukraine.

The European Parliament has therefore stood with the Ukrainian people from the very beginning and without hesitation.

When Russian bombs started falling on Ukrainian homes, we instinctively realised that this war against Ukraine is also our war.

A Russian attack on democracy, freedom and our common values.

The European Parliament has continuously supported tougher sanctions, ambitious military and humanitarian aid, called for accountability and establishing a legal regime allowing for the confiscation of Russian-owned assets frozen by the EU, and has recognised the important work done by civil society in Ukraine and in Member States.

And I want to underscore once again the relentless efforts of LUkraine to support Ukrainians here in Luxembourg and to help those still in the crossfire of Russia’s violence.

The European Parliament has also strengthened its partnership with the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and has thereby brought our respective people closer together.

Not even two weeks ago, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, formally addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, emphasizing these close ties.

To work towards a comprehensive, just peace, Ukraine must be strong.

And Europe must continue to stand firmly with the Ukrainian people.

Our support must remain unwavering.

Dear all,

If we want a world that values freedom, justice, and democracy for all countries, regardless of size or power, we cannot be indifferent to the fate of Ukraine.

I truly hope that we do not have to stand here next year to commemorate the fourth year of Russia’s aggression.

Nor do I hope that we will have to lament an ill-negotiated peace settlement that leaves the freedom and security of Ukrainian people imperfect and precarious.

I rather long for the moment when we can celebrate welcoming Ukrainians into our European family.

I can assure you that the European Parliament will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people.

Thank you.

Slava Ukraini.