Russia’s war against Ukraine and the need for continuous EU support for Ukraine was the topic of the first debate of the European Parliament in its new term. During the debate, S&D leader Iratxe García reaffirmed the EU's full support for Ukraine, denounced Russia's violation of international law and the UN Charter, and condemned the collusion of right-wing extremists with Orbán.
S&D Group leader, Iratxe Garcia, said:
“We are witnessing the complicity of the far right in this Parliament with Putin. A few days ago, the most visible head of the new group of false Patriots, Orbán, met with Putin to defame the European Union, to proclaim that he has a peace plan that nobody knows about and to promote Russian expansionism. Are the Russian bombings of innocent human beings the values upheld by false Patriots and tyrants who violate international law and ally themselves with Putin?
“We will support Ukraine until Putin stops his crimes with the confiscation of the 200 billion euros of Russian public assets tied up for its armament and reconstruction. And we will support Ukraine until its aspirations to decide its own destiny as a member of the European Union are realised.
“The Ukrainian people have chosen democracy, freedom and independence over those who want to destroy them. And for all of this, the Ukrainian people have chosen that their future lies in the European Union.
“We represent a generation of Europeans who have always seen the European project as a beacon of freedom, economic progress and social justice. Against the group of false Patriots, let us unite the democratic and pro-European forces and work tirelessly for the Ukrainian people to live free from fear and threats, to live in security and peace.”
