Speeches

Mr President, it has been 937 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, starting a war of aggression aimed at occupying a country and changing borders by force. An act of aggression that violates every notion of international law. Our steadfast and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine – by providing humanitarian aid but also the necessary military equipment to effectively defend its borders and independence – does not only stem from the need to defend the international legal order. The military aggression in Ukraine is not an isolated event. It is another manifestation of the Russian regime's revisionist effort, which, if successful, will be extended to other countries in Eastern Europe. At the same time, it will open the appetite for other revisionist powers in southeastern Europe to do the same. Forces violating international law and the law of the sea. We must not allow Hungary, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of Ministers, to undermine the provision of military aid. Mr Orbán, instead of visiting Moscow, should unfreeze payments from the Peace Facility. With 80% of the energy infrastructure destroyed or occupied, the Ukrainian people will need our support this winter as well, otherwise they will face a horrific humanitarian catastrophe. Finally, it is unacceptable that we continue to allow theoretically allied countries – such as Turkey – to help circumvent sanctions and continue financing the war with European money. By helping Ukraine cope with Putin's illegal invasion, we are investing in the security and well-being of European citizens.