By Martin Banks

In Kyiv on 9 May, Metsola met with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, addressed the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and met its Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Presidents Metsola and Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland and the European Parliament’s support for President Zelenskyy’s 10 point peace plan, air defence, sanctions against Russia and the use of profits from Russian frozen assets for Ukraine’s defence and recovery.

President Metsola was decorated with an Order of Merit, First Class by President Zelenskyy.

She said, ““Ukraine has made its European choice and Europe has made its Ukrainian choice. That is the true victory we will celebrate together every 9th of May. On this day, we celebrate Europe. And there is no better or more significant place to do that than here – where the spirit of Europe is present in your cities, in your villages and etched in the bravery of your people.

“The defiance of Ukraine, your courage, your strength – epitomise what it means to be European.”

She added,“The last time I was in this Chamber I made three promises to you, promises that I am proud to say the European Union, the European Parliament, has delivered on.

“In the past two years, we stood resolute and firm against Putin’s intimidation tactics, and cut our dependencies from Russia. We have adopted 13 packages of hard-hitting sanctions against Putin and his allies, …. which means that hundreds of billions of euros worth of Russian assets are now frozen in the EU.

She said, “I promised that Europe would open up its borders, its homes and hearts to your families, your children, your loved ones, who were forced to flee. … We said we would help you to rebuild your cities, your towns, your villages. The adoption of the 50 billion euro Ukraine Facility is our most recent tangible support for that.

“I also told you that you could count on me, on the European Parliament, to recognise Ukraine’s European aspirations and to support you as you make headway on your country’s integration into the EU. … The European Parliament was the first EU institution to push for Ukraine to receive candidate status and for accession negotiations to start last year. …This is just as much about stability for Ukraine as it is about strengthening the entire EU. … Ukraine’s place is in the European Union.”

“Europe will always stand for peace. A real peace with dignity, with integrity, with liberty, with territorial sovereignty. And we know that there can never be anything about Ukraine, without Ukraine. I mentioned the return of Ukrainian children earlier, with that we also need an urgent focus on food security and the safety of nuclear plants. These are the building blocks of humanity,” she said.

Presidents Zelenskyy and Metsola spoke to the press after their meeting. President Metsola said,“The European Parliament will help Ukraine in any way possible to advance on all the necessary steps on its European path. 

“We will remain as vocal as ever on Ukraine, as my visit today also demonstrates.”

“This year marks 20 years of the accession of my home country, Malta, and along with it, nine other Member States, to the European Union. I have seen the transformative effect of the European Union enlargement. The opportunities and security that come with it. As today the people of Ukraine are looking to Europe, with the same sense of hope and belief in our common future that we had then, Europe cannot be the one to look away.

“You will win and our future will be a common one. Slava Ukraini!”