By Martin Banks

A senior MEP has used a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to warn that the
West is “facing a critical geopolitical period.”

S&D leader in the EU Parliament Iratxe García met with Zelenskyy on 11 December and reiterated
her group’s “continued full support to Ukraine for whatever it takes to win the war.”

The MEP said, “We are facing a critical geopolitical period marked by uncertainties, but Ukraine can
be certain of our continued support.”

She also said she has urged the EC to use €200 billion of frozen Russian state assets in order to arm
and reconstruct Ukraine.

García, a Spanish MEP, had travelled to Ukraine with a delegation of the Socialists and Democrats in
the European Parliament to meet with key representatives of the government to express her group’s
“full” support to Ukraine, more than 1,000 days into “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
She also reaffirmed its commitment to accompanying Ukraine on the reforms that pave the way for
accession to the European Union.

This is the first time in this parliamentary term that a group leader in the European parliament has
travelled to Ukraine to meet President Zelenskyy.

García was accompanied by MEPs Yannis Maniatis – S&D vice-president for foreign affairs, security
and defence, Nacho Sánchez Amor – S&D AFET coordinator, Sven Mikser – S&D SEDE coordinator
and Thijs Reuten – S&D shadow rapporteur for Ukraine.

The S&D delegation met with Zelenskyy, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) Ruslan
Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevhen Perebyinis
and Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov.

The S&D MEPs held exchanges with the leadership and young activists of the progressive movement
and partner, SD Platform and paid tribute at the Wall of Remembrance at St. Michael’s Monastery to
the “many brave” Ukrainians who have lost their lives “fighting for freedom, democracy and a
European future for their country.”

Garcia said, “It’s not by chance that I have chosen Ukraine for my first official visit as reelected group
President after the European elections of 2024. More than 1,000 days have passed since Russia
started its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. We are facing a critical geopolitical period
marked by uncertainties, but Ukraine can be certain of our continued support. At this beginning of
the new term, the S&D family is convinced that it is necessary and urgent to scale up the support to
Ukraine, to make it more effective, more predictable, and more sustainable in the long term.”

She added, “I reiterated to President Zelenskyy that we want Ukraine to win this war so that it may
focus on offering its people a life in peace and prosperity – as part of the European family”.

“As the second largest group in the European Parliament, we are ready to lead new proposals to
make the EU work closer with Ukraine and we call for unity among democratic and pro-European
forces to ensure freedom, peace and prosperity for the Ukrainian people”.

“We did not come to Kyiv with empty words. We want to show our support to Ukraine with concrete
actions. I asked High Representative Kaja Kallas to put forward a legal proposal to use the €200
billion of frozen Russian state assets in order to arm and reconstruct Ukraine; the use of profits is not
enough”.

“I also want to work with the EU Heads of State and Government and the President of the European
Council on a common position to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons against legitimate
military targets on Russian territory. Ukraine must be able to effectively protect its civilian
population and critical infrastructure against Russian attacks.

I remind those who don’t want to take part, or those who side with Russia, that this war is an attack
against our Union and our citizens; it is an attack against the rules-based international order and the
principles of the UN Charter. It is also an attack against the principles and mechanisms of
cooperation and security in Europe and therefore threatens the security and prosperity of all citizens
of Europe”.

“We also expressed our support for the European aspirations of the people of Ukraine. Ukraine is a
European country and its citizens are our European compatriots. The Ukrainian people have chosen
a future in the European Union and I said to President Zelenskyy that we will stand by their side until
their wish for a peaceful and prosperous European future has been fulfilled.”