{"id":97434,"date":"2022-02-25T08:56:45","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T07:56:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=97434"},"modified":"2022-02-25T08:56:45","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T07:56:45","slug":"aggression-is-confrontation-with-europe-speech-of-president-metsola-on-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/aggression-is-confrontation-with-europe-speech-of-president-metsola-on-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Aggression is confrontation with Europe: speech of President Metsola on Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"EU<\/p>\n

The President of the European Parliament delivered the following statement at the European Council on Thursday, February 24, 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cDear President of the European Council,<\/p>\n

Dear President of the European Commission,<\/p>\n

Dear Presidents and Prime Ministers,<\/p>\n

Dear friends,<\/p>\n

The scenes in Ukraine are difficult to witness – while we hoped and worked to promote a process of de-escalation, our fears and warnings were tragically realised this morning. President Putin has unleashed war in Europe.<\/p>\n

This is outrageous. Cities, regions, Capitals of independent nations are not there for the taking. This is from the world of the painful past. It must never return.<\/p>\n

The European Parliament\u2019s political leaders were clear this morning and we will hold an extraordinary plenary session on Tuesday on the situation. We are together in our condemnation and our solidarity.<\/p>\n

The Russian invasion into Ukraine is part of President Putin\u2019s destabilisation agenda. It is a path that will bring the Kremlin in direct confrontation with Europe and the rule-based world-order. It is a path that pits authoritarianism against democracy. It is a path that we cannot allow him to walk unchallenged.<\/p>\n

Ukraine is a country that embraced democracy and freedom – that believed it could forge a path for itself. Looking around the table, I can see the leaders of Member States whose populations believed the same. We cannot leave Ukraine alone. For their sake and for ours. We must show real solidarity with the people of Ukraine who awoke to their worst nightmare today.<\/p>\n

We must also show solidarity with people fleeing and with Ukraine\u2019s immediate EU neighbours as they face security and humanitarian challenges. I know many of you have already launched proactive measures – and you can count on the European Parliament for support.<\/p>\n

The European Union has proved itself united and resolute. We spoke with one voice when it mattered the most. This must be the message that emerges from here tonight: that we will act in unison, that we have the political will and strategic capability to face this threat. That we stand with Ukraine.<\/p>\n

We recognise Ukraine\u2019s European perspective. We already have an association agreement and a free trade agreement, and very close cooperation with Ukraine in many areas, including on energy security. This is a conversation that we must keep having with our Ukrainian friends.<\/p>\n

Europe stands for a way of life that embraces freedom and democracy. This is our strength.<\/p>\n

We must not allow our resolve to be watered down by an aggressive Russia that pushes forward a value set that is very different to ours. That looks back at spheres of influence instead of forward to circles of cooperation.<\/p>\n

If we are tempted to accommodate, to take a step back – we will be soon face another ultimatum. And what then?<\/p>\n

Today, we face a threat not of our making, that we did not provoke – that we did not invite. Confronted with this aggression we have proved that the right thing to do is also the sensible thing to do.<\/p>\n