On the sombre day marking 3 years from Russia's invasion, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and international leaders to send a powerful message of support.
Dear colleagues, dear friends,
We were with Ukraine on that day three years ago. We are with Ukraine today. We will be with you tomorrow.
What matters now is not what we say - it is what we do. The coming days and weeks will shape our future - not through words, but through the actions we take right here in Europe.
Peace without liberty is not peace. Europe knows this. We will always seek peace - but it must be just, real, and dignified. And based on the principle of ‘Nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine’. The concept of ‘might is right’ will not define the new world order. It cannot.
For three years, Europe has stood with you, and let me be clear: we will not waver. I will never forget those moments in Kyiv at the start of the invasion, when the world saw you all stand up.
The European Parliament has been united from day one. And together with President Von der Leyen and President Costa, we speak with one voice. Because we understand that, together, we are strongest.
But now, we must do more. Ukraine must be in a position of strength - because that is the only path to real peace and liberty. That means Europe must step up without delay - militarily, financially, and diplomatically. We must move forward with using frozen Russian assets, tightening sanctions, and increasing pressure. And we must get serious about our own defence - and fast.
Let’s be clear: Ukraine’s fight is Europe’s fight. This is not just an attack on Ukraine - it is an attack on democracy, on our way of life, on everything we stand for. The Ukrainians on the frontlines are holding the line for all of us.
So as Ukraine enters the fourth year of this war, we must stay the course. We must cut through the noise. We must keep our eyes on our shared objective: freedom for Ukraine, and lasting peace for all of Europe, and the world.
Slava Ukraini.
You can read the President's speech in Ukrainian here.