United for Ukraine: Statement on the 35th Anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence

24 August 2026

We, the representatives of the United4Ukraine global parliamentary network, representing Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Defence Committees of the Parliaments of the EU and NATO member states, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and its people and our commitment to their freedom, sovereignty, security and European future.

Thirty-five years ago, the Ukrainian people restored their independent state. Today, they are defending that independence against Russia’s war of aggression at an extraordinary human cost. Ukraine’s struggle is also a defence of European security, democratic values and the right of every nation to determine its own future.

Russia’s plans for now and for the coming autumn show no signs of peace. Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure across all regions of Ukraine are deliberate and constitute war crimes. Russia’s blockade of grain exports from the Black Sea region could once again, as in 2022, deliver a serious blow to global food security and drive up the cost of living in many other countries that depend on imports of grain and processed grain products. Putin is preparing the conditions for expanding mobilization.

We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s defensive operations, as it has the right to defend itself against Russia’s large-scale aggression in full accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. Ukrainian deep and mid-range strikes against Russian military-industrial and other war-supporting infrastructure demonstrate that Russia cannot continue its aggression with impunity and increase pressure on it to end the war. 

We reaffirm that Ukraine has consistently demonstrated its commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace and continues to pursue every meaningful diplomatic path capable of bringing Russia’s war of aggression to an end. At the same time, diplomacy can succeed only when Russia faces sufficient military, political and economic pressure to understand that prolonging the war offers it no alternative to peace.

We call on our governments and parliaments to ensure the uninterrupted and timely supply of weapons to Ukraine. Air defence missiles, including for Patriot, IRIS-T, HAWK, SAMP/T and NASAMS systems, weapons for Ukraine’s combat aviation and other urgently needed capabilities must remain an absolute priority. We call for increased and predictable contributions to the PURL initiative and other mechanisms that provide Ukraine with urgently needed weapons and ammunition. We underline the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine’s protection against ballistic missiles. We support the development of Ukraine’s FREYJA anti-ballistic project and the Anti-Ballistic Coalition and encourage additional countries and companies capable of contributing to Europe’s common security to join these efforts. We recognise the potential of FREYJA to become a shared European capability, combining Ukraine’s ability to produce missiles and launchers with the radar, sensor and technological capacities of partner countries and companies. Ukraine’s combat experience and defence innovation should become an integral part of Europe’s future air and missile defence architecture.

We welcome the Drone Deals format as a new model of long-term defence partnership. We support its expansion, joint production, cooperation between Ukrainian and partner military technology companies and direct investment in Ukraine’s defence industry. Ukraine’s battlefield-tested technologies and experience can strengthen both Ukraine’s defence and the security of its European partners. We recognise that Ukraine is not only a recipient of security assistance. Its Armed Forces, defence industry, military technologies and experience of modern warfare already make Ukraine one of the most important contributors to European security. We call for the full and timely implementation of commitments announced within NATO-related mechanisms, the Ukraine Defence Contact Group and other security formats. Commitments announced must translate into concrete capabilities delivered to Ukraine without delay. We support stronger direct engagement between Ukrainian military and security professionals and our governments and parliaments. Decision-makers must have access to first-hand battlefield information and a clear understanding of Ukraine’s needs, Russia’s methods and the lessons Ukraine has accumulated in modern warfare. 

We are convinced that Russia must face a new and significantly stronger stage of sanctions pressure. Particular attention must be paid to Russia’s production of ballistic missiles and drones, the companies producing them, their financiers, procurement networks and foreign suppliers of critical components. We call for greater coordination and synchronisation of sanctions between partner jurisdictions and for the closure of existing loopholes. Banks, financial intermediaries, transit channels, companies and individuals that help Russia acquire components for weapons production or sustain its war machine must face meaningful consequences. We support continued action against Russia’s shadow fleet and against all entities and individuals that finance, facilitate or promote Russia’s aggression. Where sanctions alone are insufficient, other legal, financial and political instruments must be used. We reaffirm our support for accountability for Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine. We call on EU institutions and Member States to renew negotiations on channelling Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine, using mechanisms compatible with international law. The Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine must remain firmly on the international agenda and deliver concrete progress towards justice. Russia’s crimes must not be forgotten, normalised or forgiven.

We reaffirm our support for Ukraine-led and other international initiatives and formats, including the Crimea Platform, the Coalition of the Willing, NB8 cooperation, JEF partnership, the Southeast Europe Summit, the Carpathian Integration Initiative and Bring Kids Back UA. These formats must remain active, visible and focused on concrete results for Ukraine. We support Ukraine’s efforts to secure peace, security and reliable guarantees for its national interests. Every coalition, partnership and initiative created in support of Ukraine must be assessed by its practical contribution to strengthening Ukraine, preventing renewed aggression and advancing a just and lasting peace.

We call on Ukraine’s partner states to take practical steps to help ensure that Ukraine is strong both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, standing together with Europe from a position of strength. Peace negotiations must be aimed not merely at securing a ceasefire, and peace must not be achieved “at any cost.” True peace will only be possible when Russia is stopped, ends its aggression, withdraws its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine, compensates for the damage it has caused, and those responsible for war crimes are held accountable.

On the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, we reaffirm that Ukraine’s full membership in the European Union is a strategic security priority for both Ukraine and Europe. We welcome the progress already achieved in the accession process and call for the remaining four negotiating clusters to be opened and advanced without delay. We support the ambitious advancement of Ukraine‘s accession negotiations, based on merit and with objective of completing the process at the earliest possible opportunity. We underline that Ukraine’s accession will strengthen the European Union itself. Ukraine’s Armed Forces, defence industry, technological capabilities and unique security experience make Ukraine capable of contributing directly to Europe’s physical security. Europe needs a strong Ukraine fully integrated into the European Union. We consider Ukraine’s membership in the EU to be the strongest non-military security guarantee for Ukraine and the whole of Europe. We support Ukraine and Moldova in continuing their European path side by side and underline the importance of strong, mutually beneficial relations between Ukraine and all its European neighbours and partners.

We recognize that Ukraine’s defense capabilities should become part of NATO’s collective defense. Ukraine has already proven itself to be a reliable partner, so its membership in the Alliance would be entirely natural and would mean strengthening the defense capabilities of the Alliance as a whole. We recall the decisions taken at the Bucharest, Vilnius and Washington NATO Summits concerning Ukraine‘s future membership in NATO and encourage further practical and political steps.

We call for continued practical support for Ukraine’s energy resilience and preparation for the coming winter. Ukraine needs sufficient air defence, energy equipment, financial resources, electricity and gas arrangements, cross-border solutions and direct support to communities to withstand continued Russian attacks against its energy infrastructure.

We recognise the need to preserve broad and sustainable support for Ukraine regardless of electoral cycles and political changes in partner countries. Russia continues to use hybrid influence, financial interference, propaganda and destabilisation to influence democratic processes. Our societies must become more resilient to such interference. We support the rights and interests of Ukrainians living abroad and recognise their contribution to the societies in which they live. We will oppose xenophobia and attempts to exploit Ukrainian communities for political division and support their connection with Ukraine, its culture, language and identity. We support Ukraine’s public and cultural diplomacy and deeper links between universities, cultural institutions, veterans, communities and civil society. We welcome initiatives that strengthen Ukrainian studies, promote Ukrainian language and literature, preserve cultural heritage and deepen understanding of Ukraine around the world. We support programmes for the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian defenders and civilians wounded as a result of Russia’s aggression and encourage stronger cooperation among institutions and communities in our countries in this area. 

We recognise the role of sport in Ukraine’s resilience, recovery and international presence. Russia’s aggression has cost the lives of hundreds of Ukrainian athletes and coaches, impeded their preparations for and participation in international Sports events and destroyed a substantial part of the country’s sporting infrastructure. We support its reconstruction, the full participation of Ukrainian athletes in international competition, and the integrity and independence of international sporting bodies against political instrumentalisation. Sport must not become a channel for normalising or legitimising aggression. In this context, we strongly condemn the decisions by International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and international sports federations to reintroduce participation of Russian and Belarusian teams and athletes to international sports events, and call on EU institutions and EU Member States to undertake urgent actions to prevent this participation, including through entry bans and restrictive measures.

We recognise the indispensable role of parliamentary diplomacy. We will use our parliamentary networks, committees, political parties and international assemblies to secure military, political, financial and economic decisions in support of Ukraine and to broaden Ukraine’s partnerships around the world.

Thirty-five years after restoring its independence, Ukraine is defending not only its statehood but the principle that independence cannot be erased by force.

The Ukrainian people have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience. Our responsibility is to match that courage with decisions, resources and action.

We stand united with Ukraine and will continue working so that Ukraine emerges from this war free, strong, secure, prosperous and fully integrated into Europe.

Ukraine’s independence and Europe’s security are inseparable.