Speaker of the Seimas in Brussels: ‘Without justice, there can be no peace’

Press release, 12 October 2022 

At her meeting with Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Women Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union in Brussels, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, said that Europe, which had recently witnessed intensified military attacks by Kremlin in the middle of the continent, must take the initiative to maximise sanctions against Russia and ensure that military crimes are met with a proper response. In addition, comprehensive support for Ukraine, including preparations for post-war reconstruction, must certainly remain among the EU’s priorities.

‘Admittedly, every new missile strike and every new explosion calls for acting even faster, maximizing sanctions and ensuring that those responsible for Russia’s military crimes in Ukraine and crimes against humanity are brought to justice. Without justice, there can be no peace, and such cruelty cannot go unpunished,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said in an exchange of views with Ms Metsola.

Photo by the Office of the Seimas

In view of Russia’s recent barbaric missile strikes targeting playgrounds, pedestrian bridges, energy facilities, museums, busy city streets and other civilian targets in Ukraine, the Women Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union issued a public statement in Brussels, calling for the prosecution of ‘Putin, all Russian civilians and military officials and their agents responsible for masterminding, launching and conducting the war.’

The Speaker of the Seimas is convinced that further provision of support for Ukraine to the fullest extent possible is no less important. ‘The unity of the EU will stand a test in winter. Therefore, let us remain committed. We must keep Ukraine at the top of our agenda and use all the possible ways, including political, military, financial, and humanitarian means, to help Ukraine win the war and subsequently raise the country from ruins. This will require a lot of resources, so it is high time we thought about that already now,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen told the Women Speakers of Parliaments.

Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as well as Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader, also took part in the meetings in Brussels.

This is the second meeting of the Women Speakers of EU Parliaments in this format. The first one took place in April, almost two months after the beginning of the war in Ukraine. At the previous meeting, women EU leaders focused on the humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Ukrainian border, aid to people fleeing the war, and support for host countries.

Apart from this, Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen made an address today at the meeting with Stéphane Séjourné, President of Renew Europe Political Group, and members of the Group.

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel.+ 370  5 239 6030, mob. + 370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected], www.lrs.lt