Speaker of the Seimas in Kyiv: ‘Lithuania is willing to share the experience of European integration’

Press release, 10 November 2022 

 

The delegation led by Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, took part in the session of the Assembly of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. According to the Speaker of the Seimas, the renewed activities of the bilateral Parliamentary Assembly may become an important instrument for rendering political and practical parliamentary assistance to Ukraine that is fighting for freedom and seeking integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas. For more photos press HERE.

 

Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen also met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada. At the meeting, the Speaker of the Seimas stressed that parliamentary solidarity with and support to Ukraine were essential at the time when Russia had deliberately intensified shelling of cities and civilian residential areas, thus targeting civilian infrastructure.

 

‘I said at the meeting that Lithuania sees this as yet another proof of Russia’s war crimes and will seek punishment for the perpetrators. We and the EU partners are also working on the ninth package of sanctions, which would provide for additional restrictive measures against Russia. At the same time, we must tighten sanctions against Belarus, particularly after the reports on the establishment of a joint military task force deployed by Minsk and Moscow and on the preparation of Belarusian infrastructure for receiving more Russian troops,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said.

 

According to the Speaker of the Seimas, it is now important to keep up the momentum for getting the most out of the historic decision of granting an EU candidate status to Ukraine by hastening the opening of accession negotiations.

 

‘For this to happen as soon as possible, we must help Ukraine overcome the shortcomings pointed out by the European Commission. I have a dream of closing the negotiations during the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027. Moreover, the issue of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations needs to be addressed. Political decisions must go hand-in-hand with the new political reality. It cannot be ignored that Ukraine also protects NATO from the Russian aggression. The situation requires collective decisions and steps by the EU and NATO or even by the international community at large. Time and again, Lithuania pledges to spearhead the proposals and processes and continue setting an example to others by delivering bilateral assistance,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said.

 

The Speaker of the Seimas also visited the liberated territories of Ukraine, namely, Borodyanka, Bucha and Irpin.

 

This is already the second visit of Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen to Ukraine from the onset of the war. Previously, she visited the country on 24 March 2022, exactly a month into the invasion.

 

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