On Europe’s Day, May 9, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, arrived on an unannounced visit to Kyiv. In a blitz interview with Ukrinform, the head of the EU’s legislative body told about her expectations of the upcoming EU elections, as well as thoughts of the Peace Summit in Switzerland and answered a question as regards Vladimir Putin’s legitimacy following the so-called “elections” in Russia.

WE’VE DONE A LOT TO SUPPORT UKRAINE BUT WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE

- You were the first Western politician who came to support Ukraine at the outset of the war. What do you see now? How has Ukraine changed? And also, Europe?

- I'm very happy to be back. When I was first here on the 1st of April 2022, the whole city was vacant, empty, and deserted. And I remember going from one place to another as a newcomer to Ukraine, wondering whether this is what the city normally looks like. Today, I'm here, and I see a very different city. I see a city that has suffered, continues to suffer after more than two years of an illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified war started by Russia against Ukraine. But I also see the spirit of Ukrainian people that continues to insist that this is their life. This is the city they love so much and that they will protect it with their values and also with their bare hands.

- Ukrainians are thankful to Europe and Europeans for support. But nowadays, it looks like this support came across some challenges. Some countries, it seems, are growing weary, and some, such as Slovakia, call for negotiations. Have you come to Kyiv to discuss the possibility of some kind of peace with Russia, or to encourage Ukraine’s resilience?

- I will just now, after this meeting with you, go to meet with President Zelensky. And we are currently preparing the Peace Summit that will take place in Switzerland in June. That Summit will be pivotal because we will discuss the 10-point peace plan. Peace for us is very clear: peace with dignity, peace with justice, peace with territorial sovereignty, and nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine on the table. That has been clear from the very, very beginning.

There are the three-pronged solutions, or situations we want to improve on or move towards: first of all, nuclear safety. I visited today a bombed power plant as Russia is clearly targeting critical infrastructure. Two: food security. If the whole world continues to depend on Ukraine we need to help Ukraine to feed the world. And that is a realization that this is becoming stronger and stronger as days go by. Three: in terms of financial, diplomatic, and military help, we've done a lot, but we need to do much more, and it is our responsibility in continuing to insist that Ukrainians are not fighting for Ukraine, but Ukrainians are fighting for Europe. Who knows who will be the target next?

I have not seen such weariness from the countries that have pledged their support from day 1. And I am emboldened, or very optimistic, when I see that each and every sanctions package has been adopted by each and every member state. So discussion with every single member state can show that you can manage, and I am grateful very much to the Ukrainians for having done this so successfully – that we are your partners and we will never let you go.

EP WILL CONTINUE TO HELP UKRAINE GET CLOSER TO EU MEMBERSHIP

- Future European elections will be the cornerstone of the EU's future. As you have visited many Member States, do you feel Europeans realize how critical the moment is?

- There was not one country that I visited that did not mention Ukraine to me. Both those countries that are neighboring your country and those that are farther away. First of all, you have Ukrainians in each and every city in the European Union, and you can be proud of their, I would say, ambassadorship in terms of how they push the cause and make sure we do not leave our sights away from what is happening here in Kyiv, in cities across around this country, with homes that have been destroyed, infrastructure that continues to be targeted.

The next EU elections would be crucial. They will take place between the 6th and the 9th of June, just one month from today, and I have no doubt that the support for Ukraine, continued by its leaders, will remain on the ballot paper. In the next European Parliament – although I will not speculate on the outcome –I am convinced that the constructive pro-European majority will continue to be together in order to continue helping Ukraine.

- How will the process of European elections be reflected in the enlargement process? In particular, as regards support for Ukraine’s accession?

- Enlargement requires the country that wants to enter to fulfill all the criteria. On the other hand, that all the member states recognize the fulfillment of those criteria. That is what me, as an elected representative of my citizens, can legitimately expect. And we would continue to legitimately expect as a parliament that each and every 27 heads of state and government will continue to go on the path of this.

Will it be easy? No. Will there be challenges? Of course, each country has its own path. But how could we look Ukrainians in the eye after we have told them that we will be with you every step of the way and then you reach the next step, and we don't. That for me would not be acceptable. So, step by step, I am cautiously optimistic, you have reached the milestones earlier than any other country has ever reached. And as a European Parliament, I can only but give the commitment that we will continue to help, together with the Verkhovna Rada for the legislative approximation of the laws, to come close to what is expected of a country to join the European Union. So, step by step, but each step needs to be taken, and it will.

- And now the final question: what is your stance on the legitimacy of Vladimir Putin as re-elected president of Russia, given the illegal elections organized in the temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine?

I see no legitimacy.

Ievgen Matiushenko

Photo: Oleksandr Bannyi