Stefanchuk spoke in the Parliament of Moldova

According to all criteria, Ukraine and Moldova should be in the European Union, said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, during a speech in the Parliament of Moldova.

This is reported by Ukrinform with a link to the Facebook of the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.

"Ukrainian people have historically been, are, and always will be a part of European civilization. Today, Ukrainians defend these civilizational values with weapons in their hands. This is an additional argument for Ukraine to be institutionally integrated into the European and Euro-Atlantic community," he said.

Stefanchuk noted that Ukraine and Moldova are walking together on this path.

"I am convinced that both Ukraine and Moldova should be in the European Union by all criteria. I am sure that the European project will not be complete and successful without Ukraine and Moldova," said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.

Stefanchuk also stated that only the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the removal of weapons from the territory of Ukraine will mean peace, everything else is just a pause that the enemy will use for the next attack.

"Although the brutal war continues, we dream every day of a comprehensive peace, not of freezing the situation on the battlefield. We understand that a ceasefire without the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and weapons from the entire territory of Ukraine will only create a temporary pause in the war. And it will certainly be used by the aggressor to restore and accumulate forces and for an even more powerful attack on our territory in the future. If we suddenly replace the ugly reality of war with another ugly reality of occupation and call it peace, we will not solve this problem. We will only deepen it, we will transfer this duty to the shoulders of our children and grandchildren," he said.

The head of the Verkhovna Rada emphasized that our country is currently offering the world a political way to do this - it is Zelensky's Peace Formula. It is gaining support and becoming global, and more and more countries understand the importance and urgency of this peace plan.

Stefanchuk added that for more than 20 months, Ukraine has been living in the realities of an aggressive full-scale war on the part of the Russian Federation. "At the beginning of the war, citizens of Ukraine with Moldovan roots also went to the front. One of them was a native of Chisinau and Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Matsievskyi, who, before his life was cut short by Russian bullets, shouted "Glory to Ukraine!" Eternal memory to him. Soldiers like him protect our freedom and yours at the front, they understand that this is our joint war, and our victory over the aggressor will be joint," he said.

The head of the Verkhovna Rada separately expressed his gratitude to the entire Moldovan people for their support and help, because many citizens were somehow involved in helping Ukraine and Ukrainians, "all this period we felt and continue to feel the support of friendly neighboring Moldova - a small country with a big heart."

He thanked the people of Moldova for opening their hearts and homes to tens of thousands of Ukrainian women and children fleeing Russian terror.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 01/12/2023