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Posted On

31
January
2023

Ukraine needs heavy offensive weapons – Stefanchuk

KYIV. Jan 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine expects specific and effective steps from the civilized community, in particular, regarding the provision of heavy offensive weapons, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk has said.

"We need weapons, heavy offensive weapons. And I want to thank France for its leadership in forming and expanding an international coalition on this issue. You are saying, not in words, but in deeds, that Ukraine must win this war as soon as possible. French weapons on the front line are the best example of France being with Ukraine," the speaker said at a meeting with the leadership and members of the parliamentary committees on defense, foreign and European affairs of the National Assembly of the French Parliament and the France–Ukraine parliamentary friendship group.

According to the press service of the Ukrainian parliament, the head of the Verkhovna Rada called on the French parliament to recognize Russia as a terrorist state, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, and also to help bring the Russian Federation to justice for crimes committed in Ukraine and its international isolation.

In addition, he asked colleagues from France to support the Peace Formula of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky by possible patronage over one of its points.

At the same time, Stefanchuk thanked France for its leadership role in supporting Ukraine on its way to the European Union.

"The next step is important for us now – the opening of negotiations on full membership in the EU, where we also hope for a leading role for France. Your support is also very important on the way of Ukraine’s promotion to NATO, because today Ukrainians are fighting as a NATO army and are a shield to the Alliance countries on the front line," he said.

As reported, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk is to be on an official visit to the French Republic from January 30 to February 2.

The program of the visit provides for the speaker’s participation in the plenary sessions of the lower and upper chambers of the French Parliament.

In addition, a number of bilateral meetings are planned, including with the President of the French Republic, the Prime Minister of the French Republic, the heads of both chambers of the French Parliament – the National Assembly and the Senate, with the leadership and members of the parliamentary committees on defense, foreign and European affairs, the parliamentary friendship group France–Ukraine. The head of the Verkhovna Rada will also address his French colleagues at meetings of each of the chambers of the French Parliament.