Open the door to Ukraine, keep the pressure on Russia
The European Parliament today adopted its report on Ukraine's progress towards EU membership, sending a clear message: Ukraine's future lies in the European Union, and Europe must stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Renew Europe call on Ukraine to accelerate the implementation of reforms, in particular the fight against corruption and the strengthening of the rule of law. Accession must remain merit-based - and reforms delivered under fire are the strongest proof of Ukraine's European commitment.
Petras Auštrevičius (Liberalų sąjūdis, Lithuania), Renew shadow rapporteur for Ukraine, said:
“Ukraine's integration into the EU offers guarantees of its sovereignty and endurance. Ultimately, it would significantly reinforce Europe's security. It is a mutually beneficial win-win situation. Negotiations on Ukraine's membership should begin as soon as possible, covering all six negotiation clusters, while maintaining high standards and ensuring compliance with all conditions. The recent tensions between Poland and Ukraine, rooted in complex historical grievances, must be resolved as soon as possible, while avoiding the rise of nationalism and historical hegemony. Europe’s strength lies in unity.”
Petras AuštrevičiusRenew Europe MEP, Lithuania, Liberalų Sąjūdis
Renew Europe also insists that Europe's military support must match its political promises. Russia's war of aggression is illegal, and any peace settlement must be just, lasting and decided by Ukraine - not imposed on it. That means more weapons delivered faster, stronger air defence to protect civilians, tougher sanctions strictly enforced until peace is fully implemented, and solid, binding security guarantees.
Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused: discussions on the use of immobilised Russian assets must continue, so that they support both Ukraine's defence and its reconstruction.
Ukraine must also be further anchored in Europe's security and defence architecture: its battle-tested defence industry should be integrated into Europe's defence industrial base, and its energy system - a prime target of Russian attacks - must be protected and further integrated into the EU energy market.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP, Germany), chair of the Committee on Security & Defence, said:
“Ukraines skies are Europes first line of defence. Every Russian drone and missile fired at Kyiv is also a test run for a future attack on us. And yet Europe still delivers protection in homeopathic doses. That must end.
Ukraine needs two things, and it needs them now: the shield and the sword. The shield means more Patriot and IRIS-T systems, more interceptors, delivered on a binding timeline, not announced at summits and lost in procurement afterwards. The sword means the ability to strike the launch sites, airfields and logistics from which Russia wages this terror against civilians. You do not stop a drone swarm by only catching drones, you stop it by hitting the archer, not just the arrows.
That is why I say clearly: countries that possess long-range precision systems must finally deliver them and that includes Germany with the Taurus. Every excuse not to has been overtaken by reality. Hesitation does not deescalate this war, it prolongs it. If we are serious that Ukraines future lies in the European Union, then we must be equally serious about making sure Ukraine survives the road there.”
Marie-Agnes Strack-ZimmermannRenew Europe MEP, Germany, Freie Demokratische Partei