One year of Russia’s war of aggression: Ukraine’s victory must be a priority for the West

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament calls on the EU Member States, the US, the UK and Canada to swiftly deliver on their pledge to provide Ukraine with modern battle tanks, while maintaining close coordination with Ukraine’s allies for the provision of heavy weaponry, advanced air-defence systems, fighter jets and helicopters.

In a resolution on one year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine, today debated in plenary, Renew Europe also calls on the Council to adopt its tenth sanctions package by the end of February 2023 and to substantially broaden the scope. Another essential measure is to strengthen the effectiveness of the sanctions already decided by blocking third countries’ attempts to circumvent these sanctions.

Our political group reiterates its condemnation of the recent decision of the International Olympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in qualifications for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games under a neutral flag. This will only run counter to those countries’ multifaceted isolation and will be used by both regimes for propaganda purposes.

EU Member States and international community must undertake a pressure campaign to influence the IOC to reverse this embarrassing decision for the international world of sports and to adopt similar position on any other sport, cultural or scientific events.

Speaking during today’s debate, MEP Malik Azmani (VVD, The Netherlands), First Vice President of Renew Europe, said:

“On this sad anniversary we need to show our determination. Let us expand the EU sanctions to the 6000 Russian individuals listed by the Navalny Foundation. Let us hold Russia accountable through the tribunal for the crime of aggression in The Hague. And let us use the confiscated Russian funds to start rebuilding Ukraine as soon as possible.”

Renew Europe MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuanian Liberal Movement), shadow rapporteur on Ukraine, who led the negotiations on the resolution, added:

“Stopping an aggressive Russia means defeating it on the battlefield in Ukraine, providing the Ukrainians with everything that will enable them to achieve victory, to shorten the war and the suffering it has caused.”