Ms Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze:

It is important to understand that the values being defended are really important. It is not only about values. We are all being tested how serious we are about our principles, our beliefs and most basic things such as freedom and democracy.

As the committee members probably already understand, Russia is trying to erase us from the map of the world, as a nation and state. One of the major reasons it is trying to punish us is because we want to build our own country according to our own vision that would be democratic and, in the future, a fully-fledged member of the European Union and Euro-Atlantic community, and would have the possibility to develop according to the best practices which the free nations have been showing the world. Russia totally opposes our right to not only build a European future for Ukraine but also the right to live in this particular moment. That is why it is extremely important for us, for Ukrainian people, 93% of whom support the European integration path for Ukraine. More recently, there has been a clear signal from the EU in the decision to be taken in June to give us EU candidate status.

I wish to underline how grateful we are for Ireland's clear and dedicated stance on that matter. I take this opportunity to reach out to the members of the committee and ask them to do their utmost in talking to sceptical colleagues in other countries. Unfortunately, not everybody is on board at this moment. I ask them to try to persuade them that we should not be hiding behind legalities but should take this political decision already now because that is the inspiration for Ukrainian people, that we will have the possibility to transform our country in accordance with European-----