Mr. Andriy Borysovych Yermak:

Thank you, Chair. I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak to you today. It is three months now since we have been resisting one of the largest armies in the world. I am sure members are among those Europeans who do not need any explanation as to why we are doing this and what it is for. They simply know. If by any chance they do not, then they can ask Bono, the Edge, and U2. They played in the Ukrainian subway while above ground there was an air raid alarm. They saw everything for themselves. Bono said we are fighting not only for our freedom, but also for your freedom. He made a lot of sense when he said that. It is indeed true.

Today we are without exaggeration the shield for Europe. Ireland was one of the first countries to reach out to help Ukraine in the very first hours of the fully-fledged Russian aggression against Ukraine. We are grateful to the people and the Government of Ireland for their support, for the immediate cancellation of visas and for establishing the most favourable conditions for refugees from Ukraine. We are also grateful for the Republic of Ireland's consistent position throughout eight years of Russian aggression against Ukraine, in confirming, and in being consistent with, international norms and law and not acknowledging the annexation and illegal invasion of Ukrainian territories.

During these eight years, the world did not succeed in stopping Russia. The world did not manage to hold back Russia's imperial ambitions. Unpunishable and unpunished evil always becomes stronger.

Ukraine has not submitted to Russia. For more than three months now, Ukraine has resisted and the Kremlin cannot subdue us. As a result, it has started its destruction. It has started destroying the industrial and economic potential of our country. Regular missile and air strikes shell communities and settlements and critical infrastructure sites to make sure it achieves this goal. The looting of the occupied territories is large-scale and systemic in its character. This shows that looting has become the basis of the state policy of the Russian Federation in these territories. In the southern district, which is under the control of the Russian Federation, it has taken more than one hundred thousand tonnes of Ukrainian wheat while at the same time it is not providing the green corridors for the export of our agricultural products. This is obviously blackmail. This is outright blackmail of the international community by creating a shortage and deficit of food. Ukraine was the guarantor of food security and safety for 400 million people in the world before this.

This is the fourth type of blackmail that the Kremlin has used during its aggression against Ukraine. Previously, the European Union has been threatened with energy restrictions, a possible emergency at one of the captured nuclear power plants and with strikes using nuclear weapons. We do not know what else the Kremlin will do as it strives to gain superiority. We do not know for sure and this is why Russia needs to be stopped.

It is difficult for us now. Some 5 million people have fled our country because of the warfare and hostilities. The same number - 5 million people - are internally displaced in Ukraine. Thousands of peaceful citizens have died during the Russian aggression. The war has taken 35% of Ukrainian GDP. We have lost more than 200 plants and factories and our direct loses surmount $600 billion.

Despite this, Ukraine continues to defend itself. In the east and in the south, the heavy fighting is still going on. We have to win. Otherwise, Ukraine will simply disappear. Our nation and our country will continue to exist as long as we win. Our victory will depend on the amount of assistance provided by the international community to Ukraine. I mean any assistance - military, technical, political, financial and humanitarian. Extremely important support for Ukraine in pushing back against the aggression is the strengthening sanctions and continuing sanction pressure against Russia. Therefore, strengthening sanction pressure is extremely important.

I would like to highlight to members an initiative established by President Zelenskyy. I am honoured to spearhead a group of international experts and together with a former US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, this group has already presented two documents, namely, the sanction strengthening plan and the sanction roadmap. These include very detailed recommendations and guidelines regarding the co-ordination and agreed steps regarding the sanctions.

I am glad to state that certain recommendations have already been implemented.

Ukraine welcomes the movement of the European Union towards the introduction of the sixth sanction package. The key element in this sixth package is a full embargo on Russian oil. This has to be done as soon as possible because energy and energy resources contribute the lion's share of the revenues of the Russian budget. Therefore, by purchasing oil, Europe is funding the Russian military machine. The European Union has responded to the Russian aggression by gradually increasing the sanctions and the supplies of weapons to Ukraine. This is taking too long and is inefficient. We are proposing to change the approach. We should do something the Russians are not expecting us to do. We should introduce a massive, large-scale sanction blow while at the same time increase as much as possible the supplies of heavy weaponry to the Ukrainian military. This will not only help rescue and save thousands of lives, but it will also allow us to avoid the lengthy and long-term war that Russia is already getting ready for. We are asking members to send this message and to communicate to partners in the European Parliament how important such a step would be. We would also be grateful for political and any other support and assistance and for receiving weapons that Ukraine needs so badly.

Of not least importance is the continuation of the sanction pressure on Russia. This is one of the safeguards against further attempts of aggression against Ukraine and will also provide an additional mechanism of security guarantees. The working group for this purpose, which I am spearheading with the former Secretary General of NATO, Anders Rasmussen, is already working on developing possible ways of putting together such mechanisms. We would be very happy to see representatives of Ireland in that group. Ireland is a country with a very rich experience of peacekeeping operations.

I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate Ireland on beginning its presidency of the Committee of Ministers in the Council of Europe. I would also like to propose including on the committee's agenda the question of member states' compliance with their commitments to, and obligations as regards, a common sanction policy as well investigation of the war crimes of the Russian military.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Ireland is a technological and financial hub of Europe. Sometimes multinational corporations try to do their business as usual as long as they can. As regards Russia, however, business as usual in this case is simply facilitating the aggression. It does not matter what the business is about. Moscow has continually demonstrated its ability to use the elements of hybrid war even in its co-operation in the humanitarian area. We should not forget that this always ends with the provoking civil and citizen conflicts, undercover operations and political killings.

When we ask for support; we are not talking about charity. This is an investment. This is an investment in a common European security, in a common European future. For these reasons, among others, Ukraine is considering prospective membership of the European Union. Ukraine has paid a big price for its choice.

Ukraine has paid a big price for its choice and continues to pay for it. Every vote in favour of Ukraine and the support counts. That is why I would like to ask all those present today to do whatever it takes to help Ukraine implement its European perspective as soon as possible.

We hear continually that one of the barriers to Ukraine joining the EU is corruption. We have to be honest. In terms of the European Union, the corruption, which is nourished by Russia, really contributed and became a stumbling stone to this question. We have to put an end to it. We were enraptured by what Irish fishermen did when they protected Ireland's exclusive economic zone from the drills of the Russian fleet. This was a witty and beautiful step and I am sure that this famous talent of the Irish people will help Ukrainians a lot as well.

Today and at the end of the war we will rebuild our green country. I bet Johnny Cash could find "Forty Shades of Green" in Ukraine.

Our government has already been working to put the U-24 recovery plan in place. Ukraine's recovery is based on two main principles: regional and parametric. The regional approach or principle is about partners helping Ukraine in rebuilding and reviving a certain region, city or community. A parametric approach or principle is about rebuilding according to the contemporary parameters and standards of the European Union. We suggest and propose to Ireland that it takes part in this programme. Following on from the invitation of President Zelenskyy, I would like to also invite Ireland to help us in building and revitalising some of this.

We have a broad spectrum of possible areas of co-operation starting with agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, the food sector, machine building, services - you name it. I would like to emphasise the IT sector, in particular. Even before the war, Ukraine introduced a ground-breaking and a revolutionary in nature taxation regime, which is called Diia City. It is still very efficient and operational even in the current circumstances.

Our future security will depend among other things on the ability to adapt and introduce new technology such as artificial intelligence and automatic management cyber protection. Ukraine could successfully co-operate with Ireland as it is a highly technological country in these particular areas. As is said in Ireland, success is about getting up one time more than you fall down. This is what we need to do. Please help us to do so. I am sure members will see for themselves that Ukraine will be grateful and will pay back in kindness. I thank members very much for their attention. We are ready to answer questions.