The president of the European Parliament, Roberta METSOLA, gives her introductory remarks of solidarity following the invasion of Ukraine head of the Plenary session (7-10 March).

EU - Ukraine (T)

Strasbourg

plenary session

EU - Russia (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

keynote speech

Resumption of session and order of business: introductory statement by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, on solidarity following the invasion of Ukraine

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Good afternoon dear colleagues, we are here again as the shelling of Ukraine continues unabated. The price of Putin's illegal invasion can be measured in civilian casualties and the upending of the democratic world order.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Our outrage grows with every shell that is fired, as does the Ukrainian defiance and our people's solidarity. Our cities and our governments have put European values into practise by welcoming more than a million Ukrainians fleeing the Kremlin's tanks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, People have taken to the streets all around the globe, including in Russia, to condemn Putin's invasion. To tell the Kremlin aggressors to stop the killing. To demand freedom. To demand that the voices of Ukrainian children are no longer drowned out by the sound of Putin's bombs. Much of Putin's propaganda claims that we are somehow anti-Russian. Nothing is further from the truth.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We recognise the immense courage it takes to stand up. We know the Russia of Navalny, of Nemtsov, of Magnitsky, of the thousands jailed over the last days. And our message is this Putin does not equal Russia. Brave citizens of Russia, despite the threat of jail and the brutal crackdown, continue to stand up.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, They are the peacemakers. Handwritten placards with peace signs and anti-war slogans today are enough to merit people being detained. There are reports of more than 13.000 people in 147 Russian cities being held for speaking against the invasion. Only yesterday, 4500 people were detained. Russians standing up under the toughest of conditions, showing the world that the true face of Russia does not have to be Putin's.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Those people can face today up to 15 years in prison, according to the two laws brought into force in Russia on the 4th of March, criminalising not only those protesting against the war but also informing about the war, contrary to the official information given by the Russian authorities. Putin will find that the truth is not easily suppressed, and I want to express our solidarity with all peaceful anti invasion protesters in Russia and applaud their courage to stand up publicly.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So on behalf of the European Parliament, I call on the Russian authorities to free all those unjustly jailed to allow the freedom of expression. I call on Russian authorities to stop intimidating protesters and release immediately all those who are detained.