Roberta METSOLA, EP President, welcomes Denys SHYMAL, Prime Minister of Ukraine in the European Parliament. On this occasion, they inaugurate an exhibition on Russian war crimes at the Ukrainian Civil Society Hub in Station Europe, in Brussels. Extracts from the inauguration.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Brussels

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

Event at the Ukrainian hub in Station Europe: extracts from the inauguration in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Denys SHMYHAL, Ukrainian Prime Minister

Arrival of Ukrainian Prime Minister Deny SHMYHAL

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrii YERMAK, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Since February 24, Ukrainian law enforcement officers have reported over 40,000 crimes related to Russian aggression. More than 26,000 of them are war crimes. And this is only the data that we already know. Daily shellings of the peaceful neighbourhoods and mass murders, torture and rape, mass deportations to Russia. We still have incomplete pictures of Russian invaders crimes in the occupied territories.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, It is a pleasure for me to welcome you today to the European Parliament's Station Europe for the opening of the exhibition of Russian war crimes by the Pinchuk Art Centre. Our station Europe is a symbolical building. It bridges Europe to the house of European democracy. And since March, it has also been home to the Ukrainian civil society hub, a place where Ukrainians can meet and coordinate activities in support of Ukraine and in support of democracy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Prime Minister Shmyhal, as we spoke this morning, I want to assure you that the European Parliament will not turn a blind eye to these horrific acts on your country, on your people. We stand firmly with our Ukrainian friends and will do whatever it takes to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. This House will continue to be one of the biggest supporters for setting up a special international tribunal to hold Putin, Lukashenka, Russian political and military leaders, commanders and soldiers, every single perpetrator accountable for the acts of aggression.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We will bring these criminals to justice. For Ukraine. For Europe, Slava Ukraina.

SOUNDBITE (null), Denys SHMYHAL, Ukrainian Prime Minister,Thousands of tragedies. Thousands of cases of marauding, rape, mined bodies of the deceased. Russia keeps on shelling, commercial centres, public transport facilities, residential buildings, residential quarters. And it seems that the Russians are aiming at increasing the number of killed and injured and wounded due to the combat.

SOUNDBITE (UA), Denys SHMYHAL, Ukrainian Prime Minister, We need to establish mechanisms that will help us to investigate and prosecute the crimes of aggression committed by the Russian leadership against Ukraine. And therefore, it is important to set up a special international tribunal on investigation of the crime of aggression against Ukraine. It must provide for just and lawful punishment of all those who started this historic catastrophe and tragedy. 

SOUNDBITE (UA), Denys SHMYHAL, Ukrainian Prime Minister, We need to establish mechanisms that will help us to investigate and prosecute the crimes of aggression committed by the Russian leadership against Ukraine. And therefore, it is important to set up a special international tribunal on investigation of the crime of aggression against Ukraine. It must provide for just and lawful punishment of all those who started this historic catastrophe and tragedy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, We are working with the ICC. We are also open to discuss with you about a special tribunal to see what are the perspective and you know that there are also discussions with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. And of course, it is very important to try to use all the possible tools to have a real accountability, it is our goal for the next days, the next weeks, the next months, but also, if it's needed, the next years.