European Parliament President Roberta
Metsola said Europe is standing up for the global democratic
order by supporting Ukraine after the Russian invasion in her
speech to the State of the Union 2022 conference at the European
University Institute in Florence on Friday.
"The events of the last months, with Russia's brutal, illegal,
medieval, invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the need for
Europe to create the tools and the processes that it needs to
lead in this new and uncertain world," she said.
"There is a pre-February 24th reality and a post-February 24th
reality.
"The world has changed. We must understand that the weight of
the global democratic order now rests more heavily than ever
before on Europe's shoulders. And we must be able to carry it.
"It is our whatever-it-takes moment. A moment that comes once in
a generation.
"A moment where we must understand that Europe is also on the
streets of Bucha, in the tunnels of Mariupol, in the cellars of
Irpin, on the shores of Snake Island.
"People being brutalised are looking to us for support, for hope
- even for survival. They understand that there is no
alternative to Europe".
Metsola said Russian President Vladimir Putin had underestimated
the EU's reaction when he ordered the invasion.
"Putin's grave mistake was assuming our differences were a
weakness; our defence of fundamental rights, a sign of
feebleness. He was wrong. In democracies like ours, these are
our strengths.
"They are the foundations of the next steps. They are our
legitimacy and they are our compass.
"This is why we have accelerated our moves towards building a
new Security and Defence Union.
"Why we must and we will disentangle our dependencies from the
Kremlin.
"Why we will end imports of oil and why we must follow through
with our policy of zero-gas from Russia.
"Why we will continue with sanctions and aid to Ukraine.
"Why we will and must rebuild Ukraine.
"Why we will care and welcome all those who flee Putin's bombs,
missiles and atrocities.
"And, this is why Ukraine will win. This is why Europe will be
ready for the next generation".
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