Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 11 February 2025 - Strasbourg

Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (debate)

  Pekka Toveri (PPE). – Mr President, dear colleagues, the war in Ukraine is now in a crucial phase. Ukraine is under great pressure, but Russia is not about to win this war. However, Putin seems to think so. Therefore, we need to act decisively to prove him wrong.

The Russian army is exhausted and its economy is weakening. Now it's time to support Ukraine by funding its defence industry, which is capable to produce material worth over EUR 20 billion annually, but it is currently funded only to 30 % of its capacity.

And we need to hit Russia's economy, for example, by stopping its shuttle fleet, which is used to fund this war and is threatening our seas with environmental catastrophe as we speak. These kind of actions are needed to force Russia to the negotiating table on Ukraine's terms, not on Putin's terms.

Ukraine needs peace and security against new Russian aggression. Here, those who worry about the money are selfish, those who talk about diplomacy don't know Russia. Russia respects only force and now it's time to use it. The time to act is now. Slava Ukraini!