The Ukrainian delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine took an active part in the 71st Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which took place in Slovenia from October 10 to 13.
This session became a landmark event for Ukraine and the entire European continent: parliamentarians from NATO member states called for decisive measures to protect the Alliance’s eastern borders from Russian aggression, reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in its struggle against the enemy, and expressed their intention to increase investment in transatlantic security.
The Assembly declared its solidarity with Ukraine and the necessity of achieving a just and lasting peace. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly also cautioned against a hasty peace settlement in Ukraine that could undermine sovereignty and embolden the aggressor (Resolution 502).
This global event once again demonstrated the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, which the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine actively pursues. Participation in international forums and meetings with delegations from other countries helps strengthen international support for Ukraine, influence political decision-making, and reinforce the security of our state and all of Europe.
First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko stated that during the session, the Ukrainian delegation discussed ways to enhance cooperation and support for Ukraine with colleagues from other participating countries.
According to him, during the meeting with the delegation of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Ukrainian side expressed gratitude to the Riksdag and the Government of Sweden for their steadfast and comprehensive support for Ukraine — military, political, financial, and humanitarian.
“As members of parliament, we know how much work and leadership it takes to reach broad political consensus — from committee discussions to plenary debates. We are grateful to all Swedish parties that have united around the shared goal of defending freedom and peace in Europe,” noted Oleksandr Korniyenko.
A meeting was also held with representatives of the United Kingdom, during which Ukrainian parliamentarians provided detailed information on the consequences of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“We emphasized that the enemy seeks to cause a blackout across our country. Therefore, support for Ukraine’s energy sector and strengthening military assistance to protect against air attacks are extremely important for us now. We also discussed further defense cooperation. We are deeply grateful to the United Kingdom and its people for their substantial assistance to Ukraine,” said the First Deputy Speaker.
The Ukrainian parliamentary delegation also held a meeting with the delegation of Canada, expressing sincere gratitude for the consistent support of the Ukrainian people amid Russia’s full-scale armed aggression.
“We value Canada’s long-term military support program and hope that the government and parliament will adopt a new financial and military assistance package in 2026. We emphasized the need to strengthen defense assistance to protect Ukraine’s airspace,” said Oleksandr Korniyenko.
During a substantive dialogue with NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Marcos Perestrello, the parties discussed the results of the activities of the Ukraine–NATO Interparliamentary Council and possible ways to improve its work, including new formats.
“We expect that one of the upcoming meetings will take place in Ukraine. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly and UNIC are communities built on trust, shared values, and shared responsibility. Cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has become a strong bridge connecting our democratic institutions. It is not only about dialogue — it is about action, responsibility, and resilience in the face of aggression,” summarized Oleksandr Korniyenko.
The Head of Ukraine’s Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Yehor Cherniev, reported that the Assembly had called on member governments to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons and to lift restrictions on their use.
“In its resolution, the Assembly calls for expanding support for Ukraine so that it can not only defend itself but also liberate occupied territories. It emphasizes that Ukraine must have the right to strike legitimate military targets on Russian territory using Western weapons,” Cherniev stressed.
Furthermore, according to him, the Assembly called for providing Ukraine with more air defense systems, counter-drone and electronic warfare equipment, aircraft, armored vehicles, and intelligence information. Importantly, the resolution also calls for integrating Ukraine’s defense sector with NATO initiatives and developing joint arms production. It separately demands stronger sanctions against Russia and intensified efforts to hold it accountable, including through the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine under the framework of the Council of Europe.
The head of the delegation also noted the Assembly’s position on using Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
“Although the NATO PA resolutions are advisory, they almost always precede real political decisions in the West within six to twelve months. They often lay the groundwork for further government action in NATO countries. Thus, our delegation has fulfilled its tasks by achieving key formulations important to us — we now have a strong resolution and expect action from Western governments,” he concluded.
During the NATO PA session, Roman Hryshchuk, member of Ukraine’s Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, raised the issue of Russia’s brutal treatment of prisoners of war.
“Ukrainian POWs and civilians return from captivity with severe physical and psychological trauma after torture. Unfortunately, many of our people do not survive these tortures,” he said, emphasizing that Russia has withdrawn from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. Ukraine calls for the condemnation of such practices and for international observers to be granted access to detention facilities.
In turn, following meetings with European parliamentarians, Oleksii Zhmerenetskyi, another member of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO PA, emphasized current European security issues — from countering Russia’s sabotage operations, including recruitment of agents through social networks, to protecting undersea internet cables and other critical infrastructure from attacks. Among the key agenda items were ensuring immediate protection against hostile UAVs and scaling up relevant technological capabilities. Particular attention was given to countering Russia’s information influence on European societies.
Halyna Mykhailiuk, member of the Ukrainian delegation, also underlined the importance of high-level interparliamentary cooperation. According to her, it is through continuous dialogue that Ukraine consolidates its partners and brings its victory closer. She highlighted, in particular, the productivity of meetings with parliamentarians from Germany, the Netherlands, and the European Parliament.
“Among the key topics were support for Ukraine’s energy resilience, deepening defense cooperation, development of joint production and financing of Ukraine’s defense industry. Particular attention was given to the PURL initiative, which provides for the delivery of Patriot systems and strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense, as well as coordination with partners from the United States and EU countries on further support,” Mykhailiuk said.
For Ukraine, NATO’s support in the fight for the freedom and security of Europe is of critical importance, emphasized Iryna Friz, deputy member of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO PA. At the same time, Ukraine itself holds strategic importance for NATO, as it possesses unique experience in conducting modern high-tech warfare using unmanned systems.
According to her, the fact that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s annual session focused on the Russian threat demonstrates the West’s awareness of the scale of risks facing all of Europe.
Ukraine expresses its deep gratitude to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly for its unwavering support and for consolidating international efforts to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
Background
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which brings together legislators from 32 member and partner countries, although institutionally separate from NATO, serves as an important bridge between the Alliance and national parliaments. It enhances transparency of NATO policies and promotes better understanding of the Alliance’s goals and missions among legislators and citizens.
Throughout 2025, the Assembly celebrates 70 years of parliamentary diplomacy.
The next session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will take place from May 29 to June 1, 2026, in Vilnius, Lithuania.