EU Parliament reaffirms support for Kyiv (and criticises Washington)

Brussels – The European Parliament confirms its support for aggressed Ukraine. In the aftermath of the agreement reached between Kyiv and Washington on the terms of a potential cease-fire, from Strasbourg comes yet another firm stance by MEPs, which, net of the (predictable) defection of the Italians, repeat the need to achieve a “just and lasting peace” to the ongoing conflict.

The non-binding resolution approved today (March 12) by the EU Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, reiterates that the EU must continue to stand by the former Soviet republic, which has been engaged for three years in resisting the Russian invasion. Brussels is called upon to provide Ukraine with solid security guarantees and, together with member states, must “significantly increase necessary assistance” to Kyiv.

The deputies stress that the Ukrainian leadership should not be pushed into accepting a “surrender” and that the Twenty-Seven must take part in defining the new continental security architecture, while supporting the creation of a “coalition of the willing” under the Franco-British umbrella to send an interposition force to Ukraine.

And did not spare any barbs for Donald Trump’s White House, criticising Washington for its overly lenient approach to Moscow—against which MPs are demanding stricter sanctions as well as the confiscation of frozen assets to repay Ukrainian reconstruction—and for “pressure” on European and Ukrainian allies. Finally, the chamber asked for Kyiv’s accession process to the twelve-star club to be accelerated.

Melonian Nicola Procaccini, co-chair of the Conservatives (ECR), had tried to delay the vote arguing that a strong stance by the chamber would risk undermining the delicate ongoing discussion between the United States and Russia on the conditions of the ceasefire that were agreed yesterday in Jeddah—on which the Kremlin has yet to officially comment—casting a negative light on the efforts of the star-studded administration.

But the parliament rejected his request, and thus the joint resolution submitted by EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew and Greens (which followed a debate last February) passed with 442 votes in favor, 98 against and 126 abstentions.

Among the Italians, the fractures were mainly in the PD (Nicola Zingaretti‘s head of delegation voted in dissent, Cecilia Strada and Marco Tarquinio abstained, and the remaining 18 supported the text), while FI gave a convincing “yes” vote, FdI abstained (apart from Sergio Berlato, who voted against) and, finally, Lega, M5s, and AVS compactly voted against the resolution (of the four Greens, only Ignazio Marino voted in favour, whereas for Sinistra italiana only Mimmo Lucano voted “no”).

An update to the text to include a reference to yesterday’s talks was, however, approved by MPs, with an oral amendment (tabled by popular German Michael Gahler) stating that the Parliament “welcomes the joint statement by Ukraine and the United States following their meeting” in Saudi Arabia and “recalls that a ceasefire can be an effective instrument of cessation of hostilities only if the aggressor fully adheres to it,” therefore hoping “that Russia will accept and follow it by ceasing all attacks on Ukrainian civilians, infrastructure, and territory.”