Nearly three years into Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and eleven years into Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their unwavering defence of their freedom and sovereignty have been nothing short of extraordinary. This unprovoked war of aggression, marked by widespread devastation, atrocities, and violations of international law, has not only targeted Ukraine’s territorial integrity and civilian population, but has also threatened the very principles of peace, democracy, and human dignity that underpin the global order.
The Allies’ unwavering support for Ukraine, through both military and non-military assistance, has been crucial in countering Russian advances and helping level the playing field for Ukraine in the face of a much larger and more heavily equipped aggressor.
We welcome the important decisions taken at the Washington Summit, including the establishment of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, taking forward the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre, and the announcement of a pledge of long-term security assistance for Ukraine with the stated intention of meeting a minimum baseline funding of EUR 40 billion in 2025. We also salute the Allied leaders’ statement that Ukraine’s path towards NATO membership is irreversible.
As Russia’s war of aggression continues, it is critical that NATO and the international community remain steadfast in their commitment to Ukraine. Ensuring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine is crucial for the preservation of a rules-based international order that rejects the use of force to alter borders and oppress free nations. Continued support – whether through military and economic aid, sanctions against Russia, or diplomatic efforts – remains essential to ensure Ukraine can secure a victory which restores peace and stability in Europe and beyond.
We note that, alongside the real and tragic war on the Ukrainian front, there is an ongoing global war of perceptions and of narratives. We witness the intensification of unhelpful arguments according to which Russia cannot be defeated in Ukraine and truce at any cost – de facto at Ukraine’s expense – is the only feasible solution. These narratives erode the credibility of the Euro-Atlantic community and create temptations not only for Russia, but also for North Korea, Iran and even China to escalate their aggressive revisionism.
We reaffirm our support for the Peace Formula as the most viable mechanism aimed at restoring comprehensive, just and lasting peace, security and stability for Ukraine and the entire Europe and we stress our readiness to participate actively in the implementation of this initiative.
We call on Allied leaders to adopt a “Peace through Strength” approach, and to send a clear signal to Putin that Ukraine’s democratic partners will not tire of supporting Ukraine and that his hopes of outlasting the West are futile. The Allies must remain faithful to the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”.
We call on Allies to double down on efforts to equip Ukraine to defend itself effectively in 2025, including through the provision of medium-range missiles, air defence systems and multi-role combat aircraft; as well as to bring Ukrainian defence capabilities fully up to NATO standards by 2028.
We are convinced that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is the most feasible and cost-efficient path to ensure comprehensive, just and lasting peace not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe. We call on Allies to do their utmost to build a consensus and invite Ukraine to join the Alliance. The Ukrainian people have an inalienable right to choose their strategic alliances, and Russia cannot have a veto in this matter.
We continue to call on the international community to implement initiatives to hold Russian forces and officials accountable for violations of human rights, war crimes, the crime of aggression and other breaches of international law.
We recognise the efforts of the Ukrainian government and parliament to deliver on the reform agenda, despite the challenges of the ongoing armed conflict. We call on Allied governments to continue and expand advisory and technical assistance for institutional reforms, particularly in the areas of governance, anti-corruption, and defence. We urge Ukrainian policymakers to prioritise the implementation of key reforms in critical areas such as defence procurement, military interoperability, and anti-corruption efforts to meet NATO membership requirements.
We welcome the Assembly’s increased practical and political support for Ukraine and its parliament, including by making full use of the Assembly’s special fund for Ukraine, upgrading the status of the Ukrainian delegation to “NATO Candidate”, as well as facilitating online exchanges of experience for members of the Ukraine’s defence committee with their counterparts in Allied parliaments. We welcome the finalisation of the first report of the UNIC by Rapporteur Yehor Cherniev, head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Assembly, which outlined Ukraine’s solid progress on reforms towards NATO membership.
As Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine enters its twelfth year and Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine its fourth year, the need for solidarity and continued assistance is greater than ever. Ukraine’s courage and determination are clear, but this country must not face this battle alone. NATO and the global community must stand united and resolute, for Ukraine's victory is not only Ukraine’s, but a victory for the values we all share.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is institutionally separate from NATO but serves as an essential link between NATO and the parliaments of the NATO nations. It provides greater transparency of NATO policies and fosters better understanding of the Alliance’s objectives and missions among legislators and citizens of the Alliance. The Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC) was created in 1998 to bring greater transparency to the implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Charter and to demonstrate parliamentary interest and involvement in cooperation between NATO and Ukraine. It has since become a wider forum where members can discuss any issues of mutual concern. UNIC has played a leading role in the Assembly’s response to Russia’s renewed invasion.
