Support for European Integration and Strengthening Sanctions Against Russia: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Roberta Metsola

• Home
• News
• Current events

[Link]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. This is her fourth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

The Head of State thanked Roberta Metsola and the European Parliament for their consistent support of Ukraine, its independence, sovereignty, and people.

[Link]

"We share the same understanding of the situation today: defending Ukraine is defending Europe, and helping Ukraine is helping Europe," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President of the European Parliament emphasized the importance of further strengthening support for Ukraine.

"Together, we can prove to Russia that their actions will not go unanswered, and together we will do this to ensure deterrence and peace," Roberta Metsola stated.

During the meeting, key matters of engagement between Ukraine and the European institutions were discussed. The Head of State stressed that Ukraine expects the first negotiation cluster to open as soon as possible and anticipates unanimous support for this decision from all EU member states.

"We are fulfilling our promises, and on our part, we very much expect that the European Union and European leaders will do their part - specifically regarding the clusters," the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also highlighted the opening of the European Parliament Office in Ukraine, which will strengthen coordination between the Verkhovna Rada and the European Parliament.

[Link]

"The European Parliament is absolutely clear: your future is Europe, and this is part of the necessary security guarantees that your country needs, but also that Europe needs," Roberta Metsola noted.

A particular focus was on strengthening sanctions against Russia. The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine expects the adoption of the EU's 19th sanctions package and anticipates that it will target Russian energy resources and the infrastructure for their trade, the banking sector, and sanctions-evasion schemes. Additionally, discussions included ways to make Slovakia's and Hungary's positions more aligned with the European stance.

"We are also counting on corresponding sanction measures from the United States. Putin must feel that his intention to continue the war, to continue strikes, and, in particular, to transfer destabilizing activity to countries like Poland or Romania - all of this will mean pain for Russia," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Roberta Metsola noted that the European Parliament will continue to weaken Russia's war machine through sanctions mechanisms. According to her, it is important to stop using Russian energy resources and to strengthen restrictions on the shadow fleet.

The sides also discussed the use of Russian assets to support defense against Russian aggression and Ukraine's reconstruction, assistance in building shelters for schools, kindergartens, universities, and hospitals, and backing for the program providing free meals to all Ukrainian schoolchildren.

ph	Meeting between the President of Ukraine and the President of the European Parliament 17 September 2025 - 18:14