“This is not an act of altruism, but a matter of self-defence” – Metsola assures that Europe will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes

Defending against Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival and freedom, but also for European values. Kyiv is defending the ideas on which the democratic world is based, so the European Union must provide assistance.

For the EU, helping Ukraine is not an act of altruism, but a matter of its own freedom and security, stated the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday, September 23, Ukrinform reports.

“We understand that Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival but also for the same values and ideas that keep us together (the EU and the U.S. – Ed.) as global democratic communities. How we respond will be the litmus test of our political generation,” Metsola stressed.

The European politician emphasized that it is Europe’s duty to help Ukraine fight the invasion by the aggressor country, Russia, and to stand side by side with Ukraine as long as necessary. The EU stands for a democratic order in the world and clearly understands: if Putin had captured Ukraine, he would not have stopped and would have spread his aggression to other countries.

“His aggression would have continued, destroying the values and systems we have worked so long and hard to build. We know that the cost of inaction would have been much higher. We must not only talk about it, but also provide decisive support,” Metsola stressed.

The President of the European Parliament also added that the world cannot look away from Ukraine and must do everything possible to achieve de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East and break the cycle of violence.

“We will always promote peace, and it must be just – with dignity and freedom. We can only do this when we do it together,” Metsola concluded.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, The Times writes that the victory plan that Volodymyr Zelenskyy brought to the U.S. should provide Ukraine with long-term guarantees of support from the West. The President emphasizes that the plan needs urgent support from Joe Biden and other Western leaders so that Ukraine can start negotiations by the end of the year from an advantageous position.

obozrevatel.com