On November 4, the 19th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (PAC) began in Brussels. It is co-chaired by Vadym Halaichuk, a Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the PAC, and Villy Søvndal, Deputy Head of the European delegation to the PAC.
Participants include Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the Ukrainian Government and local authorities, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations in Ukraine and the EU.
During a panel discussion titled "EU Support and Bilateral Relations in the Context of Countering Russian Military Aggression against Ukraine," Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis delivered remotely remarks. He expressed gratitude to the European Parliament, EU institutions, and member states for their consistent political, military, and financial support for Ukraine.
Yevhen Perebyinis briefed the participants on the situation at the front, emphasizing that, having failed to achieve its objectives on the battlefield, Russia is intensifying terror against the civilian population—notably by once again attempting to use winter as a weapon through systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace, as well as its support for a peace process facilitated by the United States. At the same time, he emphasized that Europe must play a key role in this process, as peace in Ukraine is a prerequisite for peace and stability across the entire European continent.
Outlining priorities for future cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in countering Russian aggression, Yevhen Perebyinis stressed the need to maintain Ukraine’s financial stability—notably through the implementation of the Ukraine Support Loan mechanism and the continued use of immobilized Russian assets—as well as to strengthen air defense, specifically by meeting the need for interceptors for Patriot systems as part of a winter military aid package.
The Deputy Minister paid particular attention to the situation in Ukraine’s energy sector. He urged partners to provide urgent assistance—including air defense assets to protect energy infrastructure, power generation capacity, and essential equipment—and to make new contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.
Yevhen Perebyinis thanked the European Union for its sustained sanctions pressure on Russia and called for the adoption of a 22nd sanctions package as soon as possible. He stated that new restrictions should target the production chains for missiles and drones, the supply of alumina, Russia’s "shadow fleet," as well as the companies Rosatom and Roscosmos.
The Deputy Minister identified ensuring Russia’s accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine as a key priority. In this context, he emphasized the importance of ensuring the operation of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, with the participation of the European Union in particular. This will be a significant step toward holding all those responsible for initiating and waging the war against Ukraine accountable.
Yevhen Perebyinis also specifically addressed the European Commission’s report on EU enlargement, released on November 4, and noted the positive assessment of Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership. "The Commission’s report confirms that Ukraine continues to fulfill its European commitments, even amidst full-scale Russian aggression," Yevhen Perebyinis underscored.