During his speech at an emergency session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal has called for the exclusion of Russia from the Council of Europe and the closure of the sky over Ukraine. This is stated in the address of the Prime Minister.
“18 days of open war. Thousands of deaths. Almost 90 children have died. Thousands of Ukrainians are surrounded without food, water or heat. Destruction of hundreds of educational institutions. Dozens of hospitals are under fire. Nuclear power plants are on the verge of disaster.
And this is at the time when Russia is committed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to ensure the right to life and protect anyone from unlawful violence, " Shmygal said.
He reminded that Ukraine had asked not to return the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly since 2014.
"Today, the Russian delegation has itself suspended its work in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I am convinced that this only reflects Putin's desire to avoid punishment and limit thousands of complaints from Ukrainian citizens about all the crimes he and his accomplices have committed against Ukraine over the past eight years. But we all know that punishment for genocide and terrorism is inevitable. And we must be even tougher in our response. We demand a decision on the immediate expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe! Those who unequivocally support unprovoked and unjustified aggression have no place in the single European family, where human life is the highest value, " the Ukrainian Prime Minister said.
He called for joint efforts to protect Ukraine and Europe.
"It is necessary to stop aggression. Before the nuclear catastrophe happened. Before, the whole of Europe was on fire. That's why we demand - close the sky over Ukraine! Close the sky, for the sake of the lives of people who are on the territory of Ukraine, close the sky for the sake of European and world security, ”Shmygal summed up.
He also thanked neighboring Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Lithuania and other European countries for their temporary support to our women and children.