Europaudvalget 2021-22
EUU Alm.del Bilag 376
Offentligt
Madam Speaker of the Seimas, Ms Viktorija
Čmilytė-Nielsen,
I remember your visit to Kiev as one
of the first visits after the war broke out.
Mr President, Gitanas, my friend, you have been to Ukraine more than once and we have attained a
lot together. I am sure we will do even more!
Madam Prime Minister, Ms Ingrida
Šimonytė,
I am grateful to you for your visit yesterday.
Dear people of Lithuania,
Lithuanians,
I am grateful for the opportunity to address you today on behalf of all the people of Ukraine, who will
always remember your sincerity and willingness to help us at the most difficult time for our country.
You were among the first to help Ukraine. And you remain among those who are the most concerned
about peace and European security.
Russia’s full-scale
war launched against Ukraine has raised a strategic question for Europe: are the
values that have formed the foundation for the unification of nations on the European continent after
the Second World War still alive? Or have these values already played their role and can become
exhibits in museums for tourists? Have they become only a part of the European historical heritage
stocked somewhere in the halls of ancient palaces and not what defines our real life? Unfortunately,
there is no common answer to this question for all Europeans. It is the common answer, however, that
the future of Europe depends on.
In the liberated territories of Ukraine, we continue registering and investigating war crimes committed
by the Russian Federation. We continue finding new graves of mass killings almost every day. We
are collecting evidence. Thousands and thousands of victims. Hundreds of cases of cruel torture. We
continue finding corpses in manholes and basements. Mutilated bodies, with bound hands. There are
villages
–
once quite large
–
left deserted. Hundreds of children have become orphans. At least
hundreds, because we do not know the exact number of victims yet. Hundreds of cases of rape have
been registered, including rape of underage girls, very young children and even a baby! It is gruesome
even to talk about it. But it is true. This happened.
The perpetrator has already been identified as Bychkov from Pskov, a paratrooper, or a special service
agent. He sent his videos to his friends, including a video of what he did to the baby, a video of the
abuse!
So much about the Russian army.
This is the children’s
defender. This says it all about this
‘special
operation’ planned in Moscow. This says it all about
the fight for the ‘Russian
world’. That is what
the Russian army and the Russian paratroopers from Pskov will be associated with from now on.
Rape of infants...
Russian propagandists must have already launched the justification campaign. They will apparently
say, as they always do, that it did not happen, and that even if it did, it was done to protect the
‘Russian-speaking’
population. But the propagandists will also be held liable for this crime, just as
for any such crimes, including the crime of educating such paratroopers, from Pskov. And those in
Europe who still fail to stop listening to the Russian propaganda on television will also have to
shoulder the responsibility.
 EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 376: Udtalelser fra en række parlamenter i EU vedr. situationen i Ukraine
I wonder how the Russian Minister of Defence and other authors of this
‘special
operation’ view its
results now, after such crimes, and after such a
‘heroic
deed’ by Russian soldier Bychkov. Might the
Russian Minister of Defence invite the paratroopers from Pskov to his home to protect his own
children and grandchildren? Would the Minister be willing to do so? I am sure he will fear answering.
Every location in Ukraine where the invaders had ravaged has now become the burial site, as the
bodies that could not be taken to the cemetery are now being buried by the roadsides, in courtyards,
squares, or garden plots. And all this happened within a few weeks, and for some locations within a
month of the Russian occupation of the territories around our capital city
–
in the Chernihiv and Sumy
regions, and in the North of Ukraine.
The whole world has memorised the name of the town of Bucha. But it is just one of the symbols of
the crimes committed by the Russian army. We can take any other town, any other village where they
have managed to establish themselves for some time... The invaders perpetrated the same crimes there
as they did in Bucha. And what about the East of our country, where the Russian troops are still
deployed? What about the South of the country? What about Mariupol and Volnovakha, which were
almost completely destroyed by the Russian army? The situation is undoubtedly even more gruesome
there.
Russian officials and state propagandists deny the crimes committed by their military. They say
everything was staged. They lie in response even to the obvious facts that have convinced everyone
else in the world. It is not surprising. They have always done so. However, they have changed their
tactics in the areas where the Russian army is still present. They no longer leave corpses on the streets.
They take them away, probably to burn. They massively deport people from the occupied territories.
Hundreds of thousands of people have already been deported. They are sent to filtration camps with
their documents taken away. These people undergo interrogation and humiliation. It is not known
how many of them have died. Many of the deported people have been sent to the regions of Russia
which they are forbidden to leave. Obviously, all this represents an attempt to get rid of witnesses to
Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Could the Russian military have acted and continue to act like this without orders from the Supreme
Command? No, it could not. Can it be that the Russian political leadership does not realise the
consequences of such orders? No, it cannot.
But this is all happening on the Ukrainian soil. Why? The answer is very cynical. The aggressors are
convinced of their impunity. They are sure that they will be able to make the world forget about it.
That Europe will forget about it. Or
that Europe’s
claims can simply be dismissed. Their logic is
simple. After all, everyone needs to trade. Everyone needs oil. Everyone needs gas. Everyone will be
eager to use the Russian territory for the transit of goods. Everyone will want to enjoy access to the
Russian market. That is what Moscow thinks.
Of course, if only everyone in Europe were as principled as you are in Lithuania and if only everyone
respected the European values just as much as you do, the Russian leadership could not entertain any
expectations of success. Probably this war would not have started at all. They would not have dared
to start it in the first place.
But what do we see instead? The EU debates the sixth
–
and I underline, the sixth
–
package of
sanctions against Russia as an aggressor in an unprecedented war since the Second World War, and
yet it is still uncertain whether oil will be subject to sanctions. Even after seeing the massacre in
Bucha and other cities, even knowing about the deportations of people, even seeing the deliberate
destruction of peaceful cities in Ukraine by Russian missiles and bombs, the EU Member States are
still hesitant about the date when they will at least significantly restrict, let alone stop, their purchases
of the Russian gas. Hundreds of European companies and banks have not only failed to stop operating
 EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 376: Udtalelser fra en række parlamenter i EU vedr. situationen i Ukraine
on the Russian market, but have instead openly demonstrated contempt in response to the
requirements to stop financing the Russian war machine by their taxes and excise duties. And all of
this is happening now, at a time when the blood of the victims is still fresh! What does this indicate?
If oil became subject of serious discussion only in the sixth package of sanctions, this means that the
world fails to understand the type of war Russia has prepared for. If there is still no clear decision on
the Russian gas, there can be no certainty that Europe has summoned the common will needed to put
an end to
Russia’s war crimes
and to force Russia to seek peace. If there are still large European
companies and banks that, even amidst the hostilities in Ukraine, do not consider it necessary to
withdraw from the Russian market, this means that all other companies will take it as a signal: wait
and see, and you will return to business as
usual, even if Russia’s behaviour
features no significant
change.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
People of Lithuania,
I am grateful to you for your leadership. For the fact that you were the first EU Member State to give
up Russia’s energy resources when
this was really needed.
I am grateful to you in person,
Mr Gitanas Nausėda,
for your important decision and for being the
first in line to provide us with real help. You provided us with weapons, including but not limited to
Stinger missiles. This was a historical manifestation of genuine leadership. After all, the people of
Lithuania understand better than anyone else how invaders can destroy freedom and at what cost
independence is restored. And the restoration of independence is what you have managed to
accomplish very well.
That is the kind of leadership the whole continent needs now. It is absolutely crucial for Europe to
preserve and uphold common values and to prove that the common values, which include freedom,
human rights, respect for territorial integrity, and prevention of predatory warfare, are genuinely alive
and not outdated or collecting dust in museums. Whenever the continent is primarily guided by selfish
interests, instead of values that should unite all, this always leads to disastrous consequences for the
whole of Europe. Discord, outbreaks of revanshism and wars are certainly not what Europeans need
in the 21st century. However, this is exactly what Russia is trying to bring back.
The Russian state must be held accountable for this war. Russian officials, military commanders and
all those responsible for war crimes must be held accountable. All organisers and perpetrators of the
deportation must be held accountable. Russia must be deprived of any opportunity to terrorise its
neighbours. It is not just about Ukraine.
Russia’s real plans are obvious to
all. Ukraine is just the
beginning. Next, it will be your country, other Baltic States, Moldova, Georgia, Poland, and countries
in Central Asia. Threats to Finland and Sweden have already been voiced by Moscow.
How will Europe manage
to stop Russia’s further expansion if it
even fails to put an end to what is
happening now in Ukraine?
I know Lithuania puts every effort to defend the European values and the freedom and security of
Europeans. It is critical that Europe also puts every effort into the cause. Every effort must be made
to ensure that the European response to the Russian aggression is truly strong and consolidated. We
cannot wait for the seventh, eighth or ninth package of sanctions against Russia before we make
decisions that are really powerful. Everything needs to be done now, already in the sixth sanctions
package. The European Union can do this. And it is crucial to include oil. It is necessary to impose
sanctions on Russian banks
–
all of them, not just part of them. Each Member State of the European
 EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 376: Udtalelser fra en række parlamenter i EU vedr. situationen i Ukraine
Union must finally be given specific deadlines in order to effectively stop, or at least significantly
limit, the consumption of Russian gas. Only then will the Russian leadership conclude that there is a
need to seek real peace and that the war is a disaster, first and foremost, for the aggressor itself.
We have already achieved a lot at the bilateral level. Real understanding. Real ally relations. They
are based not only on interests, but also on values, on our common historical path.
We will only strengthen the cooperation in the original format of the Lublin Triangle. This will
certainly serve as the foundation of the new security architecture in the Baltic and Black Sea region.
Ukraine is also grateful to all our friends in the European Union for launching the accelerated
procedure for Ukraine for obtaining the status of an EU candidate country. We are especially grateful
to the Republic of Lithuania. A successful conclusion of the procedure is also necessary in the near
future if we want to show Russia that the war will never put Europe to its knees.
When peace will finally come
–
and I am sure that it can happen very soon, provided everyone in
Europe is truly principled
–
we will be able to rebuild Ukraine quickly from scratch after this war. I
invite your society, your companies, and your country to join Ukraine’s
reconstruction project to
rebuild our state. This will be the most convincing argument for all those who still have their
misgivings about Europe and its future potential.
Life must defeat the war. Values must defeat the war. Europe must win the war.
I am grateful to each and every one of you! Thank you, the people of Lithuania! Glory to Ukraine!