During the first plenary session of the 10th term of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, a debate was held on the need for continued EU support for Ukraine. Joachim Brudziński, co-chair of the ECR Group, spoke on behalf of the group.
Joachim Brudziński recalled that more than two years have passed since Russia launched its barbaric war against Ukraine, and that Poland, in a manner unprecedented in the history of modern Europe, opened its borders to “genuine refugees.” “It is thanks to the determination of the then Law and Justice government, non-governmental organizations, and the Catholic Church—but above all, thanks to the openness of the hearts and homes of millions of Poles—that that ‘genuine refugees’ found a safe haven not in closed zones, but in the homes of ordinary Poles,” emphasized the PiS MEP.
The Polish politician stated that “we face a choice: do we merely want this barbaric war to end, or do we care about Ukraine’s victory?” and added that only the latter option can result in Putin’s defeat. “Ukraine must win this war,” the PiS MEP urged, explaining that a Ukrainian defeat would lead to “a battle-hardened and war-hungry Russian army reaching our borders.” He went on to explain that if this were to happen, Russia would immediately escalate the threat by deploying nuclear weapons and troops directly along our borders, and as a result, it would mobilize its forces, consolidate its control, and prepare for another invasion. He stated that there are many possibilities and it could take months or years, but it could also begin with a hybrid attack or a full-scale invasion. “Regardless of whether the Russian army moves west or south, we must all make it clear that allowing Russia to threaten us in this way is completely unacceptable. Especially since we have the necessary tools to stop this aggressor,” Joachim Brudziński pointed out.
The politician stressed that “there can be no peace without justice” and therefore Russia must be held accountable for its crimes. “We must ensure that Putin and his circle of war criminals are held accountable,” urged the PiS MEP, adding that it is equally urgent to use all available tools to seize Russian assets across Europe. He also noted that Ukraine’s destroyed infrastructure and economy should be rebuilt at Russia’s expense. He also noted that the European Union cannot open its doors wide, for example, to the influx of Russian fertilizers into EU markets—which Russia uses to raise capital because it cannot currently sell even natural gas.
“We can no longer afford to be naive about Russian ambitions, which have been clearly articulated by Russian leaders and are deeply rooted in their strategic doctrine,” he argued. He explained that Russia starts a war in the countries of the former Soviet Union every six years and continues to use its military, intelligence services, and mercenary groups to crush democratic movements and weaken developing countries around the world.
