Mr. President, your excellencies, members of the House of Commons, House of Lords, ladies and gentlemen. Well, I'm always pleased to see you, Mr. President, my friend. I've got to say, unfortunately, this is not a meeting to celebrate or to see peace. We should be happy and proud to see the president of the nation which has fought so bravely for its independence and freedom. We should be celebrating the courage and resolve of the people of Ukraine. Your country has showed incredible determination and ability in defending itself against the Russian aggression.
But we cannot celebrate because we cannot forget there is not yet a just and lasting peace. We cannot forget that just over four years ago, Russia launched its illegal invasion into the heart of Ukraine. We soon learned what happened in places like Bucha. I saw the devastation and the pain that was inflicted. I've got to say, to see that for myself last year at the Bucha summit of speakers, it was a strong reminder of why it is so important that the UK helps you seek justice by supporting the International Criminal Court and domestic war crimes that have happened in Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with you, remembering the civilians—the men, the women, the children—who were slaughtered there and elsewhere. The burning of bodies, the mutilation of bodies, the photos that we have seen of the atrocities that were carried out by Putin and his regime.
Nor have we forgotten the children taken from Ukraine, forcibly deported to Russia, and the struggle of their families to regain and reintegrate them. We are committed to helping you trace them through a pilot mechanism which has identified over 600 additional children since September. And now, there is another war in the Middle East, and we are concerned about the impact that war will have on energy supplies in this country and across the world. It is imperative that Russia does not profit from the world's need for energy, and the sanctions on Russian oil must remain in place. We are committed to exerting economic pressure on Russia.
We have not forgotten what Ukraine faces in the enemy attacks on your vital energy infrastructure. The UK has provided funding to the Energy Support Fund to enhance your ability to generate the power you need through repairs and infrastructure protection. I am proud that this country has stood with you, the Ukrainians, in their struggle, and will stand with you in the future, bound by the 100-year partnership and agreement signed in January 2025 and ratified by the Rada. It demonstrates the confidence in your long-term future and cements our role as your closest partners across pillars, including defense, science, energy, trade, and culture, and others. I am grateful that you, Mr. President, have repeatedly come to our parliament, as has your wife, your speaker, and many members of parliament, because it is not enough to read about things. The true understanding is when we get and hear your personal testimonies.
It is important that we do not lose focus on what is happening in Ukraine. It must not be driven out of our minds by other wars, and Ukraine must continue to get the support it needs to defend itself. Supporting Ukraine's resilience is essential to achieving just and lasting peace, but Ukraine's security is also the UK's security and Europe's security. In fighting for their country, they are fighting for our democracy, their sovereignty, and their identity. Only the people of Ukraine can determine their future. Choice does not happen at the barrel of a gun or by redrawing international borders by force.
It is important this brutal war ends and we support all the attempts to secure its ending. With justice and security of Ukraine as part of that, we jointly lead the nations of the coalition of the willing to ensure security and guarantees are in place in the event of a ceasefire. Across political parties in the United Kingdom, it is united in the support for Ukraine and its resilience in peace as well as war. Whether through extensive military support, seizing Russian assets, upholding sanction regimes, disrupting shadow fleets, loan guarantees, humanitarian assistance, reconstruction projects, or supporting your parliament to function, we are unwavering. One day, I hope to welcome you to a true celebration, a celebration of Ukraine which is free and democratic, no longer fighting for its survival. Until then, it is such an honor to welcome you here again and to hear directly from you. We stand with you. Slava Ukraini. Mr. President, the floor is yours.
