European Parliament chief pledges to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukraine

Roberta Metsola pledged to help Kyiv along what ‘may not be an easy road,’ but the ultimate decision will also lie with EU members.

Report informs, citing The Politico, that appearing via video link before the Rada, Metsola marked Ukraine’s first “Statehood Day” — a public holiday inaugurated last year to commemorate 30 years of independence from the Soviet Union.

“Today is symbolic not just for Ukraine and for Ukrainians, but for all of Europe,” Metsola said.

Metsola’s remarks came just over a month after the EU granted Ukraine candidate status — a key step toward membership. But Ukraine’s path to joining the 27-country bloc is still cloudy and likely to take years.

“Granting Ukraine candidate status on 23 June confirms our commitment to walking side-by-side towards your full membership into the EU,” Metsola said. “It may not be an easy road, but the European Parliament, your strongest advocate, is there for you to assist you on every step of the way.”

Earlier this week, the European Investment Bank also approved €1.59 billion in loans for Ukraine to help rebuild infrastructure and fund humanitarian aid.