E.U. Parliament President discusses the war in Ukraine, E.U. membership and the E.U.’s role in the conflict

As the war in Ukraine rages on, the strength of the European Union has been renewed, creating a new sense of unity and purpose. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola joins Washington Post national security reporter Missy Ryan to discuss the war in Ukraine, E.U. membership and the E.U.’s role in the conflict.

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Highlights

“This is… something I would not have thought possible 5, 6, even 7 weeks that the European Union with such speed and such unanimity, such collective action come together to say that we should open our doors to Ukraine and to Moldova and with certain conditions also Georgia.” – Roberta Metsola (Video: Washington Post Live)

“What we should not forget is that this was an unprovoked invasion, a country’s territorial sovereignty being not only threatened but trampled on… Just as Putin did not stop in 2008, just as he did not stop in 2015, he will definitely not be stopping now… Rather than talk about concessions, the war will end when Ukraine says that the war has ended… I understand that we should do everything that we can for the war to end but not at any price because freedom and democracy are priceless.” – Roberta Metsola (Video: Washington Post Live)

“This is a huge ripple effect of this war, of Russia’s invasion, that is putting millions and millions of people on this planet at the risk of hunger, starvation and famine. This is not something that can be taken lightly, time is running out, there are countries that have less than a month’s supply for basic supplies such as grains and cereal, we’re already seeing huge shortages of sunflower oil… we have seen also the impossibility of fertilizer being delivered to countries that are desperately in need.” – Roberta Metsola (Video: Washington Post Live)

Roberta Metsola

President, European Parliament