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Member of parliament for Ukraine disappointed in Rutte’s speech: ‘Had expected more’

After British Prime Minister Johnson, Prime Minister Rutte was today the second foreign head of government to address the Ukrainian parliament since the war. The speech ended with a standing ovation. But news hour speaks a disappointed Ukrainian MP. Because although the prime minister expressed his support broadly, he kept his head down about possible EU membership.

“It is important that we seize every opportunity to advance cooperation between Ukraine and the EU,” Rutte said in his speech. “We need to work on recovery and reconstruction in such a way that it brings Ukraine closer to the EU.” This was followed by lukewarm applause, and Ukrainian MP Yevhenya Kravchuk understands that – she reacts deeply disappointed.

“I expected more, a clear signal is needed about joining the EU,” Kravchuk said. “That is important for the Ukrainian people. It is crucial for our country to become a full member of the EU. We are currently defending European values, we have written our application with our own blood. If those values ​​mean anything to the Dutch, we hope for your support.”

Watch a summary of the speech below, the entire speech is here to look back:

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Rutte to Ukrainian parliament: ‘We admire your courage’

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Rutte promised to continue to support Ukraine militarily. Until now, the Netherlands sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, to follow soon also armored personnel carriers† But a promise from Rutte about a possible accelerated membership was not forthcoming. “I don’t know whether that is painful,” says Wouter Zweers, Europe expert at the Clingendael Institute. “It was to be expected. When Ukraine made the application in March, Rutte already said that he thinks it is more important to focus on military and humanitarian support.”

The reactions in the House of Representatives are mixed, also within the coalition, which the CDA and VVD are against. “We now also see with Poland and Hungary that the rule of law is something you have to support,” says CDA MP Agnes Mulder. “If that starts to wreak havoc, you will have a hard time in the EU. We have to handle that carefully.”

D66 and PvdA do think that Ukraine should be granted candidate membership status – even if it may take decades before the country can really become a member. For example, Serbia has been a candidate member for ten years and Turkey was even given this status in 1999. “It is a symbolic step”, says PvdA MP Kati Piri. “If those reforms are ever implemented, we’ll be ready to welcome you into the European family.”

But for the time being there is no commitment from the Dutch government. “What Rutte said: Ukraine is part of the family,” says VVD MP Ruben Brekelmans. “We need to look for ways to help Ukraine reform and move towards the EU. How that proceeds is something to be done in the coming months.”

Macron

Last March, Ukrainian President Zelensky sent an official application for EU membership to Brussels. In June, the member states have to deal with that. French President Macron last week came up with a sort of compromise: a new European ‘political community’, to which not only Ukraine but also countries such as Georgia and Moldova could become a member. Macron immediately said that a country does not automatically receive EU membership.

“The Netherlands and France are both countries that are not keen on admitting new member states quickly,” says Zweers. “That has to do with the fact that in recent years we have seen that democracy, the rule of law and media freedom have deteriorated in a number of European Member States. That has a really negative effect on the functioning of the European Union.”

These are considerations that MP Kravchuk can do little with. Macron’s plan is a big disappointment. We have to join fully. It’s now or never, otherwise Putin will never stop. Your cities will not be bombed, but mine will. It is my daughter who cannot go to school. “

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