The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament called on EU Member States, the US, the UK and Canada to swiftly deliver on their pledges to provide Ukraine with modern battle tanks, while maintaining close coordination with allies for the provision of heavy weaponry, advanced air-defence systems, fighter jets and helicopters.

In resolution marking one year of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Renew Europe also called on the Council to adopt its tenth sanctions package by the end of February 2023 and to substantially broaden its scope. The EU must also strengthen the effectiveness of the sanctions already decided by blocking third countries’ attempts to circumvent these sanctions.

Moreover, Renew Europe reiterated their condemnation of the recent decision of the International Olympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in qualifications for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games under a neutral flag. This will only run counter to those countries’ multifaceted isolation and will be used by both regimes for propaganda purposes.

EU Member States and the international community must undertake a pressure campaign to influence the IOC to reverse this embarrassing decision and take action to prevent Russian and Belarusian participation in other sport, cultural and scientific events.

Speaking in the European Parliament, Malik Azmani MEP (VVD, NL), First Vice President of Renew Europe, said:

“On this sad anniversary, we need to show our determination. Let us expand the EU sanctions to the 6,000 Russian individuals listed by the Navalny Foundation. Let us hold Russia accountable through the tribunal for the crime of aggression in The Hague. And let us use the confiscated Russian funds to start rebuilding Ukraine as soon as possible.”

#Ukraine’s victory must be a priority for the West!

The West must support Ukraine with everything that will enable them to achieve victory, to shorten the war & the suffering it has caused

📽️ Watch the speech of @MalikAzmani
📰 Read the press release 👇https://t.co/CYbTTOnZeC pic.twitter.com/CxkjKmKal6

— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) February 15, 2023

Petras Auštrevičius MEP (Liberal Movement, LT), European Parliament shadow rapporteur on Ukraine, who led the negotiations on the resolution, added:

“Stopping an aggressive Russia means defeating it on the battlefield in Ukraine, providing the Ukrainians with everything that will enable them to achieve victory, to shorten the war and the suffering it has caused.”