Key resolutions were adopted at the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, aimed at supporting Ukraine amidst its steadfast resistance against full-scale Russian aggression. This significant moment occurred on June 26, when PACE expressed solidarity with Ukraine, defending its independence and sovereignty.
During the session, three key resolutions were adopted, focusing on strengthening international law and supporting Ukraine’s cultural identity.
The first resolution emphasises the need to establish a special tribunal to prosecute crimes committed by Russian leaders during their invasion of Ukraine. This step is seen as a crucial legal instrument to hold those responsible accountable and uphold the rule of law.
The second resolution focuses on increasing sanctions pressure on Russian arms manufacturers and propaganda media supporting the conflict, as well as creating an international compensation mechanism for those affected by the military actions. This is aimed at minimising Russia’s economic and political support in the conflict.
The third resolution is dedicated to protecting Ukraine’s cultural identity from attempts to destroy it during wartime and peacetime. It condemns Russia’s efforts to undermine Ukrainian cultural identity, viewing it as a form of genocide. The resolution also calls on the international community to intensify efforts to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage and raise awareness of the cultural destruction caused by the war.
With the rise of the imperial ambitions of the Russian regime and its impact on Europe and globally, there is an increasingly clear need for urgent and substantial military assistance to Ukraine. The international community must provide Ukrainian forces with modern weaponry, air defence systems, armoured vehicles, and other necessary resources to successfully resist occupying forces and ensure the security not only of Ukraine but of all of Europe.
The resolutions adopted at the PACE summer session are an important step towards strengthening international security and supporting the international rule of law. PACE continues to express readiness to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and democracy, emphasizing the need for solidarity and action to counter Russian aggression.
The relevance of the Russian threat to Europe and the world is underlined by the initiative of Poland and the Baltic states to construct a defensive line on the borders with Russia and Belarus. In a corresponding letter sent to the European Union and discussed at the Brussels summit, leaders of these four countries emphasised the need to protect the 27 countries of the bloc, with a combined population of 450 million people. The initiative involves building a 700-kilometre defence line in cooperation with NATO, aimed at enhancing Europe’s defence capability and ensuring collective security in the face of an increasing threat from Russia. Europe continues actions to strengthen its borders and defence systems to protect against potential military threats from the Kremlin.