Ukrainians show EU citizens what it means to be European

Following the EPP Group Fact-Finding Mission to Ukraine, the Group's Vice-Chairwoman, Sandra Kalniete, made the following statement:

"We went to Kiev to support the pro-European parties in Ukraine and to express our explicit support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea. Borders shifted by force will never be recognised. Democratic values must never be compromised."

"It is the ordinary people who are affected by the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. According to the authorities, there are more than 400 000 internally-displaced persons at the moment. Ukraine is cut off from its coal resources, taken by the pro-Russian forces in the East, and is forced to source heating power externally. Facing into winter, a humanitarian crisis is possible."

"We call on Russia to withdraw its forces from the whole territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, and to return all prisoners of war. The case of abducted pilot Nadiya Savchenko is alarming and we are concerned about her health and the deprivation of her basic rights. We are concerned about increasing political repression against Crimean Tatars."

"The European Parliament will decide next week on the winner of the prestigious Sakharov Prize. It was EPP Group members who proposed that the best nominee would be Euromaidan. In many ways, Ukrainians show the EU citizens what it means to be European," concluded Mrs Kalniete.

Members of the EPP Group Fact-Finding mission to Ukraine included Sandra Kalniete, Vice-Chair in charge of Eastern European States and Enlargement, Jaromír Štĕtina, Vice-Chair of the subcommittee for Security and Defence, and Peter Jahr, member of the European Parliament's Ukraine delegation.