This afternoon, 25 February 2022, the president of Liberal International, Dr Hakima El Haité, had the honour of welcoming Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olga Stefanishyna, to address a meeting of the LI bureau. In an emotional testimony from Kyiv, with Russian tanks looming on the city borders, Ms Stefanishyna expressed her gratitude to world leaders for what they are doing. But more is needed.
‘Sanctions are really strong…but sanctions are not the instrument to stop the military aggression against Ukraine. I don’t know, in 24 hours, if we will be in a position to have this discussion.’ – Ms Stefanishyna
In this short video the deputy prime minister urged liberal democratic nations to assist in helping Ukrainian forces repel Putin’s siege.
Today, people are dying and Vladimir Putin is terrifyingly close to draping a new Iron Curtain across the borders of Europe. The Rubicon is crossed and our world order has changed irrevocably.
President El Haité, thanked the LI Membership for all they have done so far and urged them to pledge more support – standing shoulder to shoulder – with the brave Ukrainians fighting for their freedom across their country.
In a statement published on 24 February 2022, the Bureau of Liberal International stated their outrage, condemning in the strongest possible terms Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that morning.
“Ukraine is totemic: only by uniting and proving that our resolve to support Ukraine remains unshakable will Putin know that his bullying aggression will not win.”
Read the LI Bureau statement on Vladimir Putin’s unconscionable invasion of Ukraine here
