The decision to open an antenna office, co-located with the EU Delegation, in Kyiv sends a strong political signal to Ukrainian authorities and citizens, reaffirming the European Parliament’s solidarity and partnership.
Addressing the Members of the Verkhovna Rada, President Metsola underlined: “Know that the European Parliament will remain firmly at your side, every step of the way, until peace is secured, until freedom is restored, and until Ukraine takes its rightful place in our European family. This is why I am here this week, to strengthen our cooperation even further. We are opening a permanent office of the European Parliament here in Kyiv, so that we are present on the ground, working alongside you every day. This was our commitment to you, and we have kept it. We are here with you and we are here to stay. And as we also say, ‘You will never walk alone.’”
A long-standing partnership
Ukraine is one of the European Union’s closest and most trusted partners, and the European Parliament has built over the years a unique and enduring relationship with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
When President Metsola and Chairman Stefanchuk signed the renewed Memorandum of Understanding between the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in November 2023, European Parliament leaders welcomed the strengthening of the multidimensional partnership first formalised in 2015, a crucial element in preparing Ukraine’s political institutions for EU integration. They confirmed the intention to establish a permanent European Parliament presence in Kyiv, further reinforcing ties with both the Verkhovna Rada and the Ukrainian people.
Since the onset of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Parliament has been leveraging its parliamentary diplomacy to reach out to counterparts across the world. The EP has adopted several solidarity measures to support Ukraine and strengthen cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada. After Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in June 2022, the Parliament intensified its cooperation with the Rada, focusing on capacity building and facilitating direct exchanges between parliamentary committees and their Ukrainian counterparts.
Unwavering support
Members reiterated in September 2025 their unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and stressed that any peaceful solution must respect the will of the Ukrainian people and not be imposed by any other international actor.
