Speaker Hoyle hails Ukraine for continuing parliamentary business in a warzone
16 March 2022
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament urged his counterparts in the G7 to push for an immediate embargo on Russian oil and gas.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, President of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, said current sanctions imposed by the West were not enough – and only an embargo on Russian energy would have an effect.
Mr Stefanchuk made the comments during an extraordinary meeting of the G7 Speakers to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told Mr Stefanchuk the British people were "in awe" at the way Ukrainians were standing up to their Russian aggressors.
"Mr Speaker, how you are conducting Parliament is absolutely amazing - what a challenge that has been," Sir Lindsay said.
"Your president - standing up for the people - such bravery has not been seen for many generations.
"We are in awe of the way you are fighting the Russians. They have lost - and we have got to make sure they understand that they have lost."
During his virtual address, Mr Stefanchuk accused the Russian invaders of being "war criminals," who have targeted maternity hospitals, "peaceful people, elderly people, women, children and people who are not yet in the world."
"Classic diplomacy has been unsuccessful, and the club of gentlemen is no longer the appropriate approach," he said.
"I want to thank you for the sanctions, but they are not sufficient. We need an embargo on energy."
He also called on his European counterparts to allow Ukraine to join the EU.
The hour-long meeting – hosted by Karin Goring-Eckardt, Vice President of the German Bundestag - resulted in a joint Declaration by the Speakers and Presidents of Parliament of the G7 on the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.
This was signed by G7 attendees, including Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, along with Speakers and Presidents from Parliaments in Italy, Japan, Canada, France and the President of the European Parliament.