the Russian aggressor. Mr STEFANCHUK said the Parliamentary Assembly was the first international body to call for the exclusion of Russia from the Council of Europe for its serious violations of the Council of Europe’s Statute. Mr STEFANCHUK said they were all convinced that international justice had to prove its ability to punish the criminal and restore justice. The aggressor state, all criminals from the highest leadership to the common soldier, had to be held accountable for their crimes, as Ukrainians desperately needed justice. Mr STEFANCHUK said the world would also not be safe if the guilty escaped punishment. It was in this regard that the Parliamentary Assembly had been steadfast in its efforts to ensure accountability for those responsible. He noted that the Parliamentary Assembly was the first to call for the establishment of an ad hoc international tribunal and a comprehensive international reparations mechanism. He added that the Parliamentary Assembly was the first to call on its member States to recognise the Russian regime as a terrorist one. It also took another historic decision at its last session, recognising the forced deportation of Ukrainian children as a crime of genocide. Mr STEFANCHUK called on the Parliamentary Assembly to maintain and strengthen its future leadership role, setting a good example for other international bodies to follow. In this defining moment in European history, they had to confirm their European unity around their common values and their unwavering commitment to multilateralism based on international law. The 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe needed to have the ambition to set a forward-looking agenda for the Council of Europe, placing the interests, concerns and expectations of people at the heart of the organisation’s mission. He believed that in the coming days, the European leaders would unite and take a firm stand against the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Their collective commitment to the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity had to remain unshaken. Everyone realised that the world needed clear guarantees of a non-repetition of aggression instead of extensive discussions about peace, as the 10-point peace plan presented by Ukraine and its president Mr Volodymyr Zelenskyy was exactly aiming for. There was a clear action plan, and now was the time for its implementation. They expected that the Council of Europe would play its role and participate in the implementation of a peace formula in the areas where its mandate allowed. The establishment of a Register of Damages caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine was a historic decision that would allow them to begin the process of establishing justice, although this was just the first step to ensure that justice prevailed. He said that leaders of the Council of Europe member States should adopt a comprehensive approach to hold the Russian Federation accountable for its actions. They accepted that the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe would support the establishment of an ad hoc international tribunal and a comprehensive international compensation mechanism. The 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government also had to ensure that the Council of Europe strengthened its support for Ukraine, both immediately and after the end of the war of aggression. Well-functioning democratic institutions, respect for the rule of law, adherence to democratic standards, and greater European integration were essential for the democratic security of Ukraine and Europe. Mr STEFANCHUK concluded by wishing friends and the members in the room, a fruitful discussion. He invited them to send a clear message to the participants of the Summit, confirming their clear commitment to the Council of Europe’s fundamental principles, and calling for concrete actions to restore peace on their continent. Mr KOX, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, thanked Mr Ruslan STEFANCHUK, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, for his clear words to the Standing Committee and on the upcoming Summit.

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