Stefanchuk met with King Felipe VI in Madrid
Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, met with King Felipe VI of Spain in Madrid. He thanked the monarch and the Spanish people for their support of Ukraine and emphasized that continued international assistance is important to Kyiv. The meeting took place during the 12th Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum, which is being held in Madrid.
During his visit to Madrid, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, met with King Felipe VI of Spain. The meeting took place during the opening of the 12th Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum. This year, the forum brought together representatives from 22 countries of the Ibero-American Community.
Stefanchuk thanked Felipe VI for his support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. He also conveyed greetings to the king from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “In Madrid, I met with King Felipe VI of Spain, who today took part in the opening of the 12th Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum. The forum brought together representatives from 22 countries of the Ibero-American Community. I thanked His Majesty for his support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. I conveyed greetings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. I emphasized the need to continue supporting Ukraine. Russia is continuing the war and its attacks on our cities, so international solidarity and concrete assistance remain critically important to us,” Stefanchuk noted.
Separately, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada spoke about the importance of international parliamentary forums. According to him, such meetings give Ukraine the opportunity to speak directly with representatives of other states about the war and its consequences. Stefanchuk also emphasized that support for Ukraine is not limited to providing aid to a specific country. He explained that it is also about upholding international law and shared democratic principles.
The 12th Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum is taking place in Madrid on October 1–2. Among the main topics of the meeting are artificial intelligence, disinformation, polarization, equality, and parliamentary diplomacy. Stefanchuk also addressed the forum participants. He called on the parliaments of Ibero-America to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemn Russian crimes, and facilitate the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally taken by Russia.
Addressing countries that have not yet taken a position on the war, the speaker said: “I am not asking you to choose between Ukraine and Russia. But I am asking you to choose between principles and tyranny. Between the right to one’s own state and the right to take it away. Between the rule of law and the law of force,” Stefanchuk emphasized.
Felipe VI also spoke during the forum’s opening ceremony. The King of Spain spoke about the importance of cooperation among nations and the defense of democracy. He also specifically mentioned the threats of disinformation and polarization. Stefanchuk thanked Felipe VI, Spain, and its citizens for their support of Ukraine. “We appreciate this support and count on it continuing,” the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada emphasized. Stefanchuk announced the meeting on October 1.
The Verkhovna Rada has no plans to relocate its operations from Kyiv to Lviv amid the threat of Russian attacks and will continue to work in the building at 5 Hrushevsky Street. This was stated by Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk.
