Ukraine Parliament Speaker: Serbs are not 'little Russians'

Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk declared in Belgrade that Serbs are not "little Russians," asserting that they, along with Ukrainians, Moldovans, and Georgians, are independent nations belonging to the European family.

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Serbs are not little Russians, Ukrainians are not little Russians, Moldovans and Georgians have never been and will not be little Russians.

Stefanchuk emphasized that the Soviet Union and Russia have sown and continue to sow enmity between states, causing immense human suffering. "Enough of such humiliation," he stated, highlighting that the nations he mentioned are independent states inhabited by European peoples. He expressed confidence that all these nations will eventually become members of the European Union.

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The Soviet Union and Russia are sowing and continue to sow enmity between states, and that price is measured in immeasurable human suffering.

Speaking at a conference of parliamentary speakers from EU candidate countries, Stefanchuk thanked attendees for supporting Ukraine's fight for freedom and independence. He requested continued political, military, and humanitarian aid. He also noted that approximately 80 civilians had been killed in Kyiv by Russian attacks since the beginning of summer, urging for support, even if defensive systems are not available, by appealing to the attendees' memory, conscience, and dignity.

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Stalin did not die, but continued his life in his successor, Vladimir Putin.

He drew a parallel between Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and Russian President Vladimir Putin, quoting former Yugoslav politician Milovan Đilas who described Stalin as one of history's greatest criminals. Stefanchuk asserted that "Stalin did not die, but continued his life in his successor, Vladimir Putin." He criticized the EU for slowing its enlargement process, arguing that an incomplete unification sends wrong signals to aspiring member states and emboldens those seeking to weaken Europe. He identified "aggressive, dictatorial, and anti-European Russia" as such a force, advocating for a broader and stronger EU expansion to complete the creation of a united, strong, invulnerable, and indivisible Europe. Stefanchuk concluded that Ukraine will win because it is fighting for European values.

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Perhaps you do not have defensive systems that are vital to us, but you, friends, certainly have memory, conscience, and dignity.