PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis has reiterated the Assembly’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its people at a high-level dialogue with Ukrainian partners in Strasbourg. Addressing the opening of a third such dialogue on the theme “Good democratic governance in Ukraine: achievements, challenges and the way forward in the post-war period”, the Secretary General emphasised the significance of decisions taken during the PACE June 2024 part-session, which confirmed the Assembly’s support for Ukraine.

She highlighted the Assembly’s debate on establishing a special tribunal to address the crime of aggression and violations of international law by the Russian Federation; the discussion on tightening sanctions against Russia and closing loopholes for evading them; and the condemnation of Russia’s efforts to erase Ukrainian cultural identity. The Secretary General also drew attention to PACE’s continued work to highlight the plight of thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly deported or displaced – including the creation of a new parliamentary network on this topic – and ongoing efforts to address the situation of Ukrainian journalists held captive by Russia. She also paid tribute to the resilience of Ukrainian parliamentarians and the support from member states which enabled Ukraine's continued participation in the Assembly's work.

The Secretary General also highlighted on-going work for the project “Supporting democratic post-war elections in Ukraine”, within the framework of the Council of Europe’s 2023-2026 Action Plan for Ukraine, which continues to help Ukrainian partners find viable and practical solutions to outstanding war-related challenges in the electoral domain, and to ensure that when the time comes for post-war elections, they are held in line with European electoral standards and good practices.

The Secretary General recalled that the presence of the Olympic Torch in the Assembly Chamber during PACE’s recent plenary session served as a poignant reminder of the international community's duty to strive for peace and unity. She concluded with a message of hope and optimism, reaffirming the Assembly’s ongoing support for Ukraine, and looking forward to the outcomes of the high-level dialogue.