“We should always remember that war brings ruin, death, and unspeakable suffering to the most vulnerable, especially children, women, the elderly and those who are ill. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to put international pressure on Russia with our clear, common message. We need peace, and peace should be our main goal”— Elzbieta Witek, Marshal of Sejm of the Republic of Poland

“We should always remember that war brings ruin, death, and unspeakable suffering to the most vulnerable, especially children, women, the elderly and those who are ill. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to put international pressure on Russia with our clear, common message. We need peace, and peace should be our main goal”— Elzbieta Witek, Marshal of Sejm of the Republic of Poland.

   Elzbieta Witek, Marshal of Sejm of the Republic of Poland, stated during a panel discussion of the Second Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform that the alliance of states from Europe and other continents in support of Ukraine is an encouraging example of how it is possible and worthwhile to unite in defence of our common values: democracy, the independence of nations, and the right to their own statehood. The Crimea Platform cannot be a European-only forum. She is very keen to build ever closer cooperation with countries of the so-called Global South. The countries of Africa and South America represented here today have an important voice in matters of global security. It is extremely important for these countries to be able to judge for themselves the gravity of the ongoing war and to be involved in initiatives for Ukraine. 

   In 2014, civil and political freedoms on the Crimean peninsula ceased to exist because of Russia. Surveillance, interrogations, and searches are now a sad daily reality for Crimea parliamentarians. “As democratically elected representatives of our people, we must speak up about these crimes and constantly stress the need to hold to account all those who commit such acts”. The development of the Crimea platform is an opportunity to shape international awareness. Let the words and truth be the weapon and strength. The Kremlin regime is afraid of them, which is why the persecution of independent journalists and reporters is ongoing and ‘internet troll factories’ are spreading disinformation. “We should always remember that war brings ruin, death, and unspeakable suffering to the most vulnerable, especially children, women, the elderly, and those who are ill. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to put international pressure on Russia with our clear, common message”. In this way, she increases the likelihood of ending the conflict on terms that are beneficial to Ukraine and the democratic world. “We need peace, and peace should be our main goal”.