War in Ukraine

Hybrid press conference at the European Committee of the Regions

Brussels & Ukraine, 27 April 2022  (16:30-17:30 CET)

“Ukraine is European” - Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko

“The European Committee of the Regions will help rebuild what was destroyed” - President of the European Committee of the Regions,  Apostolos Tzitzikostas, reminding that Kyiv became the first honorary member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in March 2022.

Pracsis produced an online and presential press conference which took place in parallel to the plenary session of the CoR in Brussels.  We organized the event in less than 24h, setup a connection and interpretation with Ukraine,the Berlaymont and the CoR.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of Regions met with two Ukrainian leading figures: Vitaly Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv (intervening remotely) and Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, Chairwoman of the Kharkiv Regional Council.

President Tzitzikostas expressed his support for Ukraine, condemned Russia and called for the end of the war, while underlining the bravery of Ukrainian citizens against the invader. The CoR supported the sanctions against Russia and Belarus and underlined the huge work done by Poland in order to protect Ukrainian refugees. The president said the CoR wants to rebuild Ukrainian cities and develop cooperation with Ukraine. 

In order to rebuild the country, the Committee supports the creation of a tool for its members to cut red tape and bureaucracy and ease access to existing EU funds

Vitali Klitschko replied to journalists in English and spoke about the fight against Russia. The mayor of the first honorary member of the CoR, Kyiv, Klitschko said Ukraine is European in its mentality and history and has to implement European values.  To him, Ukraine fights for European values: human rights, freedom of the press, and democratic standards. He believes Ukraine will win but he doesn’t see the end of the war yet. Klitschko thanked the CoR for its support.

Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko spoke after Mr Klitschko and said she too believes that Ukraine is a European country and that it wishes to be in the European Union.  She also believes that further cooperation with Ukraine is very important and is thankful to the CoR for its support.

Pracsis is very proud to have produced this press conference on the war in Ukraine and to have contributed to the dissemination of news on European support in Ukraine.