What Sergey spoke about.

26

Nov

2025

Speeches DE

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EU response to the continuous airspace violations and sabotage of critical infrastructure in the EU originating from Russia and Belarus (debate)

26

Nov

2025

Speeches EN

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EU position on the proposed plan and EU engagement towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, those who want peace do not impose it on an occupied country. Those who want peace do not blame victims for the assault. Those who want a lasting peace do not normalise criminals. And those who want peace do not coach the aggressor via phone on how best to cheat on European and American people. Today, Europe faces a truly defining moment. And yes, I – and we – welcome the proactive stance of leaders like Merz, Macron, Meloni, Stubb and others. But where is President Costa? Where is the one who represents all of them together? Where is the European Union united? We must unite for peace: this means sanctions cannot be lifted while a single Russian boot stands on Ukrainian soil. We must unite for peace: this means accountability cannot be negotiated away. International law is not a bargaining chip. We must unite for peace: Europe must act now, decisively. Enlargement is the biggest currency we have. We must send a clear message, and the clearest we have is an accelerated path for Ukraine, including Article 42, which would protect Ukraine as a member of the European Union. We must do it for Ukraine. We must do it for ourselves.

25

Nov

2025

Speeches EN

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Digital Package (debate)

Mr President, Madam Executive Vice-President, dear colleagues, thank you. I want to speak in a spirit of cooperation. Last Wednesday many of us waited for the digital package with mixed expectations. So did I: I have worked on some of the laws we're talking about and I know how much effort this House invested in them. That is why I am concerned. I am concerned that the package reopens recently adopted legislation without impact assessment, without evidence and without the clarity the companies need. Make no mistake: our group supports European businesses and European innovation. We believe in targeted adjustments that reduce burden, provide certainty and strengthen enforcement. This is why we proposed a digital enforcement agency, a one-stop shop and standard reporting tools. But some elements of your proposal raise questions. On GDPR, the new approach to redefining personal data leaves too much discretion to data holders. That creates uncertainty, not clarity. On the AI act, the 'stop-the-clock' mechanism for high-risk systems is understandable, but ending it at any moment makes planning impossible. That makes uncertainty, not clarity. At the same time, public debate suggests that Europe is following a deregulation agenda made elsewhere. This creates uncertainty and not clarity. So I say to all the groups, including the EPP: let's work together to support our companies without re-opening settled compromises. Let's protect our innovation and our democratic choice, both with democratic majorities. Don't make the mistakes you made with Omnibus 1.

24

Nov

2025

Speeches EN

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Enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes (debate)

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, colleagues, rapporteur, we all agree we must act decisively against migrant smugglers and human traffickers. On that we agree. I, as a lawyer, also welcome that the final text is based solely on Article 88(2) TFEU on Europol's competences, as I advocated in the JURI Committee. Yet, even so, as a lawyer, I must also say that this outcome does not make me happy. It weakens the essence of our Union. This text doesn't do what the promise of the text is. Instead, it shifts resources away from protection and funnels it into criminalisation of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and even humanitarian actors. And yes, as a lawyer, as a jurist, I have to say this. The means that are employed there are also problematic. We don't have impact assessments on behalf of the Commission. A massive expansion of Europol's biometric surveillance is foreseen. Increased sharing of biometric data with third countries is foreseen. So no matter how the legal basis is correct, there are concerns, legal concerns, and that's what I wanted to inform you about.

22

Oct

2025

Speeches EN

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Situation in Belarus, five years after the fraudulent presidential elections (debate)

Madam President, five years ago, people in Belarus took to the streets. They carried no weapons, no hate in their hearts, only flowers. I remember the phone calls from Minsk. The talks with activists. Their courage, without violence, without blood. Today, they are in prisons or they're dead, like Maria Zaitseva, Ales Pushkin or Ihar Lednik. Today, Belarus is not a sovereign country; it's a Russian military base from which rockets are flying to Ukraine. But Belarus is also something else. It is a democratic movement with a clear, courageous face: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Sviatlana and her team have managed to act professionally, clearly and politically as a voice for Belarus. Our task is clear: not to betray this movement, not to turn our backs on them like the German Government is currently doing by denying visas to those who look for protection. If you refuse to see clearly, then we will. We will make Belarus visible, as people of freedom. We will make its heroes political prisoners visible. And we will give Belarusians what Moscow wants to take away from them: hope for a European home. Zhyve Belarus!

20

Oct

2025

Speeches EN

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The decision to impose a fine on Google: defending press and media freedom in the EU (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, funny, isn't it? In Europe, even a press conference about Google can be hijacked, but the commissioner showed our democracy will not be. The EUR 3 billion fine is not about the money – it's pocket change for Google – it's about the message: Europe will not bow to digital giants. We write our own rules in this House and we enforce them in yours. Fair competition needs courage, not excuses. Digital sovereignty means we decide, not Silicon Valley. Let me repeat it again and again because it matters: we are not for sale. Our values are not for sale, our democracy is not for sale. The DMA is not for sale, the AI act is not for sale, the DSA is not for sale, nor is the GDPR. This is something that I hope also your colleagues, like Commissioner Virkkunen, will know when they bring the omnibus into this House. So when President Trump calls this an attack against American institutions? No, it's about Europe standing tall. President von der Leyen said our digital rules are not for sale – I hope all the commissioners agree with her.

10

Sep

2025

Speeches EN

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Serious threats to aviation and maritime transport from Global Navigation Satellite System interference: urgent need to build resilience against spoofing and jamming (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, just weeks ago, when this incident happened, we must be very clear, this is not an isolated incident. And some of the numbers were already mentioned. In Estonia, 85 % of flights have been affected. Lithuania, in your country, as you mentioned, saw a 22-fold increase in jamming. Latvia recorded 820 disruptions last year, whereas the year before it was just 26. And according to my information, the drones that were in the sky above Poland were manipulated with SIM cards from European countries. Those were the SIM cards from Lithuania and Poland, so that they can use the European system in order to fly. So let's see clearly, Russia is behind much of this ‑ GNSS jamming and spoofing are what they are. It's weapons of hybrid war, and they strike into the heart of our Europe's infrastructure. That's why we must act. And we will act the Space Act with secure, binding security, cybersecurity rules, and also the Quantum Act with 97 % accurate quality detection systems that will allow us to build a digital defence shield. So this is about resilience. This is about responsibility. This is about us acting urgently. And yes, we can also in this Parliament.

9

Sep

2025

Speeches DE

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Ukraine (joint debate)

Madam President, It must be clear, it must be clear to all of us: There will be no peace without peace guarantees. It is not possible to secure a democracy, an investment location, an independent state in the shadow of military blackmail by the neighbor. The EU needs to take action, the US needs more clarity – clarity that Ukraine will not be extradited to Russian threats and that Europe will not stand alone in the event of an emergency. That means three things. Firstly: European presence is not a war; It is peace, it is part of diplomacy. If we secure a presence after pacification, it is a guarantee of peace and not a war effort. Secondly: Americans must be involved. It cannot be that Brussels is under more pressure than Moscow. It cannot be that we end cooperation in the field of countering disinformation, as it became known today, that Americans end this cooperation. No, the relationship between Russia and China must also become clearer to our American partners. It is the EU's responsibility to keep Ukraine safe, but it is also in the interest of the US to do so. And thirdly: Germany's leadership responsibility is beyond question. Gone are the days when Germany was a guarantee of peace through restraint. Now we must take responsibility, not with Söder's provinciality, but with the European spirit, and this also means the presence of European and German soldiers, even in peacekeeping.

8

Sep

2025

Speeches EN

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Governance of the internet – renewal of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (debate)

Mr President, Russia slows down information platforms. Türkiye shuts down the internet – we just saw this. The United States empowers populists and enriches oligarchs. Well, with this joint motion for a resolution, we are showing what this Parliament stands for, if it is about internet governance. It's about multilateralism. It's about freedom. It's about accessibility. Let us be clear: we believe in multilateralism. That's why the UN General Assembly is the place to discuss and to renew the mandate. We want global tech to be based on free space, not on oligarchs. Let us be clear: the European Parliament is committed to participation in future IGF meetings, because it is about our values, it is about human rights, and it is not about surveillance and censorship and oligarchy. Let us be clear: extending the IGF mandate means more than renewing an institution. It is about a global public resource. Colleague Bocheński said we looked like a laughing stock during those meetings. I was a part of those meetings, representing this House. We were the ones who stood for values, for freedom and for the governance in the internet. The internet is not an instrument for disinformation. It's not an instrument for alternative realities. It's a place that empowers people. That is what we stand for, and that's why this mandate should be renewed permanently.

9

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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EU-US trade negotiations (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, let's be honest: this isn't just a trade dispute anymore. It's pressure. It's coercion. It's dealmaking of the worst sort. It's an attempt to put a price on what we are. It's time to say it out loud, and it pains me to say this as someone who's been a committed transatlanticist all his life, the EU is not for sale. We are not for sale. Our values, our rules, our integrity are not for sale – not our digital regulation, not our standards. Trump's approach is a challenge, no doubt, and the Commissioner knows it firsthand. But it's also an opening – an opening for Europe to lead and to be clear, not by escalating, but by standing firm and by considering countermeasures, by implementing countermeasures, by being firm on rules, on trust, on democratic principles. Now it's time to build alliances: new alliances with US states, with cities, with civil societies, with people who walk on the street against Trump and with global partners as an alternative to the US.

8

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, in light of recent catastrophic developments, it is clear what we're lacking: the EU needs a long-term strategic approach towards Georgia. Without vision and effective tools, we remain unprepared in the face of anti-democratic backsliding and other challenges that Georgia and the region are having. We must go beyond crisis management. We must think about the larger picture. Commissioner Kos, the Black Sea strategy offers an opportunity to align our vision of the future Georgia with regional priorities. But this is only possible if civil society is free, if democracy is protected, if the opposition is not oppressed. And yes, we can do both: be geopolitical and stand up to repression; speak for the imprisoned and for all other Georgians who see Europe as their future. We can support Georgia as a victim of Russian aggression and criticise a ruling party that imitates the aggressor itself. It's a balance, but one worth fighting for – for Georgia, for the Eastern Partnership and for the future of Europe.

8

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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Situation in Belarus, in particular the release of political prisoners (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, I'm not going to be the first one in this round who will repeat the facts, but it is important to repeat them again and again. The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski was a moment of hope, but the grim reality is the 1 100 more who are still there behind bars. Every reunited family – every father who can embrace his daughter – is a moment of hope. But, how many of them cannot? How many of them are even in unknown locations? Maryia Kalesnikava, Maksim Znak – we don't know where they are, whether they are still alive. And one more thing is important: this was not an act of mercy. These are cold-blooded strategy calculations by Lukashenka. Let us not be deceived by what he is playing here. This is not genuine reform; it's manipulation. Genuine reform would be the unconditional release of every political prisoner in Belarus and, for us in Europe, it would be a policy where every Belarusian refugee would feel at home, that they would not have problems with their documents, that they will not be begging in our own foreign ministries for new passports because Belarus does not issue for them the passports of their own nation. This we owe to them. Zhyve Belarus!

18

Jun

2025

Speeches EN

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Digital Markets, Digital Euro, Digital Identities: economical stimuli or trends toward dystopia (topical debate)

Mr President, colleagues, I understand the fear of our extremist colleagues. But let's be honest: what you truly fear is anything that threatens the privileges of your billionaire friends or empowers democratic institutions. As long as it's not Kremlin murderers, who you support. And Madam Laykova, I would like to tell you what is dystopian: dystopian are your fakes. You were saying that the EU is going to strip citizens of their savings within six months if the savings are not spent. This is fake! And this is what we are against. The digital Europe is not a Silicon Valley fantasy. It's a public alternative to strengthen our monitoring sovereignty. The digital markets are needed, because to compete with US tech giants and Chinese communists, we need more Europe, not less. And on digital identity, yes, we Greens rejected the Council deal. Why? Because we need more safeguards in order to prevent the wallet becoming a Trojan horse. But we've improved it and rights will be preserved. Surrendering digitalisation to American billionaires and Chinese communists cannot be the solution. Nor to your Putin friends!

16

Jun

2025

Speeches EN

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The human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression: the situation of illegally detained civilians and prisoners of war, and the continued bombing of civilians (debate)

Mr President, when Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist, returned home in February 2025, she had broken ribs, electrical burns, missing eyes and part of her throat gone. Now we know what happened to her – she was severely tortured and finally strangulated to death. Just one of many. Civilians, prisoners of war, Crimean Tatars accused of being terrorists, journalists who dared to speak Ukrainian – this is a war waged in torture chambers, psychiatric wards and filtration camps. People – we know their names, we know their stories, and we know that silence equals complicity. That is why our resolution during the next session will expose the scale of these atrocities, from the abduction of thousands of children to the use of psychiatry as a weapon against free will. Our Parliament demands action, access and active involvement of the International Red Cross coordinated EU response. I assure you, we will do our best to stand on the side of Ukrainians.

12

Mar

2025

Answers DE

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Frozen Russian assets (debate)

You can do that, Mr. Colleague. That's because we're a confident side, and because we're willing to use the $300 billion, we need to be talked to. And the Americans have to decide: It cannot be that two months ago Trump demanded that we confiscate this money, and now they want to give this money back to Russia – we are not playing along. If Americans and Russians want to negotiate with us, then Ukrainians and we have to sit at the table, and then we will decide the fate of this money. But what matters is: We have to be prepared to confiscate the money.

12

Mar

2025

Speeches EN

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Frozen Russian assets (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, let me be blunt. I have not been an outspoken proponent of confiscating frozen Russian assets in the past due to its legal sensitivity. But times have changed. In our new world, where the United States is joining the side of Moscow and stepping back, the EU has no other choice but to take responsibility. We cannot afford to be hesitant. The EU needs to fill the void. The calculation is very simple. What we have is not enough – not for Ukraine, not for our own security – and the responsibility of Moscow will probably never materialise if Washington joins and supports them. The compensation will probably never come. The tribunal will now materialise, but the damages remain. Under those circumstances, the solution is clear. We must prepare now to confiscate USD 300 billion in frozen assets, so we can act in the moment as needed. This means the EU must find a legally secure solution to make the frozen assets of the Russian central bank available to Ukraine and to us.

11

Mar

2025

Speeches EN

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European Council meetings and European security (joint debate)

Madam President, Mr Vice-President, Mr President, our challenges are monumental; our instruments are outdated. But the idea that unites us all – our Europe – it is not. I believe in the power of Europe because, frankly, what other choice do we have in the world divided between Trumps and Xis and Putins? Ideas inspire, but actions define our future. We need real European capabilities, not grand promises; real European money, not 800 billion of hot air that was promised by the Commission. We need a strategic decision-making centre and we need an opportunity to leave spoilers like Orbán behind. We need a decision-making centre, not 27 passionate speeches per meeting – a core Europe for defence that should emerge with the big and bold, with the committed and capable. France and Germany, yes, but also Estonia and Latvia and Lithuania. Let's not forget about those. And London and Oslo. And yes, we make Europe act again. And yes, we will.

13

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Threats to EU sovereignty through strategic dependencies in communication infrastructure (debate)

Thank you very much. As every morning during the past weeks, we are waking up to a new reality. Now, it's the biggest push against Europe's security interests by Trump. But frankly, we had known it all along. In this marriage, we have over-relied on one partner. In strategic communications, it's not even a country: it's one unelected, unaccountable man, driven by personal whims. Today, Musk can decide if, at a time of war, we can continue talking to each other, or not. Our biggest strategic risk on this side of a potential frontline of a future war is communication failure. Low-Earth orbit satellites revolutionise global communication in times of crisis, but their infrastructure is in the hands of a few private non-Europeans: Starlink today, Amazon or OneWeb tomorrow. So this is not the way to go. IRIS² will only be valid and will be functioning in 2030. It is good that the US Space Act is part of a Commission working programme. We have seen this. But we need clear strategic goals: equitable division of use of space; common standards for compatibility of systems; enforced cybersecurity, which closes the gaps of NIS 2; massive investment in efficient launchers, in reusable satellites, in an independent space supply chain. It is not about science fiction; it is about our survival!

13

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Threats to EU sovereignty through strategic dependencies in communication infrastructure (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, as every morning during the past weeks, we are waking up to a new reality. Could you be silent there, please? Hello?

12

Feb

2025

Speeches DE

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One year after the murder of Alexei Navalny and the continued repression of the democratic opposition in Russia (debate)

Madam President, I met Alexei the day before he returned to Russia from Germany. I often think of him these days. Ich habe mich lange gefragt: What would Alexei say if he were here? He wouldn't have talked about himself, more about the matter. On the importance of fighting the Putin system and the war – without fear. Ich habe keine Angst, hat er gesagt, und ihr solltet auch keine Angst haben. He would talk about people. People killed and tortured by Putin’s system, first and foremost his own lawyers – Vadim Kobsev, Alexei Lipzer, Igor Sergunin. Now these people, just because they defended Navalny, are themselves in detention, in the camp. He would talk about the opponents of war, talk about Alexei Gorinov – seven years of torture in a prison cell. About the theatre makers Yevgeniya Berkovich, Svetlana Petrijchuk – six years of camp for a harmless play. About cardiac surgeon Ivan Tishchenko – four years in prison for making a small donation to Navalny’s NGO. And that would be the best monument to Alexei; If we don't forget them. People who are against the war, who are against Putin and therefore end up in camps and die of cancer there. Irina Bystrova, Maxim Voronovsky, Ledkov, Lutor, Zhukov, Lagutin – the list is long. They are a reminder of courage. You are the little sign of hope. You are Alexei Navalny. A week ago, war adversary and poet Wadim Stroikin crashed out of his own window as police stormed his home. If you decide to kill me, Alexei said, it means we're incredibly strong. We are not aware of how strong we really are.

11

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (debate)

(The speaker used a non-EU language) Nothing without Ukraine, nothing without Ukraine and without Europe. (The speaker continued in a non-EU language)

11

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (debate)

There is!

11

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (debate)

Mr President, I wish to speak in Ukrainian. (The speaker continued in a non-EU language)

21

Jan

2025

Speeches EN

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Further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (debate)

Mr President, we were talking here about misinformation and lies, and some of those lies have made it to this panel, to this podium. People talking about 'bloody Maidan' or violence in the streets. We were in the streets. Many of us went to Tbilisi. We were actually doing your job while you were still here. And we were walking with those people through the cold Georgian evening and cold Georgian night – hundreds and thousands of people. They walked for their future and the future of their grandchildren, proclaiming they want a European future. Georgians dream of a democratic future aligned with the European dream. And this is the true dream of Georgia. But the party that calls itself Georgian Dream, uses the full force of its authority to persecute journalists, attack peaceful protesters and even opposition and former prime ministers like Giorgi Gakharia, who was attacked in a brutal way just a couple of days ago. So, Irakli Kobakhidze and Mikheil Kavelashvili: the Georgian Dream of the new, tailored direction has its names. So, Irakli Kobakhidze and Mikheil Kavelashvili, I'm asking you, how much are you ready to escalate? Your people want only one thing: they want a rerun of elections under democratic circumstances. And this is what you have to grant them. This is the right they are fighting for, and they don't want to be tortured. We saw people who were tortured in Georgia. They have a right to be safe, and if not, then we should work on a coalition of the willing who would impose targeted sanctions also against you.

21

Jan

2025

Speeches EN

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Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration (debate)

Congratulations, President Trump. You are our reality. Yesterday, we saw it. We heard it. We listened carefully. We understand clearly that now is Europe's moment to shine. With Trump as president, we don't have a choice but to mature into a united global power that is self‑conscious, value‑driven and cooperative. A union of democracies that take responsibility. Many Europeans understand it, but they question, can we make it? Yes, we can. We can stand for Ukraine forcefully and build our own defence with our American friends and, if necessary, also without. Yes, we can! We can serve as an example that trade is the answer to wars and cooperation is the only answer to nationalism. Yes we can! We can be a safe home for all – a white male pensioner and a queer IT specialist and her wife and their children. In fact, we welcome those from Meta and X from the US to European tech firms. Yes, we can. We can learn to disrupt and innovate, to build industry and AI applications that serve people, not oligarchs. And yes, we can become a driver for green technologies, because our answer is not, 'Drill, baby, drill'. Our answer is, 'Shine, baby, shine, over generations'. It's not going to be an easy path towards Europe that is confident and capable, but we shall walk it together, and together we trust. Because yes, we can. And now we must.