What Sergey spoke about.

12

Mar

2025

EN Speech

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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 …

11

Mar

2025

EN Speech

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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Madam President, Mr Vice-President, Mr President, our challenges are monumental; our instruments are outdated.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 pro…

13

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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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 de…

13

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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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

DE Speech

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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 w…

11

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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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

EN Speech

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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

EN Speech

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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

EN Speech

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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 n…

21

Jan

2025

EN Speech

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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 t…

21

Jan

2025

EN Question

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Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and biased algorithms (debate)

Is it correct that you were able to end up as a colleague here because of your activities on social media during the election campaign, on TikTok and many other social media? Isn't it true that you haven't been censored? You are here. You have been awarded with a mandate by this European Union with the freedoms that we have. So, what are other proofs that your activity has been censored?…

17

Dec

2024

DE Speech

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Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, The word ‘disinformation’ comes from Russian and was invented under Stalin. The KGB classified disinformation as active measures. Today we are experiencing a renaissance of these active measures. History has also been part of these attacks for two decades. It's a parallel universe of history that Putin invented: There was no decomposition of Poland, there was no occupation of the …

26

Nov

2024

DE Answer

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Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia (debate)

26

Nov

2024

DE Speech

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Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia (debate)

23

Oct

2024

EN Speech

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Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war (debate)

Mr President, sexual violence; electric shocks through field phones or car batteries; mock executions; sleep deprivation; and forcing detainees to sing the Russian national anthem and patriotic songs for hours at night. Those are the standard methods of torture by Russia. Putin's Russia blatantly disregards the Geneva Convention, sentencing prisoners of war and civilians to 20 years in prison, inc…

22

Oct

2024

EN Speech

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Situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia (debate)

Mr President, Anar Mammadli has been a known critic of Azerbaijani authorities and a fierce advocate for human rights and environmental justice, also ahead of COP29. He has long been a target of persecution. He was subjected to smear campaigns. They were following him in the streets. In fact, this April, while he was on his way to pick up his own child, he was arrested and driven away. Ever since,…

7

Oct

2024

DE Speech

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One year after the 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas (debate)

Madam President, Jews have been credited with inhuman powers for thousands of years. Today, inhuman strength is required of Jews. They are allowed to suffer, but not defend themselves. Jews can be victims. Then all the memorials in the world are safe for them. But woe to the Jews when they fight back. Then the world is upside down. The ‘news agency’ TikTok becomes the measure of all facts, while t…

18

Sep

2024

EN Speech

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The severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus

Mr President, dear colleagues, do you remember the spirit of Belarusian uprising? The many people who dared to stand up, to go to the streets and to say that they were fed up with manipulations and falsifications of Lukashenka's regime. The wonderful women, our laureates of the Sakharov Prize, who exemplified hope. Now, the hope is gone for so many in and outside of Belarus. Two of the women – our…

17

Sep

2024

EN Speech

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Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)

Mr President, ever since Russia launched its brutal attack on Ukraine, all what Ukrainians want is peace. All that we want is peace. All that all the Europeans want is peace. For this vision of peace, for freedom from Russian bombs against children's hospitals, for freedom from Russian missiles against electricity infrastructure, for freedom to determine what kind of passports you and your kids wa…

17

Jul

2024

EN Speech

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The need for the EU's continuous support for Ukraine (debate)

Dear colleagues, dear citizens, but, in the first place, dear Ukrainians ... It is more than symbolic that the first statement on the second day of this legislative term is about our support for Ukraine. I remember negotiating our first resolution, immediately after the full-fledged assault of Russia against Ukraine in 2022, with many of you. That was a moment of unity, of our unity, European unde…

23

Apr

2024

DE Speech

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The use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, I'm incredibly relieved. The decision of the US Congress to put together another very large aid package for Ukraine is a glimmer of hope for the country and for all of us. Many of us now also want to use the Russian assets stored in the EU to support Ukraine. The question is: How do we do it in a way that is legally and politically justi…

10

Apr

2024

DE Speech

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New allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, in the upcoming EU elections and the impact on the Union (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. I often talk to people fleeing from Russia, but of course also from Ukraine; And they wonder. You ask me – and many of you too: How can it be that we have fled Putin's propaganda and yet end up with Putin's propaganda? Not somewhere, but in Germany, in Europe. What is happening here is not an isolated case. It's no coincidence either. This is not an isolated der…

10

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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Russia's undemocratic presidential elections and their illegitimate extension to the occupied territories (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, it’s not a matter of politeness. For many people in Ukraine and in Russia, it’s a matter of survival. What we’re talking about here is not elections. It’s a mockery of choice that we’ve been experiencing for the past months and witnessing for the past months in Russia. An election campaign made by the Kremlin – made that political opponents were killed. Also, some of u…

12

Mar

2024

EN Speech

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European cross-border associations (debate)

Mr President, thank you very much. Thank you, colleagues, and thank you, Commissioner, for discussing this very important issue. I respect the diversity of views and the plurality here, but I think it is important also to base it on facts and on this particular draft. And this draft says – and the Commissioner has emphasised it – this draft is written based on a sincere respect for the national tr…

12

Mar

2024

DE Speech

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European cross-border associations (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, For years we have been looking for ways to strengthen our European democracy. It is often about defending this democracy against someone, and less and less about making our democracy European. When we met here five years ago, it was clear: It would be about strengthening EU institutions and pushing back authoritarian rulers. But is that all that ma…