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How the EU and European Parliament stand with Ukraine
Find out on this website, which is a project of the European Parliament and the Ukrainian parliament, how the EU has supported Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's aggression.
The European Parliament's support for Ukraine in brief
The EU has always been keen to support Ukraine's sovereignty and the European aspirations of its people.
Following the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014 when the Ukrainian people expressed their will to be part of the EU, the European Parliament intensified cooperation with Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. This cooperation covered many fields - from democracy and human rights to the economy.
After Russia's full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022, this became an even closer partnership.
The European Parliament is today one of the strongest advocates for Ukraine's membership of the EU: it was the first of the EU institutions calling for Ukraine to be granted candidate status and for a start to EU accession talks with Kyiv.
The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola was the first leader of an EU institution to visit Ukraine after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.
This visit was followed by several others, demonstrating the European Parliament's continuous support for Ukraine.
In September 2025, Roberta Metsola officially opened the European Parliament's office in Kyiv. "Know that the European Parliament will remain firmly at your side, every step of the way, until peace is secured, until freedom is restored, and until Ukraine takes its rightful place in our European family," President Metsola said in a statement before the Verkhovna Rada.
The European Parliament has adopted multiple resolutions calling for military and financial assistance to Ukraine, as well as demanding stronger sanctions against Russia. MEPs also insist that those responsible for Russia's war crimes in Ukraine must be brought to justice.
Members of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada meet regularly to discuss how to support Ukraine in the face of Russia's aggression, the practical aspects of Ukraine's European integration and post-war reconstruction.
Defending Ukraine's sovereignty
Over the years, the EU and the European Parliament have stood by Ukraine while it fights against Russia's aggression.
Shortly after the full-scale invasion, the European Parliament expressed unwavering support for Ukraine at an extraordinary plenary session on 1 March 2022, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed MEPs.
Ever since, the EU and the European Parliament have expanded sanctions against the Kremlin, made insistent demands for justice and have worked to provide financial and material aid to Kyiv.
Parliament welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Brussels on 9 February 2023. In his address to MEPs, President Zelenskyy stressed how Russia was trying to annihilate not only sovereign Ukraine, but also the European way of life.
The speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, and other top Ukrainian officials have also visited the European Parliament and have discussed the EU's continuous support for the country.
In a report on the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy adopted in April 2025, MEPs condemned any attempts to blackmail Ukraine into surrendering to the Russian aggressor.
Check out our timelines to learn how the EU and European Parliament have been supporting Ukraine over the years:
The EU and the European Parliament's support in 2025
The EU and the European Parliament's support in 2024
The EU and the European Parliament's support in 2023
The EU and the European Parliament's support in 2022
Ukraine's path to EU membership
The European Parliament believes that Ukraine's place is in the EU.
Parliament adopted a resolution on 8 June 2022 calling for Ukraine to be granted EU candidate status. The official decision was taken by the European Council a few days later.
In December 2023, the European Parliament called for a start to accession negotiations with Ukraine. Following a decision by the European Council, the first accession talks were held in June 2024.
In another resolution in September 2025, MEPs urged the European Commission to open negotiation clusters and advance Ukraine's EU membership bid at the fastest pace possible, as long as the country carries out reforms and implements the EU's rules.
The EU and Ukraine have had an association agreement in force since 2017, which has established political association and economic integration between the EU and Ukraine and has provided for free trade and mutual free market access.
Financial support to Ukraine
There are various EU initiatives to support Ukraine's economy during the war and beyond.
As of September 2025, the European Union and its countries have mobilised almost €173.5 billion in overall support to Ukraine and Ukrainians, including €3.7 billion from the proceeds of Russian immobilised assets.
In October 2023, MEPs improved and endorsed a proposal for a €50 billion facility to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernisation as of 2024.
Military support
The European Parliament has insisted that Ukraine should be given the military means to defend itself against Russia's invasion.
Already in 2022, Parliament called on the EU and its member states to increase their military assistance to Ukraine.
In subsequent resolutions, MEPs have consistently argued in favour of further military support to Kyiv.
In a resolution adopted in March 2025 about plans to strengthen EU security and defence, MEPs insisted that all restrictions on the use of Western weapons delivered to Ukraine to defend itself against military targets on Russian territory should be lifted.
Seeking justice for war crimes
The European Parliament has been demanding justice for all war crimes committed by Russian troops.
In a resolution adopted in 2022, Parliament declared that Russia was a state sponsor of terrorism. MEPs highlighted the deliberate attacks and atrocities committed by Russian forces and their proxies against civilians in Ukraine, while also mentioning the destruction of infrastructure and other serious violations of international and humanitarian law.
MEPs demanded in a resolution adopted in January 2023 that the Russian political and military leadership be held accountable for crimes of aggression against Ukraine.
The same year, the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) started its operations in The Hague. The centre, which is an EU initiative, aims to investigate Russia's crimes of aggression against Ukraine and to facilitate case building for future trials.
Awarding the Sakharov Prize to Ukrainians
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded by the European Parliament to distinguish people and organisations from across the world fighting for democracy and human rights.
Parliament awarded the 2022 Sakharov Prize to the brave people of Ukraine. President Roberta Metsola said at the award ceremony: "The Ukrainian people are not just fighting a war of independence but fighting a war of values. The values which underpin our life in the European Union."
In 2018, Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to Oleg Sentsov. The Ukrainian film director and human rights activist was imprisoned for protesting against Russia's annexation of his native Crimea on Independence Square in Kyiv, but was released from jail on 7 September 2019 as part of a prisoner exchange deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Explore the website to find out more about the joint efforts of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada to support Ukraine in its resistance against Russian aggression and in its progress towards EU membership.