Roberta Metsola has expressed “palpable dread” that Russia’s war in Ukraine will spill over into EU member states.
During her first interview with the Times of Malta after a historic day of EU solidarity with Ukraine, the European Parliament President expressed her worries.
She also did the following in the first of a two-part interview:
She described the “tough and hard landing” of being elected European Parliament President six weeks before a war, saying she believes EU unity has surprised “bully” Vladimir Putin; she warned countries like Malta to show solidarity “in practise” by ending schemes that give passports to wealthy Russians; and she described the “tough and hard landing” of being elected European Parliament President six weeks before a war.
Metsola was asked about the possibility of war affecting other EU countries just hours after a display of support for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose call for help via video link received a standing ovation.
She described the fear as “palpable.”
“In fact, this is why, historically, some of the first steps were taken to militarily assist these states, particularly the Baltic states, particularly because of their geographic location and certain courageous decisions made by their populations shortly after they gained independence from the Soviet Union,” she said.
On Monday, the sixth day of the Russian invasion, Metsola invited Zelensky to speak to the European Parliament via webcam.
“We didn’t know until the last minute if the connection would work and President Zelensky would be able to speak to the plenary,” she explained.
In parliament’s hemicycle, his passionate call for the EU to show its support by granting fast-track membership to the bloc was received with a standing ovation and Metsola’s vow to “work towards that aim.”
In reflecting on the decision, she stated that it was critical to “give a stage” for Zelensky and to hold a vote that would demonstrate the Parliament’s “near unanimous” view in favour of granting Ukraine EU candidate status.
Following that, she spoke to crowds assembled outside Parliament for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak to reinforce that message.
“We stand with you,” is the message to Ukraine. And we’re going to do everything we can, as well as things we haven’t done before, to get you what you need,” she continued.
“We will talk to them immediately” the “minute” Ukraine files its documents for EU membership with the European Commission. She also stated that the EU should take into account Moldova’s and Georgia’s positions, as well as the fact that North Macedonia has been waiting to join the bloc for some time.
On whether this openness to EU membership will further enrage Russia, Metsola said the EU’s measures are solely due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “unprovoked and uninitiated invasion of an independent sovereign country.”
“The message is plain to us,” she continued, “that the period of oligarchs and tyrants is finished.” “We want to communicate that message to President Putin, and I believe he has heard it loud and clear.”
‘Things are about to become a lot worse.’
However, within hours after the European Parliament’s statement of sympathy, Russia sent a warning to Kyiv inhabitants, stating that it was prepared to strike.
Later, Ukrainian officials said that five people were killed when Russia bombed a television tower in Kiev.
“Things are going to intensify,” Metsola said, adding that the Ukrainian people will have to continue to stand up to a “bully, an aggressor, and a perpetrator of international law.”
“However, this is why, for the first time ever, instruments that the European Union had not before activated were triggered in order to deploy humanitarian logistics, as well as military equipment, to assist the Ukrainians in defending themselves.”
She believes Putin will be surprised by the “huge unity” throughout the EU and the “extraordinary sanctions” that have hurt “not only Putin but his entourage and any firm that is owned or even indirectly connected to Russia.”
“I think President Putin would have depended on the disagreements between member nations heading in various directions at the start of this war, and that’s exactly what’s happened,” she added.
Metsola has already advocated for a prohibition on the sale of passports to Russian people, putting Malta in an awkward position as it continues to offer its citizenship-by-investment initiative to Russians.
The scheme’s “due diligence,” according to Prime Minister Robert Abela, avoids misuse, while Parliamentary Secretary Alex Muscat stressed the need of “not making a sweeping generalisation that all Russians are horrible people.”
Metsola responded by saying that all member states should see “the importance of this time to bring everyone together” and that “when you say you’re going to align with the other member states, you truly do it in practise.”
Her act of solidarity was her first significant role since being elected President of the European Parliament on January 18.
“It’s difficult to realise that I was elected little over six or seven weeks ago.” “It’s been a really difficult and difficult landing,” she explained.
“This is especially in the backdrop of my predecessor, who tragically died only days before the transition of power.
“However, I inherited a lot from him, not just in terms of work readiness, but also in terms of how he handled politics and brought majorities together.”
On Sunday, part two of Metsola’s interview will air, in which she talks domestic politics and women in positions of power.