unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Political group: Renew
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

Mr President, may this be clear to all: Ukraine is part of the European family, as is Belarus. Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security, and it’s of concern to all of us. The military threat posed by Russia to Ukraine only confirms the hopelessness and aggressiveness of the Kremlin. I very much hope that the West has seized the opportunity to learn the lesson of unity, solidarity and common response. We will need this lesson in the future, because Putin seems to have neither the will nor the interest to change. By giving Ukraine the opportunity to reform on the basis of European experience and partnership, we are supporting and investing in the future of a democratic and prosperous Ukraine. We are enabling the country and its people to follow the path they embarked on back in 2014 with the Revolution of Dignity. Ukrainians decide their own future, and I am strongly convinced that the future of Ukraine is not Finlandisation, but Europeanisation.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Mr President, ‘war is so unjust and ugly that all who wage it must try to stifle the voice of conscience within themselves.’ These words belong to one of the greatest pacifists, Leo Tolstoy, who ironically also happens to be the person who President Putin claims to have influenced him most. Evidently, the Russian President has stifled his voice of conscience and brought our continent to the brink of war. How else could he summon 135 000 soldiers to the Ukrainian border? Ukraine is a great country of great people. Today it is stronger than ever. It stands up for itself and will only be stronger tomorrow. This is the reason for the Kremlin’s warmongering. Putin knows if he does not take over Ukraine now, he won’t be able to do so in the future. What the Russian president sees as a window of opportunity could be a lethal trap for his country. Ukraine will be for Russia what Afghanistan was for the Soviet Union – an imperial overstretch and a painful end to Putin’s empire. War is not only unjust and ugly, but also senseless, as there are no winners. It brings only destruction and suffering to people on both sides. If Putin starts the war, ordinary Russians will have to suffer the consequences – Russian mothers crying over their fallen sons, pensioners feeling the chilling effects of Western sanctions. Ukrainians are strong because they fight for their country. They do not stand alone, because they have reliable friends and, above all, because they have the truth on their side.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Jaak Madison
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, I was listening very carefully to the speeches, and I would like to mention two things in particular. First of all, Ms von der Leyen mentioned that Russia is now weaponising energy policy. Well, I would like to say we told you about five or six years ago that if we’re going to build up the Nord Stream 2 between Germany and Russia, of course they will weaponise it. That is obvious. There is no energy policy without other policies. This is also very clear with economic policy and defence policy, but the Germans wanted to build Nord Stream 2 with Russia, and here we are now. Of course they’re weaponising it. Germany doesn’t like to be surprised. It’s a bit ridiculous. Secondly, everybody else mentions that we are ready for anything. Ms von der Leyen and Mr Borell also mentioned that we are ready for every scenario. Hopefully we are, but, on the other hand, if you look at the facts, when Estonia just wanted to give some military help to Ukraine, who blocked it? The German Government. The German Government said ‘No, no, no you will not give it, because it was our military equipment in the 80’s – in the Soviet time – when it belonged to East Germany, and we will not give it to Ukraine.’ So, I really don’t see this harmony inside of the EU. Of course, it’s a very clear fact that Russia is a threat, but I really don’t think that we have to panic here. However, we have to be ready for everything. That is also obvious. When the previous speakers said that war is senseless and pointless, of course for us it’s pointless, but we are taking it too emotionally. We don’t really think about what Russia really wants to have. Even if you look at the troops – 135 000 troops next to the Ukrainian border – this is not enough to occupy all of Ukraine. Ukraine is a totally different country compared to what it was eight years ago. They have made really good progress on the right side. But 135 000 troops are easily enough to carry out some small actions in eastern Ukraine. If you look at what they’re doing in the Russian Duma, they are now legally recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as independent countries. It takes only a few days. Maybe when they are at risk, they will ask for military help, because the Ukrainian Government will maybe attack those independent countries. These 135 000 troops are easily enough for small military actions.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Roberts Zīle
Political group: ECR
Language: LV

Priekšsēdētāja kungs! Komisijas Augstā pārstāvja kungs! Ukrainai šodien ir Vienotības diena. Par ko ir šī Vienotības diena? Par to, ka Ukrainas sabiedrība vēlas iet Rietumu demokrātijas ceļu, un viņu valdība — demokrātiski ievēlētais prezidents un valdība — vada šo ceļu. Bet, protams, šī sabiedrība nav vienota Ukrainā, būsim atklāti, un Ukrainas valdībai ārkārtīgi vajadzīgs šis Rietumu demokrātiju atbalsts šinī brīdī caur šo Vienotības dienu, jo, iespējams, ka Kremlī kāds uzskata, ka ukraiņi būtu jāatbrīvo no huntas — kā tas tiek uzskatīts bieži vien neoficiālās versijās, — un brāļus ukraiņus aplaimot ar citu valdību. Šis ir brīdis, kad Ukrainas kursam ir vajadzīga šī pastieptā roka no Rietumu demokrātijas — no mums, no eiropiešiem. Un tas nozīmē, ka mūsu arī līderu deklarācijā ir jābūt nopietniem punktiem par to, ka Ukrainai ceļš uz Eiropu ir vaļā — uz Eiropas Savienību. Protams, tas nav ātrs, bet tas ir, un, protams, ir jābūt arī ne tikai naudai, bet arī atbalstam [no] militārās tehnikas, vai sauksim to kaut vai par aizsardzības ieročiem. Ir ārkārtīgi svarīgs jautājums arī par to tā saucamo nekaitināšanas jautājumu. Iespējams, ka Ukrainas prezidentam, kaut vai attālināti, bija šonedēļ iespējas runāt Eiropas Parlamentā, iespējams, ka nē, bet šī nekaitināšanas politika, manuprāt, parāda, ka šī izstieptā roka mazliet dreb, kas ir slikta ziņa Ukrainas sabiedrībai. Būsim nopietni arī vidējā termiņā ar energopolitikas izmaiņām, kas ir ārkārtīgi svarīgs jautājums pavisam drīz.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Manu Pineda
Political group: The Left
Country: Czechia
Language: ES

Señor presidente, hemos estado muy cerca de que las dos mayores potencias nucleares entraran en conflicto abierto utilizando a Europa como su tablero de juego. Y hablo en pasado porque los Estados Unidos y su brazo militar, la OTAN, se han quedado sin argumentos, pero realmente nunca los han necesitado para iniciar sus guerras. Los Estados Unidos siguen montando guerras lejos de su territorio y muchos gobiernos europeos han actuado de forma irresponsable, echando gasolina al fuego. La OTAN está utilizando Europa y, especialmente, las fronteras con Rusia, como una enorme base militar al servicio de intereses comerciales, militares y geoestratégicos que no son los de Europa.  Señor Borrell, nosotros tenemos muchas diferencias, pero eso no impide que yo lo considere a usted un hombre de paz que busca resolver los conflictos por la vía política. Le pido que no permita que la Unión Europea se convierta en la tropa, en una base militar, en un tablero de juego al servicio de este imperio decadente que está poniendo en peligro la existencia misma del planeta.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Kostas Papadakis
Political group: NI
Country: Czechia
Language: EL

Κύριε Πρόεδρε, ο ορατός κίνδυνος πολεμικής σύγκρουσης στα ρωσο-ουκρανικά σύνορα αφορά τον ανταγωνισμό για το μοίρασμα αγορών και επιρροής ανάμεσα σε Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, ΝΑΤΟ, Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και Ρωσία. Καμία πλευρά, όμως, της ιμπεριαλιστικής σύγκρουσης δεν εκφράζει τα λαϊκά συμφέροντα. Επίσης, «πάει πολύ» να «υποδύεται» η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση το «περιστέρι της ειρήνης», όταν έχει οδηγήσει σε πολέμους στο Αφγανιστάν, τη Λιβύη, τη Συρία και αλλού. Η δε αμερικανική βάση στην Αλεξανδρούπολη, στη βόρεια Ελλάδα, εξελίσσεται σε κέντρο προώθησης αμερικανο-νατοϊκών στρατευμάτων για την περικύκλωση της Ρωσίας και φέρει την υπογραφή της σημερινής και της προηγούμενης ελληνικής κυβέρνησης, γεγονός που εκθέτει τον ελληνικό λαό σε μεγάλους κινδύνους. Η ανησυχία του λαού πρέπει να μετατραπεί σε αυτοτελή αγώνα για να «ξηλωθούν» όλες οι ξένες βάσεις, να μην υπογραφεί η νέα ελληνο-αμερικανική συμφωνία, να γυρίσουν τα στρατεύματα από το εξωτερικό· για απεμπλοκή από τα ιμπεριαλιστικά σχέδια ΗΠΑ, ΝΑΤΟ, Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης· για να ανοίξει ο δρόμος της αποδέσμευσης από όλες τις ιμπεριαλιστικές ενώσεις, με τον λαό στην εξουσία.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Michael Gahler
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Mr President, over an eight-year period, the world has witnessed a systematic, multifaceted Russian policy of invading, destabilising and demonising Ukraine. The reason is not that Ukraine was a military threat to Russia or that Russian speakers were discriminated against. Such claims are wrong. Nor should we buy the argument that NATO membership was such a threat. We know it is not our weapons, but it is the power of the values and the attractiveness of democratic societies that pose an existential threat to a repressive Russian state structure behind whose Potemkin facade anything goes.  Yesterday, Putin left all options on the table. During the press conference with the German Chancellor, he continued his obvious lie that a genocide was ongoing in the Donbas. His interpretation of history deprives Ukrainians of all features of statehood, claiming it was one people, one empire, one language, one church. No, Mr Putin, it is not.  Let us now be prudent. With the implementation of the Minsk Accord, let us not exert undue pressure on Ukraine in order to appease Russian claims. They cannot hand out hundreds of thousands of passports to the citizens of Luhansk and Donetsk and claim the recognition of these Russian Bantustans and, at the same time, demand that Ukraine grant a special status to this region.  Ukrainians must stand together against the external threat, but they also need to put their internal divisions aside. Now is not the time for nit-picking partisan infighting. Join forces and implement the ambitious reform agenda that will one day make you an irresistible European country that enjoys all perspectives of a common future. We stand with Ukraine.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Tonino Picula
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, Mr High Representative, Commissioner, our relations with Russia have been at a low point for a while. Most political challenges at our external borders have directly or indirectly Russia as a common denominator. The list of open issues is long: disinformation, hybrid threats, funding of anti-democratic forces in the EU, and foreign interference. But today, our primary focus should be Ukraine. After an eight-year war with 14 000 victims, situation in and around Ukraine evolved into a global threat. Russia is also actively undermining Ukraine’s democratic and socio-economic development for years through political and economic means, as well as through disinformation.  So how can we best help Ukraine in this crisis? Despite the lack of progress, there is no alternative to continued talks. Diplomacy is still the only credible way to avoid doomsday scenarios. Meanwhile, the European Union has to continue supporting Ukraine, building deterrence, boosting Ukraine’s economy and defence, and supporting reform processes as well. We should also work to increase the potential costs of Russian aggressions by introducing sanctions against individuals, banks and companies involved in plans to attack Ukraine. Halting Nord Stream 2, in case of aggression, would increase our leverage while doing all of the above. Ukraine is a sovereign country with internationally recognised borders that has a full right to decide on its geopolitical orientation. The ongoing crisis has shown once again that any local crisis in Europe can turn into a global threat with possible deteriorating consequences. This should be an urgent call for the EU to enhance our own ability to respond quickly and in a unified way. While awaiting a much-needed comprehensive EU strategy towards Russia, we stand with Ukraine.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Nathalie Loiseau
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, cher Josep Borrell, l’Ukraine ne veut pas d’une guerre, l’Europe non plus, pas plus que les États-Unis, et je suis profondément convaincue que le peuple russe, lui aussi, veut la paix. Pourtant, plus de 130 000 soldats russes sont massés à la frontière ukrainienne. Des manœuvres russes sans précédent se déroulent en Biélorussie. Des navires russes croisent en mer Noire en nombre tout à fait inhabituel. On nous annonce que des troupes pourraient être retirées; mais dans le même temps l’Ukraine subit de nouvelles cyberattaques et Vladimir Poutine dénonce un prétendu génocide au Donbass, qui n’existe que dans son imagination. C’est Vladimir Poutine, et lui seul, qui menace de recourir à la force. Si une guerre advient, en dépit des efforts diplomatiques d’Emmanuel Macron et d’Olaf Scholz, en dépit de la retenue observée par Volodymyr Zelensky, le président russe en sera le seul responsable et il devra en payer le prix. Il a choisi d’intimider l’Ukraine et de tenter de l’affaiblir non pas parce que l’OTAN le menace, mais pour un motif beaucoup plus profond et qui nous concerne tous. Aujourd’hui, Kiev tourne le dos à la Russie et regarde vers l’Europe. L’Ukraine ne rêve en rien d’un retour vers l’Union soviétique. Ce qui fait rêver l’Ukraine, c’est l’Union européenne. Mes chers collègues, nous sommes le plus grand espoir de l’Ukraine. Je nous appelle solennellement à ne pas la décevoir.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: FI

Arvoisa puhemies, arvoisa puheenjohtaja, arvoisa korkea edustaja, äsken kuulimme puheita siitä, että EU on toiminut yhtenäisesti ja painokkaasti, mutta näistä puheista huolimatta on mielestäni selvää, että EU ei toimi tässä kriisissä koko painollaan. Nato on tässä kriisissä keskeinen, ja EU:ta heikentää se, että sen kuusi jäsenmaata on Naton ulkopuolella. Jotkut näistä jäsenmaista saattavat vielä uskoa puolueettomuuteen, vaikka tosiasiat eivät puhu enää puolueettomuuden puolesta. Jotkut taas niistä toivovat, että EU on muuttumassa puolustusliitoksi, ja tätäkään toivetta eivät tosiasiat tue. Siksi arvoisat kollegat minusta olisi erittäin tärkeää, että Nato kutsuisi kaikki sen ulkopuolella olevat EU:n jäsenvaltiot jäsenikseen. Nimittäin Putin on jo saanut aikaan sen, että esimerkiksi Suomessa on tapahtunut aivan selvä liikahdus Naton suuntaan. Kuten tiedätte, Suomi on jo vuosia ollut Naton läheinen kumppani. On välttämätöntä, että osoitamme tässä tilanteessa vankkumattoman tukemme Ukrainalle, sen suvereenisuudelle ja alueelliselle koskemattomuudelle. Lännen on pysyttävä yhtenäisenä ja osoitettava olevansa tosissaan vastatoimista. Sanktiot on kohdistettava nyt myös Putiniin ja hänen lähipiirinsä, väistämättä kaasu- ja ydinvoimayhteistyötä.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Hélène Laporte
Political group: ID
Language: FR

 Monsieur le Président, mes chers collègues, hélas, la France n’a obtenu aucune avancée diplomatique à la suite de la visite d’Emmanuel Macron à Moscou. Et pour cause: à ce jour, la menace potentielle d’un conflit avec l’Ukraine est surtout une position avancée par les États-Unis. N’oublions pas que le grand patron de la marine allemande a été destitué parce qu’il avait osé avancer une position différente – en indiquant que cette menace de guerre était une ineptie. Comment comprendre également que le Quai d’Orsay ne demande toujours pas à nos ressortissants de quitter le territoire ukrainien? Restons dans du factuel. D’ailleurs, les manœuvres russes à la frontière sont entièrement déclarées et, si invasion il doit y avoir, l’effet de surprise eût été plus opportun.  «J’ai obtenu qu’il n’y ait pas de dégradation et d’escalade», affirme avec force Emmanuel Macron au sortir de son entrevue avec le président russe. Mais, là encore, une position différente est rapportée de la part de la Russie, le porte-parole du Kremlin ayant immédiatement déclaré que ces propos n’étaient pas exacts. Actuellement, de nombreuses armes sont vendues par les Américains à l’Ukraine. Il appartient à la France d’avoir une politique gaullienne, qui nous maintienne à égale distance entre les États-Unis et la Russie.  Derrière ce conflit se cache une problématique sur l’énergie. D’un côté, nous souhaitons fermer le robinet du Nord Stream 2 avec le premier producteur de gaz aux frontières européennes; de l’autre côté, nous achetons du gaz au Qatar et à l’Algérie, qui ne sont pas connus pour être de grandes démocraties.  Rappelons enfin que Kiev est objectivement sous perfusion d’argent public européen. Cela nous pose question quant à l’influence que nous souhaitons avoir dans cette région du monde. Le vote en urgence lundi soir, sans débat, d’une aide macrofinancière d’un montant de 1,2 milliard d’euros au profit de l’Ukraine en est l’exemple. Mais ce n’est pas tout: il faut rappeler également qu’une somme de 17 milliards d’euros a déjà été versée au moyen de dons et de prêts, lesquels ne seront jamais remboursés, alors même que la Cour des comptes a conclu à une mauvaise utilisation des fonds, liée à la corruption.  Je vous remercie et terminerai en disant que personne ne souhaite la guerre au niveau européen.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Witold Jan Waszczykowski
Political group: ECR
Country: Romania
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Od dawna niestety bezowocnie wielu z nas nawołuje o kary dla Rosji za szantażowanie Ukrainy i części Europy. Niestety po wizycie kanclerza Scholza w Moskwie przestałem wierzyć, że takie sankcje nastąpią. Przestałem wierzyć też w znaczące wsparcie dla Ukrainy. Wysyłamy Ukrainie tylko wyrazy politycznej solidarności.  Cieszy mnie jednak, że zaczynamy rozmawiać o większej pomocy finansowej. Jednak już czas, aby rozpocząć następny etap współpracy po Partnerstwie Wschodnim, które chyba wyczerpało swoje możliwości. Otwórzmy ścieżkę do członkostwa w Unii Europejskiej dla Ukrainy, Mołdawii i Gruzji. Po pierwsze, może być to przyłączenie do inicjatywy Trójmorza – to sektorowa współpraca w dziedzinie energetycznej i infrastruktury transportowej. Po drugie, otwórzmy dalsze sektory i agencje unijne. Trzecim krokiem powinno być włączenie tych państw do wspólnego rynku, na przykład na wzór Szwajcarii. I wreszcie czwarty element to członkostwo po spełnieniu kryteriów kopenhaskich.  Ekonomiczny sukces Ukrainy w Unii, czyli pozytywny alternatywny rozwój społeczeństwa postsowieckiego w Unii, to wielki przykład dla Rosjan i zmora dla Putina. Zgotujmy ten los Putinowi.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, we’ve had three months of this farce now, and the line between the real and the imaginary is blurred. The US and UK have used the media to flood pages, screens and airwaves with a load of unsubstantiated fear-mongering and lies gleaned from unaccountable, anonymous sources in the intelligence community. This has reached such a pitch that when Ukraine begs to the US and NATO to stop creating hysteria and provide some proof for the supposedly imminent any day now Russian invasion. Ukraine is ignored by the forces that pretend to protect them. NATO’s raison d’être is protecting Western corporate interests and the interests of the military industrial complex. But it looks like now they’re also protecting the interest of US gas and oil. The warmongering of NATO and the US these past few months has done nothing for peace in Europe, and the role played by NATO think tanks like the Atlantic Council was not good. People who want peace in Europe should be calling for NATO to be abolished.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Milan Uhrík
Political group: NI
Country: Austria
Language: SK

Pán predsedajúci, milí progresívni protiruskí štváči, už niekoľko mesiacov rozprávate o tom, ako chce Rusko zaútočiť na Ukrajinu. Už niekoľko mesiacov liberálne médiá píšu články o tom, ako je Rusko nejaký démon, ktorý ich chce ohroziť celú Európu. Pred pár dňami americký prezident Biden zverejnil senilné proroctvo, že vraj dnes má napadnúť Ruská federácia Ukrajinu. Čo sa stalo? Nič. Poviem vám to v mene viac ako polovice občanov Slovenskej republiky podľa štatistík. Máme toho už naozaj dosť, a toto je odkaz najmä pre všetkých amerických vojnových štváčov a ich prisluhovačov v Európe, v Európskej únii, aby si zbalili americkú armádu a odišli z Európy a neťahali nás do svojich konfliktov, do svojich vojen. Európa chce mier. Prosím vás, dajte si dobre tieto provokácie aj na Ukrajine. Pozrite sa na maďarského premiéra Viktora Orbána ako v mieri, konštruktívne rokoval v Moskve o spolupráci, o lacnejších cenách energií. Toto je cesta, ktorou musí Európa ísť. Spolupráca a nie vojna.