The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who arrived in Kyiv on a solidarity visit on Tuesday, February 19, honored the memory of the victims of the shooting of protesters during Euromaidan. Then the European guest arrived in the Ukrainian Parliament, where a meeting was held in connection with the fifth anniversary of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. In his speech from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada, Tusk confirmed Brussels' commitment to partnership with Ukraine and also assured that Europe will never recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea and will not abandon anti-Russian sanctions. "You have resisted, although your partners do not always help you as it should... Also, the EU will not accept any act of Russian aggression at sea", - Tusk said, clearly in the context of Russia's capture of Ukrainian sailors in the Kerch Strait.

Tusk made his speech in Ukrainian and said that despite the opposition of some "friends of Russia" in the European Union, friends of Ukraine guarantee its further support in the struggle for common European values and resistance to Russian aggression. "There can be no just Europe without an independent Ukraine. There can be no safe Europe without a safe Ukraine. To put it simply: there can be no Europe without Ukraine!" - Tusk said and gave five recommendations to the Kyiv. Among them, he mentioned the need to avoid internal conflicts during the presidential and parliamentary elections this year, the revenge of nationalism and populism." The basis of a united Europe is solidarity instead of selfishness, historical truth instead of propaganda. The danger of the temptation of radical populism comes from complexes and weakness, and Ukrainians have all the grounds and right to feel proud and strong now", - Tusk said as informs Deutsche Welle. He also called for the continuation of the fight against corruption and of social mobility for young people.

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, who also spoke in the Verkhovna Rada, concluded his speech by signing amendments to the Constitution, which consolidate Ukraine's desire to become a member of the European Union and NATO. He stressed that the murder of the Heavenly Hundred was the beginning of a bloody war that Russia started for the restoration of the Empire, and the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of part of the territory of Donbass became the prelude of a hybrid war not only against Ukraine but also against the West.

Some criticism has been raised from the hall also: Refat Chubarov the leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people urged President Poroshenko to submit a draft law on amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution as soon as possible for approval of the Verkhovna Rada, which consolidates the status of the Crimean Tatar autonomy. "The right of the Crimean Tatar people to self-determination as the indigenous people of Ukraine will provide our country and international partners with new legal instruments and levers to restore Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea", - Chubarov explained, according to Deutsche Welle.

The meeting was also attended by deputies of Polish and Lithuanian Seimas. Performance by the main guest Donald Tusk in the Verkhovna Rada was not limited. According to the program of the visit, he also managed to visit Lviv. There he walked around the city, met with mayor Andriy Sadovyi and left a note in the Book of Honorary Guests.[1]

The visit of the President of the European Council Donald Tusk became an extraordinary event in the political life of Ukraine. But despite his love for Ukraine, Tusk demonstrated that Europe is tired of our state and is waiting for Kyiv's decisive steps in the conflict with Russia and fight against corruption. This opinion was expressed to the "Apostrophe", by the diplomat, chief adviser to the International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS) Vasyl Filipchuk.

The speech of the President of the European Council Donald Tusk in the Ukrainian Parliament, and even in the Ukrainian language, really became an extraordinary event. Although, in fact, the high guest did not say something radically new or unusual. Ukraine is part of Europe-it is a geographical fact. The EU welcomes Ukraine's European aspirations. The EU does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and will continue sanctions against Russia – the minimum correct and rational position for the EU in conditions where one part of the EU can not do more in response to Russian aggression and the other does not want to do. Both in the statement of the EU's position on Ukraine and in the recommendations on "what to do" Tusk repeated the previously expressed theses, but did it in a balanced, sincere, restrained, emotional and tolerant way, in the absence of arrogance and narcissism – this is all what many, even the best domestic native speakers lack. And this is what really bribed everyone who listened to this great performance.

Although there was something new that the President of the European Council has said. More precisely – quoted. Donald Tusk read a part of Halyna Kruk's poem "All of us, Europe, are so deeply concerned", where the Lviv poetess harshly criticized the EU for the lack of effective assistance to Ukraine when there were murders on the Maidan. The fact that such an official included in his speech such harsh critical words in his own address is in fact a recognition by the EU of its share of responsibility for the lack of an adequate response to events in our region.

This is really something new. In the EU do not like to talk about their own mistakes, especially to recognize them so loudly and at this level. Only representative of Poland in the EU leadership could do it, who understand more the pain of the Ukrainian people, and could afford such words half a year before the end of his tenure. In the near future, it is unlikely that there will be a few more politicians of this level who will be able to take such steps. The atmosphere within Europe is changing-both in discussions about the future of Europe itself, and in discussion of relationships with its neighbors. When it comes to relations with our state "Ukraine fatigue" again becomes a favorite word of officials in European capitals. Of course, there is hope for a reboot of the country after the election - but it is very, very insignificant.[2]

Consequently, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, once again expresses the gesture of his continued support to our state. Tusk's visit to Ukraine on the next anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity confirms that the EU approves and helps our movement with the European integration course, and will be in solidarity with Ukraine in the future. Therefore, it should be remembered that on the chosen path of reforms and implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement are our top priorities.

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who arrived in Kyiv on a solidarity visit on Tuesday, February 19, honored the memory of the victims of the shooting of protesters during Euromaidan. Then the European guest arrived in the Ukrainian Parliament, where a meeting was held in connection with the fifth anniversary of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. In his speech from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada, Tusk confirmed Brussels' commitment to partnership with Ukraine and also assured that Europe will never recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea and will not abandon anti-Russian sanctions. "You have resisted, although your partners do not always help you as it should... Also, the EU will not accept any act of Russian aggression at sea", - Tusk said, clearly in the context of Russia's capture of Ukrainian sailors in the Kerch Strait.

Tusk made his speech in Ukrainian and said that despite the opposition of some "friends of Russia" in the European Union, friends of Ukraine guarantee its further support in the struggle for common European values and resistance to Russian aggression. "There can be no just Europe without an independent Ukraine. There can be no safe Europe without a safe Ukraine. To put it simply: there can be no Europe without Ukraine!" - Tusk said and gave five recommendations to the Kyiv. Among them, he mentioned the need to avoid internal conflicts during the presidential and parliamentary elections this year, the revenge of nationalism and populism." The basis of a united Europe is solidarity instead of selfishness, historical truth instead of propaganda. The danger of the temptation of radical populism comes from complexes and weakness, and Ukrainians have all the grounds and right to feel proud and strong now", - Tusk said as informs Deutsche Welle. He also called for the continuation of the fight against corruption and of social mobility for young people.

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, who also spoke in the Verkhovna Rada, concluded his speech by signing amendments to the Constitution, which consolidate Ukraine's desire to become a member of the European Union and NATO. He stressed that the murder of the Heavenly Hundred was the beginning of a bloody war that Russia started for the restoration of the Empire, and the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of part of the territory of Donbass became the prelude of a hybrid war not only against Ukraine but also against the West.

Some criticism has been raised from the hall also: Refat Chubarov the leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people urged President Poroshenko to submit a draft law on amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution as soon as possible for approval of the Verkhovna Rada, which consolidates the status of the Crimean Tatar autonomy. "The right of the Crimean Tatar people to self-determination as the indigenous people of Ukraine will provide our country and international partners with new legal instruments and levers to restore Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea", - Chubarov explained, according to Deutsche Welle.

The meeting was also attended by deputies of Polish and Lithuanian Seimas. Performance by the main guest Donald Tusk in the Verkhovna Rada was not limited. According to the program of the visit, he also managed to visit Lviv. There he walked around the city, met with mayor Andriy Sadovyi and left a note in the Book of Honorary Guests.[1]

The visit of the President of the European Council Donald Tusk became an extraordinary event in the political life of Ukraine. But despite his love for Ukraine, Tusk demonstrated that Europe is tired of our state and is waiting for Kyiv's decisive steps in the conflict with Russia and fight against corruption. This opinion was expressed to the "Apostrophe", by the diplomat, chief adviser to the International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS) Vasyl Filipchuk.

The speech of the President of the European Council Donald Tusk in the Ukrainian Parliament, and even in the Ukrainian language, really became an extraordinary event. Although, in fact, the high guest did not say something radically new or unusual. Ukraine is part of Europe-it is a geographical fact. The EU welcomes Ukraine's European aspirations. The EU does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and will continue sanctions against Russia – the minimum correct and rational position for the EU in conditions where one part of the EU can not do more in response to Russian aggression and the other does not want to do. Both in the statement of the EU's position on Ukraine and in the recommendations on "what to do" Tusk repeated the previously expressed theses, but did it in a balanced, sincere, restrained, emotional and tolerant way, in the absence of arrogance and narcissism – this is all what many, even the best domestic native speakers lack. And this is what really bribed everyone who listened to this great performance.

Although there was something new that the President of the European Council has said. More precisely – quoted. Donald Tusk read a part of Halyna Kruk's poem "All of us, Europe, are so deeply concerned", where the Lviv poetess harshly criticized the EU for the lack of effective assistance to Ukraine when there were murders on the Maidan. The fact that such an official included in his speech such harsh critical words in his own address is in fact a recognition by the EU of its share of responsibility for the lack of an adequate response to events in our region.

This is really something new. In the EU do not like to talk about their own mistakes, especially to recognize them so loudly and at this level. Only representative of Poland in the EU leadership could do it, who understand more the pain of the Ukrainian people, and could afford such words half a year before the end of his tenure. In the near future, it is unlikely that there will be a few more politicians of this level who will be able to take such steps. The atmosphere within Europe is changing-both in discussions about the future of Europe itself, and in discussion of relationships with its neighbors. When it comes to relations with our state "Ukraine fatigue" again becomes a favorite word of officials in European capitals. Of course, there is hope for a reboot of the country after the election - but it is very, very insignificant.[2]

Consequently, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, once again expresses the gesture of his continued support to our state. Tusk's visit to Ukraine on the next anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity confirms that the EU approves and helps our movement with the European integration course, and will be in solidarity with Ukraine in the future. Therefore, it should be remembered that on the chosen path of reforms and implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement are our top priorities.