“A quarter century after the Homeland War, a war is raging on European soil again. To the shock of the whole world, Russia’s unprovoked brutal aggression on Ukraine is in its seventh day. There has been no war of such force and such extent in Europe for 77 years,” he said, presenting a report on the Ukraine situation.
The “gross violation of international law” already has “far-reaching consequences for the whole world” and this crisis will most likely last a while, Plenković said.
He reiterated that Croatia “condemns the Russian aggression in the strongest terms and extends full support to the Ukrainian people who at this moment is once again dying for European values.”
He congratulated Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on their courage.
Plenković said this was “a war between David and Goliath in which Russia is attacking the 28 times smaller Ukraine,” adding that Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine the victim.
Croatia is sending Ukraine HRK 124 million worth of weapons, ammunition and protective gear for the infantry. The European Union (EU) has ensured €500 million for the procurement of protective and military equipment.
Ukrainians won’t bow down
Plenković said that Croatia had shown, with its partners in the EU, determination, solidarity and unity, and that this war had identified the need for energy autonomy and strengthening defence capabilities.
He said Croatia had always advocated Ukraine’s European perspective, recalling that he and Zelenskyy signed a Declaration on that perspective in Kyiv last December.
Plenković said the war in Ukraine revived memories of Croatia’s Homeland War. “All those images revive in Croatia painful memories of the Milošević regime’s Great Serbian aggression and the horrors of war that we went through.”
He congratulated Croatian MPs on the unanimous condemnation of Russia and solidarity with Ukraine, saying he was pleased that the parliamentary majority and the opposition are “on the right side of justice and freedom.”
Attending the parliamentary debate were Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Kyrylych and members of the Ukrainian minority. The Ukrainian flag was also displayed.
“By supporting Ukraine and respecting the courage of Ukrainians not to run away from tanks, not to give in to blackmail, not to bow down, to be inspired by love for the homeland like the Croats were in the Homeland War, let’s stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians today. Glory to Ukraine,” Plenković said to a round of applause.
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