For more than 800 days, Ukraine is withstanding the Russian invasion, and we are not alone in this struggle. One of our most reliable ally is European Union which is not only provides Ukraine with financial and military support but exerts economic pressure on the aggressor country by sanctions aimed to the shrinkage of import of Russian originated products to EU countries. It should be noted that sanctions implemented by the European Commission appeared highly effective. But those sanctions would never be realized without the majority support in the European Parliament – the highest legislative and representative entity of the European Union. And thankfully to the European Deputies support, Russia today is not able to realize its plans to take over Ukraine.

One of the main positions is steel products of the Russian origin, import of which had been shortened drastically due to sanctions. Feeling grateful for such a help, Association UKRMETALURGPROM on behalf of multi-thousand Ukrainian steelmaking community had sent official Letters of Gratitude to very number of most active European MPs, such as  Mr.Michael GAHLER from Germany, Mr.Guy VERHOFSTADT from Belgium, Ms.Anna FOTYGA and Mr.Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI from Poland, Mr.Andrius KUBILIUS from Lithuania and others. In these letters it was indicated the personal contribution of each of them into implementation of sanctional pressure on the aggressor country that allowed not only to decrease the direct and indirect financial and technical support of the Russian Armed Forces, but to save thousands of Ukrainian lives and facilitate the economic and industrial restoration of Ukraine

We are sure that, in a future, the European Union will continue to demonstrate the full support of our country in its struggle for its freedom and independence, and sanctions against Russia will become increasingly significant and comprehensive.