🇺🇦🏛️ On Tuesday, 3 February, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially commenced the 15th session of the 9th convocation. This is a historic moment for Ukrainian parliamentarism: the current convocation has been operating for 6 years and 5 months — the longest in the history of independent Ukraine. Under martial law, when elections are not held, uninterrupted parliamentary work has become one of the key elements of the nation’s democratic resilience.
From the editorial perspective of www.ndu.kr.ua, we view this plenary sitting not merely as the formal opening of another session, but as an important political and security signal for Ukrainian society and international partners.
The opening of the new session was announced by First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniienko, who presided over the session hall. He officially closed the 14th session and, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, declared the 15th session of the 9th convocation open.
The session was attended by the parliamentary leadership, Members of Parliament, and the Cabinet of Ministers led by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. On this day, Serhii Karabuta also officially took up his parliamentary duties, swore the oath, and joined the “Servant of the People” faction.
The central event of the opening was the address by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who was on an official visit to Kyiv the same day.
From the parliamentary rostrum, he clearly outlined the Alliance’s position on supporting Ukraine. Rutte acknowledged that at the onset of the full-scale invasion, the West underestimated Ukrainian resistance and overestimated the capabilities of the Russian regime.
“Many thought the Russian dictator would win, but we were wrong. Ukraine stood firm, and today you are at the center of our security thinking,” he emphasised.
In his address, the NATO Secretary General provided key data that highlights the scale of international assistance:
75% of all missiles used on the front over the past year were supplied by Alliance countries;
90% of missiles for air defence systems also came from NATO members;
Allies are already working on joint arms development with Ukrainian engineers, shortening the path from production to the frontline;
A legal framework for long-term security guarantees is being developed with active participation from the US and Canada;
After a peace agreement is reached, guarantor states are expected to deploy a so-called “security umbrella” for Ukraine.
Rutte placed special emphasis on the need for a stable peace to be architecturally secured, avoiding the mistakes of the Budapest Memorandum or the Minsk agreements.
From a parliamentary perspective, this address goes beyond a diplomatic statement. It:
Confirms Ukraine’s long-term integration into the Euro-Atlantic security system;
Strengthens the case for further legislative decisions in the areas of defence, the military-industrial complex, and international cooperation;
Establishes a political basis for parliamentary oversight and transparency in the use of international aid, a key wartime responsibility.
For citizens, it signals that international support is not situational or temporary but built to last for years to come.
The opening of the 15th session of the 9th convocation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine showcased the institutional resilience of the parliament during wartime and clear international solidarity with Ukraine. For the legislative body, this entails heightened responsibility for:
Decision-making in the field of national security and defence;
Aligning legislation with Euro-Atlantic integration standards;
Exercising parliamentary oversight over the implementation of security guarantees and aid.
The www.ndu.kr.ua editorial team will continue to monitor the work of the Verkhovna Rada and explain to citizens how parliamentary decisions affect the security, rights, and future of Ukraine.
