Greta Thunberg Arrived in Ukraine
Swedish eco-activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Kyiv on June 29, according to the Office of the President of Ukraine. She is a member of the International Working Group that addresses the impact of Russian aggression on Ukraine's ecological system.
In Kyiv, Greta Thunberg met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Also present at the meeting were former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala, and the President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, Mary Robinson.
Volodymyr Zelensky focused on the catastrophic consequences for the residents of Kherson region, the agricultural sector, and the biodiversity of the region caused by the sabotage of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station by Russian forces. The President noted that as a result of this disaster, many people lost their lives in the occupied settlements where the Russians failed to evacuate from the flooded areas.
"Thank you for being here. This is an extremely important signal of support for Ukraine. We really need your professional assistance. It is important to propose a comprehensive set of measures to help the Ukrainians from temporarily occupied settlements. These are our people who need the necessary support at this difficult moment," emphasized Volodymyr Zelensky.
Greta Thunberg expressed gratitude for the invitation and emphasized her intention to involve representatives of environmental civil society organizations in a dialogue on the key tasks of the International Working Group and drawing attention to the environmental consequences of the war.
Margot Wallström emphasized the importance of ensuring maximum global support for the main directions of the International Working Group's activities, such as assessing the damage caused to the environment by Russian aggression, holding Russia accountable for environmental crimes and compensation for damages, as well as developing plans for environmental restoration in Ukraine and transitioning to a "green" economy.
Heidi Hautala remarked, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the severity of environmental crimes throughout the war; in Ukrainian legislation, this is unequivocally ecocide. The issue of accountability for these crimes must be addressed both at the national and international levels."
It is worth noting that Volodymyr Zelensky also held meetings with representatives of the global environmental community via video conference, which took place on June 8 during his visit to Kryvyi Rih.