I Don’t Want Malta To Fight Someone Else’s War, PL MEP Warns After Metsola’s Latest Ukraine Call
Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba has come out against European Parliament President Roberta Metsola’s call for the EU to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles and fighter jets, warning that Malta “shouldn’t fight someone else’s war”.
“It seems as though the European Parliament has forgotten about the concept of peace and the importance of avoiding further escalations and confrontations,” Agius Saliba said.
“We have ended up in a narrative where the EU is continuously pushed to take on a more central role in the war, now by providing more killer fighter jets and missiles.”
“Although we should always show solidarity with people targeted by invasions by providing humanitarian assistance, as a Maltese person I don’t want my country to ever end up having to fight someone else’s wars.”
During a recent EP speech in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Metsola urged EU member states to ramp up their assistance to Ukraine.
“We know the sacrifice your people have endured for Europe and we must honour it not only with words but with action, with the political will to ensure easier trade and with the fastest possible accession process,” she said.
“With funds for your people, with help in reconstruction, with training for your troops. With military equipment and defence systems you need to win. And, now, States must consider, quickly, as a next step, providing long-range systems and the jets you need to protect the liberty too many have taken for granted.”
“Our response must be proportional to the threat – and the threat is existential.”
Metsola drew parallels between Ukraine’s situation and Malta’s plight during the Second World War.
“I grew up hearing my grandparents’ stories of my country’s last three fighter planes. When all seemed lost, when they had no ammunition, no food and no hope, all that remained were three barely functioning planes that they called Faith, Hope and Charity – named after what they were fighting for, after what was at stake,” she said.
“The planes meant one more day of liberty, just long enough for help to arrive. They meant peace. You do not need to convince anyone here of how essential it is to support Ukraine. To back all those giving their lives. To support the values we preach with concrete measures. To ensure victory, real peace – based on your 10-point plan, accountability for those who committed war crimes and for the protection of freedom for all Ukrainians.”
“And I want to repeat the promise I made to you when we met in Kyiv last April: we have your back. We were with you then, we are with you now, we will be with you for as long as it takes. Freedom will prevail. Peace will reign. You will win.”
Should the EU provide more military assistance to Ukraine?
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