E.U. Ambassador to U.S. Stavros Lambrinidis discusses Ukraine - "The Takeout"

Ukraine is closer than ever before and the E.U. is focusing its attention on temporary residency for displaced civilians in order to help the approximately one million people who fled Ukraine within the past week.

On this week's episode, Major Garrett, CBS News chief Washington correspondent, said that Lambrinidis was "very much focusing on ending the war and we absolutely will concentrate on continuing to support Ukraine, and bring it closer towards the E.U."
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, applied for membership in the E.U. This week, the Russian invasion began. However, becoming an E.U. member was possible this week. Membership is a complicated process which can take many years. Poland joined the EU in 2004. It took them 10 years to reach full membership.

Lambrinidis said that Russia's assault continues. He also stressed the importance of Western solidarity in the face Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s aggression. Putin has another goal, which is to split the West on geopolitical matters.

"We are very aware that this is existential. It reminds us of the Hitlers, Stalins and other past dictators," Lambrinidis stated. The number of Ukrainians who died in the conflict is estimated to be between several hundred and around 2,000.

"[Putin] is trying to kill two birds with one stone. As we speak, he is killing Ukrainians on the ground, and trying to eradicate that country's existence as an independent nation. Lambrinidis stated that this is very local, very real, very bloody. He is also trying to disintegrate NATO and NATO unity. He wants to dismantle the United Nations and international laws. He wants to make a world where might is right.

Lambrinidis is an ex-special representative of the European Union. aiding refugees who have been displaced by the fighting. The European Union interior ministers unanimously supported a plan that would allow Ukrainians to remain in their country under temporary protected status for at most one year.

Labrinidis stated that the E.U. provides a residence permit in addition to the E.U. Labrinidis proposed to member states that refugees have "a right of work, a child's right to school and a right at health care."

The Biden administration also announced that it would grant temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees for 18 more months.

Lambrinidis was proud of the heroism displayed by Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukrainian President), who has remained in Kyiv through the invasion.

He said, "He spoke to the European Parliament from Ukraine two days ago, and I was a European Parliament member for seven years, and I was vice president of European Parliament seven year,". "I have heard many inspiring speeches. "I've never seen all of the members of that parliament from the right, and I was left cheering their actions and jumping on their feet."

Highlights

• On Zelensky - "He has transformed himself into the face resistance, heroism, and hope. I believe that that is an inspiration for all. Two days ago, he spoke to the European Parliament from Ukraine. I was a member for seven years and vice-president of the European Parliament seven. I have heard many inspiring speeches. I have never seen all of the members of that parliament from left and right jumping up on their feet and applauding how they did it."

• E.U. Temporary Protected Status: Ukrainians "We propose to our member countries to agree that they immediately also get a residence permit and a work permit. We also want to give the children the right to attend school. And we offer health care. We are doing this because we won't allow Putin to kill these people and their spirit. They are citizens of Ukraine if they have to flee. They are coming back, hopefully to a liberated Ukraine soon. We have to take our part to protect them.

• E.U. Ukraine membership: "Membership in the EU is a lengthy process. But the truth is that we are closer today to Ukraine through the association agreement and everything we do, including recent efforts for their electricity supply. We are very focused on ending the war and will continue to support Ukraine to bring it closer to EU.

• Putin's goals "[Putin] is trying to literally kill both birds with one stone. As we speak, he is killing Ukrainians and trying to eradicate that country as an independent nation. This is very localized, very real and very bloody. He is also trying to disintegrate NATO and NATO unity. He wants to dismantle the United Nations and international laws. He wants to make a world where might is right.