With the suspension of USAID support by the American president, the European Union faces increasing pressure to step up its assistance to Ukraine. In a bid to gain firsthand insight into the situation on the ground, a delegation of Members of the European Parliament – including Luxembourg’s Tilly Metz of The Greens (Déi Gréng) – spent 48 hours in Kyiv in recent days.
The visit left a lasting impression on Metz, who praised the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people. She emphasised the pervasive sense of grief, especially in the aftermath of a recent Russian attack on the city of Sumy, an event whose emotional impact could be strongly felt in the capital.
The primary focus of the visit was to assess the condition of Ukraine’s healthcare system. With the front lines constantly shifting and cities under frequent bombardment, injured soldiers are being evacuated to Kyiv under cover of night to reduce the risk of further attacks.
Upon arrival, they are treated in a medical system already stretched beyond its limits. The war has exacerbated an already critical shortage of healthcare personnel, driven by displacement, casualties, and the redeployment of medical staff to the front.
Healthcare infrastructure itself has come under repeated attack, with Metz recounting the haunting image of a children’s hospital bombed last year: “From the outside, at least on one side, the hospital still looks completely bombed out and half in ruins. I was deeply impressed by how, despite all of this, even with electrical and water systems being deliberately targeted, they still manage to keep the healthcare system running.”
The situation has further deteriorated following the decision by the new US administration to scale back support from USAID, the American aid agency that had been a key provider of medical supplies for Ukraine’s healthcare system. According to Metz, this funding gap is placing increased pressure on the European Union to step up its assistance, particularly as mental health challenges among Ukrainians continue to rise.
Metz also stressed the need for deeper EU-Ukraine cooperation, especially in light of Ukraine’s ongoing EU accession efforts, a process the country is approaching with remarkable determination. “In 2024 alone, they passed 83 laws to align with EU legislation”, she said. “I was genuinely impressed by the resilience and courage this nation shows.”
Following her recent visit to Kyiv, Metz has taken a clear stance in favour of Ukraine joining the European Union – a position she supports with concrete examples of what Ukraine can offer to the bloc.
“Ukraine has over 100 pharmaceutical companies operating there”, Metz explained. “And through Ukraine – and this was also part of our discussions – they could produce APIs, which are active pharmaceutical ingredients. That would make us less dependent on countries like China and India. So really, it would be a win-win situation if Ukraine were part of the European Union.”
For Metz, Ukraine’s potential membership goes beyond solidarity: it offers strategic advantages for the EU, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, which is expanding rapidly and enjoys strong governmental support in Ukraine.
The message, she said, must be clear and consistent: “Ukrainians need strong, positive signals from Europe. In fact, during our visit, five of us MEPs proposed launching an inter-parliamentary commission, not just to talk about healthcare, but to deepen cooperation across all sectors where we can provide support.”
Metz also praised the extraordinary determination of Ukrainians, particularly in the healthcare field, where professionals continue to deliver care under wartime conditions.
During her 48-hour stay, Metz says she experienced three air raid alarms and had to seek shelter each time, a sobering reminder of the daily risks local civilians endure.
