"National security and defense should remain No.1 priority for the Ukrainian parliament at this session. This is our key priority, it is the preservation of our statehood, this is the preservation of Ukraine," the Speaker said, addressing the MPs at the opening of the Rada’s seventh session Tuesday.
He noted that independence and own state is the only guarantee of the security of the whole people.
"Today, when Ukrainian soldiers broke Putin's plans and sacrificed themselves, having stopped the aggressor within several districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, we have all the opportunities to protect and affirm Ukraine's independence," Parubiy said.
The chairman of Parliament hopes to resolve at the current session the remaining personnel issues at the Central Election Commission and the Accounting Chamber, and appoint an ombudsperson.
He also noted that among the priorities this fall the adoption of the 2018 state budget.
Read alsoGroysman names budget priorities for next year"I am convinced that together with the government, as in the past year, we will be able to go through all the stages in a full discussion mode, across committees and factions, so that we can get a balanced document that will be supported in this hall," Parubiy said, adding that this autumn the parliament will have a historic chance to complete a number of important reforms.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada reminded that healthcare, educational, judicial, and pension reforms are top priority issues to be considered this autumn.