Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, Monaco’s lead delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), traveled to Kyiv from Saturday, February 22 to Tuesday, February 25, to reinforce the National Council’s solidarity with Ukraine. Her packed itinerary focused on supporting children’s rights, humanitarian efforts, and closer parliamentary collaboration amid the country’s ongoing war with Russia.
Representing Monaco, Fresko-Rolfo emphasised the principality’s dedication to human rights and Ukraine’s cause, particularly as civilians—especially children—bear the brunt of the conflict. She joined a high-profile commemoration in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, First Lady Olena Zelenska, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The ceremony, a quiet show of global support, was briefly disrupted by an air raid alert, forcing attendees into a basement shelter. Once the all-clear sounded, the event resumed, undeterred.
Fresko-Rolfo also attended a session of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, where she met Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk to tackle shared challenges and cement parliamentary ties. Later, at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference, she engaged with figures like France’s Gabriel Attal, diving into Europe’s plans to back Ukraine and ensure regional stability.
A key part of her mission centred on Ukraine’s displaced children. Meeting with Iryna Suslova, the country’s children’s rights advocate, and two fellow parliamentarians, Fresko-Rolfo explored ways to locate and repatriate thousands of kids scattered abroad by the war. They hashed out practical steps the Parliamentary Network for Ukrainian Displaced Children could take to make it happen. She also sat down with officials handling prisoner-of-war repatriations, stressing the need for international teamwork to bring captives home safely.
From Monaco’s perspective, the visit was a clear signal: Ukraine’s fight matters. Fresko-Rolfo’s trip, blending diplomacy with action, underscored the principality’s resolve to stand by its Ukrainian counterparts as the conflict grinds on.
