Zelensky criticized “permanent” business trips of people’s deputies

President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint briefing with the President of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development of Osil Rena-Basso criticized MPs who are on international business trips on February 6.

He expressed his assessment of the work of the deputies, answering the question of Radio Liberty journalist about whether he would involve parliamentarians in preparation for probable negotiations to end the war.

“It is important for us to hear the voice of every branch of power, but I would like these branches of power at work. Well, to hear someone’s voice, you need to have anyone to communicate. I constantly, you know, look like a person who does not give our parliamentarians living on a permanent business trip. Today we have a prayer breakfast in the United States. This, of course, is very important when half of the parliament is at a prayer breakfast, not in Kherson, not in Kharkiv region, not in Zaporozhye, not in Sumy, ”Zelensky said.

Read also: Kunitsky People’s Deputy, who has not returned from the United States for three months, left on the basis of a “weekly business trip” from BP

The President criticized parliamentarians who go on “permanent business trips” instead of working for voters:

“I’m not talking about all parliamentarians, but we have what we have with you. It seems to me that it is very important. Therefore, the President of Ukraine will consult with the Parliament of Ukraine when they are at work. ”

Radio Liberty has specified whether the words of Zelensky mean that he is not satisfied with the work of the Verkhovna Rada now.

“I am very pleased with the work of Parliament, but unfortunately, Parliament is not working every day,” he replied.

In January 2025, the People’s Deputy and leader of the European Solidarity faction Petro Poroshenko declared during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada that he was not allowed to leave Ukraine for meeting with European politicians. Instead, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk reported that he heard this information “surprised”, because Poroshenko’s business trip was agreed to other dates when he was in parliament.