Ukraine's Parliament Convenes Landmark Session
On February 3, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, will open its 15th session of the ninth convocation, setting a new national record. No previous convocation has even reached a 13th session. This session is further distinguished by a scheduled address from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Regular parliamentary sessions in Ukraine are mandated to begin on the first Tuesday of February and the first Tuesday of September each year.
The previous, 14th session, was opened on September 2, 2025. The current ninth convocation is the longest-lasting in Ukraine's history. Following the 2019 snap elections, 424 out of a possible 450 deputies entered parliament. Those elections were also notable for the 26 deputies elected from single-mandate constituencies. Holding elections in 2019 was impossible in 26 districts due to the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas.
Ukraine's NATO Membership Prospects
The Servant of the People party, which secured 254 mandates in the 2019 elections, achieved an absolute majority for the first time in Ukraine's history, allowing it to form a government alone. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has observed a gap between declared support and practical action among allies:
"Despite the officially declared irreversible path of Ukraine to the Alliance, several member states in practice oppose its membership." - Mark Rutte
He also stressed that a positive decision on accession requires the unanimous consent of all allies, which is currently lacking.
The opening of this 15th session underscores the resilience of Ukraine's political system, which has undergone significant changes in recent years. The presence of the NATO chief highlights the critical importance of international backing for Ukraine amid the ongoing geopolitical conflict. Given the complex path to Alliance integration, the membership question will remain a focal point for both Ukrainian lawmakers and their international partners for the foreseeable future.