Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday where he called for more weapons to repel Russia’s invasion and a quick start to talks for his country to join the EU.
“Europe, we are defending ourselves against the biggest anti-European force of the modern world,” Zelensky said. “We, Ukrainians, on the battlefield, together with you.”
He promised that a victorious Ukraine would join the EU.
Zelensky was attending a summit of the leaders of the 27 European Union countries.
A day earlier he met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London and had dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris on Wednesday evening.
Josep Borrell, who chairs EU summits, told reporters the EU’s 27 national leaders would promise more military support for Ukraine, though he gave no details.
Zelensky, whose only other trip abroad since the war began was a surprise visit to Washington in December, has been feted as a war-time hero by Western leaders that have backed Ukraine with weapons, including main battle tanks and advanced rockets.
“You need to win. And now (EU) member states must consider quickly, as the next step, providing long-range systems and the jets that you need to protect your liberty,” the head of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said introducing Zelensky’s speech.
