Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hammered this Thursday, February 9 before the European Parliament that the defense of Ukrainian territory against Russian invasion was also the defense of Europe.
“We are defending ourselves against the most anti-European force in the modern world”he launched. “We defend ourselves, we defend you”he added, to loud applause from MEPs.
The Ukrainian president had been acclaimed earlier by MEPs, standing in the hemicycle to applaud him, before his speech before the European Parliament.
War in Ukraine: “Weapons alone do not bring victory”
After stops in London and Paris the day before, Volodymyr Zelensky must take part in a summit in the Belgian capital of the heads of state and government of the European Union, which he will ask to deliver combat planes to kyiv in the face of to the advances of the Russian army, almost a year after the outbreak of the Moscow offensive.
“Thank you very much for your support”said Volodymyr Zelensky on his arrival at the European Parliament, before listening to the anthems of Ukraine and the EU (Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”) alongside Roberta Metsola, before entering in the hemicycle under an ovation of several minutes.
“This is an extraordinary moment, in extraordinary times”said Roberta Metsola, in a speech punctuated by the applause of the deputies.
“Ukraine is Europe”
“Now states must consider, quickly, as a next step, providing the long-range systems and jets you need to protect the freedom that too many people took for granted.”underlined the leader in front of the Ukrainian president.
“Our response must be proportionate to the threat, and the threat is existential […].We are with you as long as it takes”underlined Roberta Metsola.
“Ukraine is Europe, the future of your nation is in the EU. We know the sacrifice your people have endured for Europe, and we must honor it not only with words but also with deeds”, she insisted. The Twenty-Seven granted kyiv the status of candidate for EU membership.
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“When the world thinks of Ukraine, it thinks of heroes defying all odds, of David defeating Goliath […]. Heroes whose names will be remembered for generations”said Roberta Metsola.
She had earlier praised on Twitter “a historic day for Europe”with the intervention of the Ukrainian President “in the house of European democracy”.
In a joint statement, the presidents of the different political groups in the European Parliament called on the Twenty-Seven “to increase and accelerate their military assistance, to provide the necessary military equipment and defense systems and to train the Ukrainian forces”.
“We reaffirm that Ukraine’s future lies within the European Union and we welcome the considerable efforts made by Ukraine to achieve the objectives linked to its accession”they said.
