Double standing ovation for Volodymyr Zelensky at the European Parliament in Brussels. Welcomed on his arrival by thunderous applause from MEPs, the Ukrainian president was greeted at the end of his speech with a roaring one-minute and thirty-second hand clapping, all standing in the hemicycle, before which Zelensky pleaded for Ukraine’s European aspirations.
At the end of the speech, the Ukrainian president and MEP Speaker Roberta Metsola unfurled and held the European flag together, and the applause was silenced by the Ukrainian national anthems and the European anthem.
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Zelensky’s speech at the European Parliament in Brussels
Europe “is our home, this is our path home. I’m here to defend the home of our Ukrainian people, of all Ukrainians who enjoy this common heritage, the European way of life that someone is trying to annihilate with an all-out war, because after destroying the Ukrainian model they want to destroy the European model, and we will not allow that,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Europarliament.
Zelensky’s speech to the European Parliament ended with the anthem of Ukraine and the anthem of the European Union.
“The coming weeks will be decisive” for the outcome of the war, and “priority must be given to military supplies” that are “useful to enable the Ukrainian people to conduct operations and resist, rather than commitments that come too late.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said this on the sidelines of the extraordinary EU summit, responding to a question about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to receive fighter jets from the Europeans.
“We have to assess what can be sent in the short term and corresponds to Ukrainian needs. This is what will determine our willingness to send military equipment”, the French President added.
Zelensky in London meets Sunak and King Charles
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Volodymyr Zelensky directly at Stansted Airport on Feb. 8, 2023 for an initial greeting. This, as part of yesterday’s visit of the Ukrainian president to the UK.
This is the second visit abroad since the start of the war with Russia on Feb. 24, 2022, following the one made in the U.S. in December. The one in the UK is the first in Europe, as local media point out highlighting Zelensky’s choice to visit London before Brussels.
The Ukrainian president and the British premier then left Downing Street to go to the House of Commons. Sunak stated that “The House can be reassured that we will continue to support Ukraine to achieve a decisive military victory on the battlefield in the current year.”
Zelensky thanked the UK for standing “by Ukraine’s side from day one” of the war against Russia. Thus, when the rest of the world had not yet realized the extent of the challenge.
Afterwards, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with King Charles III, who received him at Buckingham Palace. Before arriving, the Kiev leader said the meeting would be “a very special moment” for him.
Zelensky meets Macron and Scholz in Paris
After traveling to London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
It is the second stop of the Ukrainian president’s mission to Europe. Zelensky called for aircraft and heavy weapons “as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces have regained the initiative by beginning their major offensive in Lugansk. According to NATO, Moscow is preparing a new military offensive and there would be no signs toward peace.
Read also: Western tanks to Kiev, Moscow tests new supersonic missile. Is there still any hope for diplomacy?
