“Slava Ukrainij” (“Long live Ukraine”): With these words Zelenskyj opened his speech in the EU Parliament. He was greeted with much applause by the MPs. The 45-year-old said that the applause of the deputies in the plenum was not aimed at himself, but at everyone in the towns and villages who supported Ukraine. “Everyone is able to exert a commitment to our common victory,” he said.
He thanked for the supply of arms and ammunition, of fuel and energy, of all the thousands of things “we need in this brutal war”. He thanked Parliament for condemning the war soon after the invasion began and for advocating for Ukraine to become a candidate for EU membership. It is about defending the European-Ukrainian way of life, said Zelenskyj.
Zelenskyj: Combative acceptance speech in Brussels
In a combative speech in the European Parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Europe for its support. Ukraine, along with Europe, is defending itself against Russia, the “biggest anti-European force in the modern world,” he said.
EU Parliament President for Fighter Jet Deliveries
“The future of your nation is in the European Union,” EU Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola said earlier in the direction of the Ukrainian President. She highlighted the importance of fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine. “Now the next step for states to consider is rapidly deploying long-range systems and aircraft,” she said. These would be needed to protect the freedom that too many would have taken for granted.
At the beginning of her speech, Metsola said that Zelenskyi’s leadership has inspired people in every corner of the world. “When the world thinks of Ukraine, it thinks of heroes who fight against all odds, of David defeating Goliath.” The sacrifices made by Ukraine must be honored with deeds, not just words.
It was an “extraordinary moment in extraordinary times,” Metsola said. She had officially announced Zelenskyj’s visit shortly before and spoke of a “historic day for Europe”. Ukraine wants to start negotiations on EU accession this year, but the 27 member states must decide unanimously on this. The EU Commission had dampened the President’s zeal at a summit in Kyiv last week.
Selenskyj demands fighter jet deliveries
Immediately after his speech in the EU Parliament, Zelenskyy made his way to the EU special summit. There he first had his picture taken with the government leaders of the member states. Ukraine “really needs ammunition, modern tanks, long-range missiles and combat aircraft,” Zelenskyy said at the EU summit. “We have to be faster than the attacker,” he warned the member states.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel welcomed the Ukrainian President shortly after landing at the airport. “Welcome to Brussels,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter, posting a photo in which she gives Selenskyj both hands.
Ukraine will be supported at every step towards the EU. Michel, who also posted a photo of himself and Zelenskyy, wrote: “Welcome home, welcome to the EU.”
Big security
The visit is accompanied by a high level of security. Numerous roads were closed in Brussels on Thursday morning. There has been speculation for days about the visit of the Ukrainian President. The planned visit was leaked by Metsola employees, Politico wrote. That was a faux pas, as it would endanger Zelenskyj’s safety, critics said.
Zelenskyj’s trip abroad is only the second since the Russian invasion on February 24 last year. In December he was in the USA after a stopover in Poland. Zelenskyj’s current journey began on Wednesday in Great Britain, where he also met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles III. met. In the evening, a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was on the program in Paris.
Meloni criticizes Paris visit
Selenskyj’s visit to Paris caused criticism from Italy: It was “inappropriate” that Macron invited Selenskyj to Paris on Wednesday evening and had dinner there with Scholz, Meloni said on her arrival at the EU summit. The post-fascist politician said that the Paris appointment could damage the common position of the European Union on the Ukraine issue. Meloni said that Macron was under domestic political pressure and that’s probably why he wanted to set an example with the invitation. Macron rejected the allegation.
EU summit between Ukraine, business and migration
At the special EU summit, the topic of migration will be high on the agenda, alongside the Ukraine war and the future of economic aid. Austria, which, among others, forced the special conference, wants to see action. “We have to put the brakes on asylum throughout the European Union,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) before the start of the special EU summit.
He referred to rapidly increasing numbers and called for more financial aid for countries like Bulgaria on the EU’s external border. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte made a similar statement. Both called for a set of measures that the EU states should decide on Thursday if possible. Italy is also pushing for a harder line. Scholz, on the other hand, said before the summit that he hoped that there would be a common line in the EU by the end of the year. It doesn’t make sense to go from one meeting to the next with decisions.