Ukraine’s Zelenskyy closes European tour with visit to EU summit – National | 24CA News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was wrapping up a whirlwind tour of his main European backers on Thursday, searching for assurances that Ukraine may at some point develop into a part of the European Union.

Zelenskky will already head dwelling with heaps of goodwill and commitments of extra navy help.

He arrived to the European Parliament to rapturous applause, cheering and hoots from legislators, insisting in his plenary speech that Ukraine’s struggle in opposition to Russia was one fought for the liberty of Europe as an entire.

“A Ukraine that is winning is going to be member of the European Union,” Zelenskyy mentioned to applause, constructing his handle across the frequent future that Ukraine and the 27-nation bloc face in confronting Russia head-on.

“Europe will always be, and remain Europe as long as we are together and as long as we take care of our Europe, as we take care of the European way of life,” he mentioned.

Zelenskyy added that Russia needs to destroy the European lifestyle, however “we will not allow that.”

He held up an EU flag after his handle and the whole legislature stood in somber silence because the Ukrainian nationwide anthem after which European anthem “Ode to Joy” had been performed.

Zelenskyy then headed to the urn-shaped Europa constructing the place the 27 EU leaders had been assembly to push those self same factors.

Before Zelenskyy spoke, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola mentioned allies ought to take into account “quickly, as a next step, providing long-range systems” and fighter jets to Ukraine. Metsola mentioned the response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s struggle in opposition to Ukraine “must be proportional to the threat, and the threat is existential.”

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Metsola additionally instructed him that “we have your back. We were with you then, we are with you now, we will be with you for as long as it takes.”

EU leaders had been hoping to impress on Zelenskyy that the highly effective bloc is steadfast in its help for Ukraine as Russia is feared to be making strikes for a brand new offensive across the Feb. 24 anniversary of the struggle.

The newest draft of the summit conclusions seen by The Associated Press says “the European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned the bloc will ship Zelenskyy “this signal of unity and solidarity, and can show that we will continue our support for Ukraine in defending its independence and integrity for as long as this is necessary.”

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas mentioned that “it is my plea that everyone will do what they can. The price will go up with every delay.”

Zelenskyy’s high-profile pursuit of extra Western navy help got here as proof mounted that Russia’s anticipated offensive across the anniversary of the invasion is beginning to take form.

The Kremlin’s forces “have regained the initiative in Ukraine and have begun their next major offensive” within the jap Luhansk area, most of which is occupied by Russia, the Institute for the Study of War, mentioned in its newest evaluation.

“Russian forces are gradually beginning an offensive, but its success is not inherent or predetermined,” the U.S.-based suppose tank mentioned.

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Zelenskyy used the dais of the European Parliament hoping to match Wednesday’s speech to Britain’s legislature when he thanked the nation for its unrelenting help.

That identical help has come from the EU. The bloc and its member states have already backed Kyiv with about 50 billion euros ($53.6 billion) in help, offered navy {hardware} and imposed 9 packages of sanctions on the Kremlin.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s workplace has already confirmed the bloc “will reiterate Europeans’ unwavering support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” Few would anticipate something much less.

The EU is within the midst of brokering a brand new sanctions package deal price about 10 billion euros ($10.7 billion) earlier than the struggle’s anniversary. And there’s nonetheless loads of scope for exporting extra navy {hardware} to Ukraine as a Russian spring offensive is anticipated.

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Russia can also be watching Zelenskyy’s actions intently. On Wednesday, Russian state tv confirmed the flight path of a British air drive airplane that Zelenskyy used to journey to London taken from a flight monitoring website. The anchor famous that the airplane flew from the Polish air base in Rzeszow that serves as a hub for Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.

One matter that wasn’t on the agenda in Britain however can be in Brussels is Ukraine’s need to develop into a member of the European Union as quickly as attainable.

A high-profile go to to EU headquarters can solely add to the goodwill to assist his nation on to the highway of accession talks. Ukraine is speaking about becoming a member of the EU in a matter of years, whereas observe has proven it may take a long time earlier than aspiring members are thought of match to affix.

Zelenskyy is aware of properly that the EU generally strikes at a snail’s tempo whereas he himself needed to be lightning quick to stave off an early Russian victory and arrange a protection of his huge nation that only a few would have deemed attainable a yr in the past.

Now, after preliminary hesitation, EU nations have lastly began to step up their navy contributions as properly.

Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands mentioned Tuesday that they plan to supply Ukraine with a minimum of 100 refurbished German-made Leopard 1 battle tanks within the coming months. The announcement adopted Germany agreeing final month to permit deliveries of the extra trendy Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Beyond EU high officers just like the summit host, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Zelenskyy ought to make time for bilateral conferences with leaders to press for extra {hardware}, starting from ammunition to warplanes — one thing the bloc as an entire doesn’t possess however particular person nations do.

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