On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the European Parliament during an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels.
Opening the session, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, told President Zelensky: "We understand that you are fighting not only for your values, but also for our values."
“Ukraine is Europe and the future of your nation is in the European Union,” continued President Metsola. She also added that the EU should provide Ukraine "the fastest possible accession process" and "as another step to provide the long-range systems and jets needed to protect the freedoms too many take for granted.”
In his speech to the MEPs, President Zelensky stressed that Russia is trying to annihilate not only sovereign Ukraine, but also the European "way of life". He outlined how he sees Europe as a continent steeped in principles, values, equality and justice, and (…) a place where Ukraine feels at home. On the other hand, the Kremlin is doing everything in its power to destroy European values, said President Zelensky, emphasizing how Ukraine fights for Europe and protects it from this anti-European force.
Zelensky thanked everyone who helped Ukrainian refugees arriving in the EU
He thanked all Europeans who supported Ukraine in the fight against the Russian invader and everyone who helped Ukrainian refugees arriving in the EU. Looking ahead, President Zelensky called on Europe and Ukraine to act together and define a common European future. However, he stressed that in order for our dreams of children and grandchildren to come true, we need peace and security. These dreams will not be possible if we do not defeat this anti-European force that is trying to steal our Europe from us, he concluded.
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It was President Zelensky's first official visit to the European Parliament. He previously addressed MEPs remotely during the extraordinary session on March 1, 2022. This took place shortly after Russia began war with Ukraine. He also spoke before the plenary session on December 14 of the same year, when the Parliamentary Prize for The Sakharov Prize for 2022 was awarded to the brave nation of Ukraine.
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Source: European Parliament
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