One day after addressing the UK Parliament in the Palace of Westminster in London, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday (9 February).
Entering the hemicycle shortly after 11am local time, Zelensky was greeted by MEPs with a standing ovation.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola opened proceedings with a short speech in which she praised Ukraine's courage in its fight for European values, which "binds all peoples across the continent as sisters and brothers."
Referring to Ukraine's ongoing campaign to join the EU, about which some member states have a deal of scepticism and concern, Metsola called on EU leaders to ensure that Ukraine gets "the fastest possible accession process", coupled with funds for reconstruction and more heavy weapons to repel Russia's invasion, including "long-range systems and the jets".
"Our response must be proportional to the threat and the threat is existential," Metsola said. Rounding off her introduction, she told Zelensky, "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. Freedom will prevail, peace will reign and you will win. Slava Ukraini!"
War in Ukraine is a "struggle for Europe"
Speaking through a translator, Zelensky opened his speech by thanking President Metsola.
"I thank you for these powerful words. And I thank you for your personal attention, very important attention to Ukraine. Thank you for your principled and energetic approach, two qualities that we see unchanged during this struggle for Europe, and the combination of those is a precondition for progress."
Zelensky then listed the values commonly attributed to the "European way of life," such as pluralism, diversity of opinion, equality, the right to freely protest and territorial borders that are "not violated". Put together, these make people have "trust and faith in tomorrow," he said.
"This is our Europe, these are our rules, this is our way of life," he said. “And for Ukraine, it's a way home. I'm here to defend our people's way home," adding that Russia is trying to "annihilate the European way of life through war."
"We always fight against disrespect"
"We must defend ourselves," Zelensky continued. "It's important not only for the states of Europe, not only for the communities and societies of Europe", adding that "No matter who we are... we always fight against disrespect."
"The precondition of [our dreams for our children and grandchildren] is peace and security," he said, also saying that "neither will be guaranteed if "we do not overcome the anti-European force that is trying to steal from all of us our Europe."
"The fate of Europe has never depended on politicians"
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked ordinary Europeans for their support and assistance to Ukraine. Among the professions he listed, Zelensky mentioned journalists, security services, police officers, rescue workers, diplomats, teachers, scientists, drivers, doctors, farmers, SMEs, electricity grid workers, trade unions students, NGOs, actors and human rights lawyers.
"The fate of Europe has never depended on politicians," Zelensky said. "Each and every one of us matter. Each and every one of you are strong. Each and every one of you is capable to impact and influence our common victory."
The words prompted applause from MEPs, but Zelensky quickly added the applause was not for him but for every European who has supported Ukraine "in this historic battle."
"I'd like to thank all of you in Europe," he said, leading to a new standing ovation. Zelensky also thanked all those who "spread the truth about Russia" and were not "tempted by Russian disinformation."
He continued talking about the risk that Russia poses to Europe, focusing on how the continent "at least is relieving itself from the ruinous dependence on Russian fossil fuels."
"Europe is cleansing itself from the corruption influence of the Russian oligarchic business," he went on. "Europe is defending itself from the infiltration of Russian secret services who were looking at Europe as the hunting field for the opponents of the Russian regime."
"Ukraine is going to be a member of the EU"
"We're not going back in front of the enemy. We're not losing time, we're changing ourselves," he went on. "Europe will always remain Europe as long as we're together, as long as we can take care of our European way of life."
"Ukraine is going to be a member of the European Union - the European Union that is winning," Zelensky said.
At the end of his speech, President Zelensky was presented with a large EU flag by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. The hemicycle then listened to the national anthem of Ukraine, followed by the anthem of Europe.
source: commonspace.eu with euronews, BBC
photo: President Zelensky and President Metsola in European Parliament
