CNN
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a heartfelt attraction to lawmakers in Brussels on Thursday to permit his nation to turn out to be a part of the European Union, insisting that Europe is Ukraine’s “home.”
Throughout an handle to the European Parliament, Zelensky mentioned his nation and the EU share the identical values, and that the “European standard of life” and the “European rules of life” are “when the law rules.”
“This is our Europe, these are our rules, this is our way of life. And for Ukraine, it’s a way home, a way to its home,” Zelensky mentioned, referencing Ukraine’s purpose to hitch the European Union.
“I am here in order to defend our people’s way home,” he added.
Zelensky’s emotional message was designed to attempt to join with EU parliamentarians as he continues to push for Ukraine to join the bloc.
He underlined that Ukraine shares values with Europe, relatively than with Russia, which he mentioned is making an attempt to take his nation again in time.
The president warned European lawmakers that Russia desires to return Europe to the xenophobia of the Thirties and Forties. “The answer for us to that is no,” he mentioned. “We are defending ourselves. We must defend ourselves.”
Zelensky thanked all of the nations which have offered weapons and navy help to Ukraine, whereas stressing that his nation nonetheless wants trendy tanks, long-range missiles and trendy fighter jets to guard its safety, which he mentioned can be Europe’s safety.
“We need artillery guns, ammunitions, modern tanks, the long-range missiles and modern fighter jets,” Zelensky mentioned. “We have to enhance the dynamic of our cooperation” and act “faster than the aggressor,” he added.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola launched Zelensky forward of his handle, telling him: “Ukraine is Europe and your nation’s future is within the European Union.
“We have your back. Freedom will prevail.”
Zelensky made a “secret” journey to Brussels on Thursday, a day after he made a shock go to to London and Paris as a part of an unannounced diplomatic tour of European capitals geared toward persuading the West to ship extra weapons and navy help to counter an anticipated Russian spring offensive.
Zelensky’s renewed attraction to hitch the EU comes after Ukraine formally turned an EU candidate state final 12 months. It’s nonetheless prone to be years earlier than Kyiv can begin any accession talks to hitch the bloc.
Throughout his journey to Brussels, Zelensky was anticipated to resume his pleas to European leaders to supply Ukraine with Typhoon and F-16 fighter jets.
On Wednesday night, the Ukrainian chief was hosted in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Macron awarded the visiting Ukrainian president with France’s highest order of benefit, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor.
Earlier, Macron informed Zelensky that France is “determined” to help Ukraine in its conflict in opposition to Russia. “We stand by Ukraine, determined to help it to victory,” Macron mentioned. “Ukraine can count on France and its allies to win the war, Russia should not and will not win the war.”
European leaders have been clear of their help for defending Ukraine within the face of Russian aggression, with a number of nations together with Germany, Poland and the Netherlands not too long ago giving the inexperienced mild to supply Kyiv with heavy battle tanks.
Scholz final June insisted that Ukraine “belongs to the European family.”
“My colleagues and I have come here to Kyiv today with a clear message: Ukraine belongs to the European family,” Scholz mentioned throughout a joint information convention in Kyiv with Zelensky.
Earlier Wednesday, Zelensky addressed the UK parliament throughout a shock go to to London, thanking Britain on behalf of his nation’s “war heroes.”
Zelensky expressed gratitude to British parliamentarians for supporting Ukraine throughout his speech in Westminster Corridor. “Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your bravery,” he mentioned. “Thanks very a lot. From all of us.
“London has stood with Kyiv since day one,” he informed lawmakers. “For the reason that first seconds and minutes of the full-scale conflict. Nice Britain, you prolonged your serving to hand when the world had not but come to grasp the right way to react.
He added: “We all know Russia will lose. We all know victory will change the world, and this will probably be a change the world wanted. The UK is marching with us in the direction of a very powerful victory of our lifetime. The victory over the very concept of conflict.
“After we win, any aggressor, it doesn’t matter, big or small, will know what awaits him if he attacks international order.”
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