Brussels: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today addressed the European Parliament and asked for more military aid, as he said Ukraine and the EU are fighting together against Russia, which he said is the ‘most anti-European force’ in the world . He raised the flag of the European Union after his address and the entire legislature fell silent as the Ukrainian national anthem played. Zelensky received standing ovations before, during and after his speech to European lawmakers.
Before Zelensky could speak, European Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola said the allies should quickly consider providing long-range systems and fighter jets to Ukraine as a next step. Metsola said that the response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine “must be proportional to the threat, and the threat is existential.”
Zelensky’s high-profile quest for more Western military aid emerged as evidence that Russia’s anticipated offensive is beginning to take shape around the anniversary of the invasion. The Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment that the Kremlin’s forces have regained the initiative in Ukraine and launched their next major offensive in the eastern Luhansk region, much of which is controlled by Russia. Russian forces are slowly going on the offensive, but their success is not inherent or predetermined.
Zelensky made a historic visit to the UK on 8 February and addressed British MPs. During an impassioned address to parliament, Zelensky, who wore his trademark olive drab sweatshirt, predicted that Russia would lose the war against his country. He thanked the British people for their support from “day one” since the military invasion of Moscow.
It was his first visit to the UK since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Rishi Sunak detailed the UK’s ongoing support for Ukrainian fighter jet pilots and marines to help boost their defensive capabilities.
(with inputs from AP)