Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the EU to “prove that he is with us” and to help “light overcome darkness” in a heated speech in the European parliament following a request for Ukrainian membership.
In a videolink speech from Kyiv on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president said his people, including those killed by gunmen on Tuesday in the country’s second city, Kharkiv, were sacrificing their lives because of European ideology against Russian invading Russian troops.
“No one will rescue us. We are strong, we are Ukrainian. We want to see our children alive, I think it is a good thing, ”said Zelenskiy. “We are fighting for survival. We strive to be equal members of Europe. ”
He added: “We are exactly like you. So prove that you are with us. Prove that you are truly Europeans and that life will conquer death and light will conquer darkness. Glory be to Ukraine ”.
The complaint came as French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire announced that the EU was “fighting an economic and financial war in Russia”, describing the sanctions package as “extremely effective”.
He told France Info radio. “We will cause the collapse of the Russian economy.”
The comments sparked outrage from former Russian president and prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, now vice-chairman of the Russian security council.
He wrote on Twitter: “Be careful of your language, Men! And do not forget that in human history, economic wars often turn out to be real. ”
In Geneva, a number of strategists came out of the room where Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed a UN human rights council on a pre-recorded video message, following a similar boycott of his speech at a recent Armed Forces Conference on Weapons.
Politicians rallied outside the Armed Forces Conference hall in front of the Ukrainian flag and applauded. Applause was heard in the room where Lavrov ‘speech was taking place, and a number of ambassadors from countries including Yemen, Syria, Venezuela and Tunisia were to hear it.
Advertisement
Ukraine’s ambassador to the EU on Tuesday formally submitted a European Union membership application to the French ambassador to his country, the country in which he holds the presidency.
Speaking to MEPs, along with Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, presidents of the European Commission and council respectively, Zelenskiy said the EU “would be very strong with us, that’s for sure. Without you, Ukraine would be lonely.”
This enthusiastic appeal was met with caution by two EU institutional leaders as they held the stage in front of the parliamentary hemicycle.
“The council (EU governments) will have to seriously consider the symbolic, political and legitimate application made and make the right choices in a determined and transparent manner,” Michel said.
Von der Leyen said “there is a long way to go”. “We must end this war,” he said. “And we need to talk about the next steps. But I am sure: no one in this hemicycle can doubt that the people who courageously represent our European values are members of our European family.
The path to membership will require the commission to carefully evaluate whether Ukraine will be elected, a process that could take 18 months. Then comes the transition period of indefinite duration when Ukraine will need to apply all EU law.
Advertisement
Slovenia and Poland have called on EU member states to make “quick and bold decisions” to ensure Ukraine can join the EU by 2030. But there are doubts in some key articles about the wisdom of further growth.
Zelenskiy told MEPs he spoke to them during the Russian bombing. “You know, I don’t read in the paper, on the sheet,” he said. “Because the paper era in my country is over.”
Today will be the last of some of those Ukrainian freedom fighters, he added. “We offer our best, most powerful, most valuable people.”
“This morning it was a disaster for us: two missiles hit Kharkiv, a city on the border of the Russian Federation,” he said. “Can you imagine the two missiles hitting Freedom Square? Many were killed. This is the price of freedom. ”