Russia-Ukraine conflict: Zelenskyy addresses EU Parliament as he seeks weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy on Thursday addressed the European Parliament as he seeks more military aid saying Ukraine and the European Union are fighting together against Russia in his words the most antiEuropean force in the worldZelenskyy received standing ovations before during and after his speech to European lawmakers He held up an EU flag after his address and the entire legislature stood in sombre silence as the Ukrainian national anthem and then European anthem Ode to Joy were played Europe will always be and remain Europe as long as we are together and as long as we take care of our Europe as we take care of the European way of life he said Zelenskyy added that Russia wants to destroy the European way of life but we will not allow thatBefore Zelenskyy spoke European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said allies should consider quickly as a next step providing long range systems and fighter jets to Ukraine Metsola said the response to Russian President Vladimir Putins war against Ukraine must be proportional to the threat and the threat is existentialZelenskyys highprofile pursuit of more Western military aid came as evidence mounted that Russias anticipated offensive around the anniversary of the invasion is starting to take shapeThe Kremlins forces have regained the initiative in Ukraine and have begun their next major offensive in the eastern Luhansk region most of which is occupied by Russia the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment Russian forces are gradually beginning an offensive but its success is not inherent or predetermined the USbased think tank saidZelenskyy is wrapping up a whirlwind tour of his major European backers already heading home with heaps of goodwill promises of more military aid and as hardware goes Frances highest medal of honour Zelenskyy arrived at the European Unions legislature in Brussels on Thursday The Ukrainian anthem was played at the protocol entrance followed by the European anthemThe blocs 27 leaders were hoping to impress on the president that the powerful bloc is steadfast in its support of embattled Ukraine as Russia is feared to be making moves for a new offensive around the February 24 oneyear anniversary of the warFlying in from Paris with President Emmanuel Macron who honoured him with the Grand Cross of Frances Legion of Honor Zelenskyy will be stepping up from a halfdozen video addresses to the EU leaders over the past year to use his impressive aura and oratory skills in person to make sure that nothing stalls in Europes unwavering backingAlso read Volodymyr Zelensky visits London seeking more arms against RussiaThe European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes said the latest draft of the summit conclusions seen by The Associated PressGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the bloc will send Zelenskyy this signal of unity and solidarity and can show that we will continue our support for Ukraine in defending its independence and integrity for as long as this is necessaryEstonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that it is my plea that everyone will do what they can The price will go up with every delay That need was especially pressing Thursday A USbased think tank reported that the Russian forces have regained the initiative in Ukraine and have begun their next major offensive in the eastern largely occupied Luhansk regionRussian sources are widely reporting that conventional Russian troops are attacking Ukrainian defensive lines and making marginal advances the Institute for the Study of War said in its most recent reportZelenskyy will be using the dais of the European Parliament to make his point in a plenary session hoping to match Wednesdays speech to Britains legislature when he thanked the nation for its unrelenting support That same support has come from the EU The bloc and its member states have already backed Kyiv with some 50 billion euros in aid provided military hardware and imposed nine packages of sanctions on the KremlinAfter the solemn words at parliament Zelenskyy will move to the urnshaped Europa building for a working session with the 27 leaders Macrons office has already confirmed the bloc will reiterate Europeans unwavering support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people Few would expect anything lessThe EU is in the midst of brokering a new sanctions package worth some 10 billion euros ahead of the February 24 oneyear anniversary of the war And there is still plenty of scope for exporting more military hardware to Ukraine as a Russian spring offensive is expectedOne topic that was not on the agenda in Britain but will be in Brussels is Ukraines desire to become a member of the European Union as soon as possible A highprofile visit to EU headquarters can only add to the goodwill to help his country on to the road of accession talks Ukraine is talking about joining the EU in a matter of years while practice has shown it can take decades before aspiring members are considered fit to joinZelenskyy well knows that the EU sometimes moves at a snails pace while he himself had to be lightning fast to stave off an early Russian victory and set up a defense of his vast nation that very few would have deemed possible a year agoNow after initial hesitation EU nations have finally started to step up their military contributions as wellGermany Denmark and the Netherlands announced Tuesday that they plan to provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished Germanmade Leopard 1 battle tanks in the coming months The announcement followed Germany agreeing last month to allow deliveries of the more modern Leopard 2 tanks to UkraineBeyond EU top officials like summit host Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Zelenskyy should find time for bilateral meetings with leaders to press for more hardware ranging from ammunition to warplanes iquest something the bloc as a whole does not possess but individual countries doThis story has been 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