By Emily Caulkett-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given an emotional speech to the European Parliament, asking Euope and its allies to ‘prove you are with us’, as desperation for protection reaches its climax.
Zelensky said Ukraine is ‘giving away its best people’ in defense of Europe, and said each day was potentially the last for many of Ukraine’s citizens, explaining why he couldn’t use the word ‘good’ in any sentence to describe the day even in the form of greetings.
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EU member states, the U.S and The U.K, have imposed a raft of sanctions against Russia, and the world has unified to exclude Russia from all major events including sports in response to President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Evidence of support from the EU, the UK, and the U.S is overwhelming, making Zelensky’s insinuation of inadequate support inaccurate. Military action from the EU or the UK would only worsen the war, but Britain and America have been supportive in terms of supplies of weaponry to aid their courageous defense of their land, for which the Ukraine president should appreciate.
Nonetheless, Zelensky’s speech earned him a standing auvation at the end of it.
His emotional address to the EU via video link from a secure location in Kyiv, Zelensky appealed to EU MEPs to stand with Ukraine as it fights against the Russian invasion.
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The meeting was also attended by President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
‘I cannot say good morning, or good afternoon or good evening. Because every day for some people, this day is not good. For some people this day is the last one,’ he said. ‘We are giving away our best people. Our strongest ones. The most value-based ones. Ukrainians are incredible.’
Zelenskyy, who yesterday confirmed he had signed a formal letter asking the EU to declare Ukraine a candidate country to join the union, urged the country’s European allies to show their support, saying ‘We have proven our strengths. We are exactly the same as you.’
‘So prove that you are with us,’ he continued. ‘Prove that you will not let us go. Prove that you indeed are Europeans and that life will win over death, and light will win over darkness.’
When in the middle of his speech, it was reported that at least ten people had been killed in a missile attack on the centre of Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv, Zelenskyy’s English translator became emotional as he held back tears whilst trying to interpret the president’s words for the Council.
EU member states, the U.S and The U.K, have imposed a raft of sanctions against Russia, and the world has unified to exclude Russia from all major events including sports.
Zelenskyy also cited reports that children were among the civilians killed in Russian shelling and missile attacks, saying that the casualties suffered by Ukrainians were demonstrating to the rest of Europe ‘the price of freedom.’
Ukraine is not currently a member of NATO, thought the country has applied to join the European Union in its desperate pursuit for an alliance with Europe.
Earlier in the day, European Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola took to Twitter to announce that following a debate titled ‘Russian aggression against Ukraine’, it will adopt a resolution.
“We are witnessing an invasion of a sovereign and independent state. Freedom and values are at stake. We need to stand up and not look away,” she wrote on the micro-blogging site
He further stated that Ukrainians are fighting “for their land” and “their freedom” despite all cities of the country blocked due to the approaching Russian troops from different sides.
The United Nations said at least 136 civilians have been killed, including 13 children since Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war – a term he refuses to accept – in Ukraine last week. Additionally, about 400 people have been injured in the European country, with several thousands getting displaced.
UN human rights office (OHCHR) spokesperson Liz Throssel said the real toll is expected to spike, adding a total of 253 casualties have been reported in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions — the breakaway and separatist regions in eastern Ukraine with close ties to Russia.
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