Zelensky is in Brussels after yesterday’s meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London and a dinner with Frenchman Emmanuel Macron and German Olaf Scholz in Paris. Zelensky later joins the summit of 27 EU leaders.
Emotional
Zelensky received a spectacular reception in the Brussels plenary hall. “Thank you,” a visibly moved Zelensky told MEPs, who gave him a long standing ovation. Some members wore the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag.
In his speech, the Ukrainian leader focused above all on the relationship between the European Union and his country. According to Zelensky, Europe and Ukraine are jointly defending themselves against “the greatest anti-European force in the modern world”. He added that Europe “will always be free as long as we are together and together we care about our Europe”. He said he is sure that Ukraine will join the European Union.
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Ahead of the speech, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said EU countries should rapidly consider supplying long-range missiles and fighter jets. According to BNR foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg, this is remarkable. “The president of the parliament should be above the parties.”
Furthermore, there is no unanimity in Europe on Ukraine. “There are many countries in Europe that still struggle with an overly anti-Russian attitude,” Hammelburg says. ‘Greece has cultural reasons for this, Hungary has political reasons and there are also countries that are still heavily dependent on Russia economically, partly through gas. But under pressure everything is fluid.’
Critic
While Zelensky thanked Europe’s current leaders profusely, he was critical of their predecessors. Hahn: ‘He summed up Zelenkski-style: your predecessors admitted the oligarchs, they let the people infiltrate, you were held hostage by fossil fuels and now for the first time the Russian foot is out of European politics and I see it as a good thing. ‘
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