Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the EU to urgently admit Ukraine. His message via video link was given a standing ovation at the European Parliament.
“We have proven that, as a minimum, we are exactly the same as you. So, prove that you are with us. Prove that you will not let us go. Prove that you indeed are Europeans,” he said in an emotional address, and added: “With us, Europe will be stronger.” Zelensky stated further that at the moment Ukraine is defending the external border of the world. “Just think what will happen to Europe if the terrible Russian empire is restored, what will happen to the Eastern countries of the EU the moment Russia points its tanks in their direction,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.
With a huge majority - 676 "in favour", 13 "against" and 26 "abstained", the European Parliament voted on a resolution on Russia's aggression in Ukraine. In the document, MEPs insist on progress in granting Ukraine EU candidate status. It also states that the EU must limit oil and gas imports from Russia, as well as extend the SWIFT exclusion measure to all of Russia and Belarus. There are also calls for faster delivery of defence weapons to Ukraine. MEPs strongly reject the suggestion that Russia could resort to the use of weapons of mass destruction, recalling its international obligations and warning of the dangers of the conflict.
“We will provide much needed weapons to Ukraine, we will exclude Russia from the SWIFT system and we will ban the Kremlin propaganda tools,” said the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Meanwhile NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in Poland that NATO would not send troops to Ukraine and accused Vladimir Putin of shattering peace in Europe.
The foreign ministers of the Alliance will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday.
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