Zelensky brings pitch for weapons, EU membership to Brussels

Reuters :
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received a standing ovation from the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday, where he called for more weapons to fend off Russia’s invasion and a quick start to talks for his country to join the EU.
“Europe, we are defending ourselves against the biggest anti-European force of the modern world,” he said. “We, Ukrainians, on the battlefield, together with you,” Zelensky said in an address during only his second trip abroad since Russian forces invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.
He promised that a victorious Ukraine would join the EU.
Zelensky was attending a summit of the leaders of the 27 European Union countries, a day after meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London and having dinner with France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz in Paris.
He has made securing advanced Western fighter jets the main theme of his European tour, winning a pledge from Britain to train pilots to fly them.
Josep Borrell, who chairs EU summits, told reporters the EU’s 27 national leaders would promise more military support for Ukraine, though he gave no details.
Zelensky, whose only other trip abroad since the war began was a surprise visit to Washington in December, has been feted as a war-time hero by Western leaders that have backed Ukraine with weapons, including main battle tanks and advanced rockets.
Western countries have so far balked at sending warplanes or other weapons that could strike deep inside Russia. But the atmosphere surrounding Zelensky’s trip suggests clear movement towards lifting that taboo.
“You need to win. And now (EU) member states must consider quickly,
as the next step, providing long-range systems and the jets that you need to protect your liberty,” the head of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said introducing Zelensky’s speech.
Although Britain’s offer to train pilots to fly Nato jets stopped short of a promise to deliver the planes to Kyiv, Sunak instructed his government to look into whether aircraft were available and said nothing was off the table.
The Kremlin said it would be Ukrainians who would suffer if Britain or other Western countries supplied fighter jets to Kyiv, and Moscow would press on with its military campaign in Ukraine regardless of what arms the West sent.
“This is nothing more than the growing involvement of the United Kingdom, Germany and France in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“The line between indirect and direct involvement is gradually disappearing. One can only express regret in this regard, and say that such actions … lead to an escalation of tension, prolong the conflict and make the conflict more and more painful for Ukraine,” he added.
Ukraine submitted its application to join the EU days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year, and now wants formal membership talks to start within months. A Ukrainian official said Kyiv was “absolutely sure the decision to start accession negotiations can be taken this year.”