By Philip Blenkinsop and Ingrid Melander
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday demanded in a video call to an emergency session of the European Parliament that the European Union “prove it is with us” in Ukraine’s war against Russia, a day after Kiev officially ask to join the bloc.
European Union parliamentarians, many wearing #standwithUkraine T-shirts with the Ukrainian flag, others with scarves or blue and yellow bows, gave Zelesnkiy a standing ovation.
“We are fighting to be equal members of Europe,” Zelenskiy said in Ukrainian in a speech translated into English by a weeping interpreter.
“Prove that you are with us. Prove they won’t let us go. Prove that you are truly European, and then life will conquer death, and light will conquer darkness,” she said. “The EU will be much stronger with us.”
Zelenskiy remained in Kiev to organize his people against the invasion. As he spoke on Tuesday, an armored column from Russia was approaching the Ukrainian capital.
The presidents of eight central and eastern European nations on Monday published an open letter urging Ukraine to be granted immediate EU candidate status and begin formal discussions to become a member.
But Ukraine is fully aware that any accession process will be long and difficult, even if it manages, after the war, to avoid falling back under Moscow’s rule.
Charles Michel, the president of EU leaders, told the European parliament after Zelenskiy’s speech that the bloc would have to seriously consider Ukraine’s “legitimate” membership application.
But he added: “It will be difficult, we know there are different opinions in Europe (about expanding further).”
According to a draft to be voted on later on Tuesday, EU lawmakers are expected to classify Russia as a “split state” and ask member states to agree to tougher sanctions.
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