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10/2/2023, 10:52

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‘I simply don't have the right to come back without the results,’ Zelenskyy says in Brussels

By Euronews Brussels bureau

It was a moment that everybody in Brussels longed to see: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine standing tall on the podium and addressing a full house of the European Parliament – face to face, without any screens in between.

For lawmakers, the occasion was solemn and poignant, the reflection of an ever-closer geopolitical bond between the bloc and the war-torn nation.

For Zelenskyy, though, it felt like a homecoming.

As he delivered his rousing speech, the Ukrainian leader spoke of the European Union as his country’s rightful place, its natural habitat, almost as if it were already part of the 27-member club.

Zelenskky exalted the European way of life and its paramount respect for the law, describing a continent where "borders are inviolable, but their crossing is not felt."

“When people believe in tomorrow and are willing to take to the streets to fight for their tomorrow,” he told MEPs, evoking the protests that swept his country in 2014.

“This is our Europe. These are our rules. This is our way of life. And for Ukraine, it's a way home.”

But this oasis of modern democracy is now under threat, he warned, as Russia wages a “total war” that aims to subjugate Ukraine's sovereignty and obliterate Europe's foundations.

Without ever mentioning him by name, Zelenskky depicted Vladimir Putin as a “dictator” who leads the world's fiercest “anti-European force,” a regime that "hates everything" and is willing to bring the horrors of bygone eras back into the 21st century.

“The sacred value of human life has been completely destroyed in Russia,” Zelenskyy said, in a brief display of solidarity with everyday Russians. “For the Kremlin, all 140 million citizens are just bodies capable of carrying weapons.”

Early in his speech, it became evident that the idea of EU values as a safe haven against Russia's brutal aggression was going to be the central leitmotif, a message accentuated by the Ukrainian leader standing still inside the only European institution directly elected by citizens.

Zelenskyy carefully steered clear from calls for more weapons and sanctions and instead focused his allocated time on the universal virtues of freedom, integrity and equality, the same ideals that propelled the EU from a coal and steel community into a fully-fledged political and economic union.

In what was arguably the most moving part of his spirited address, Zelenskky broke through the institutional maze of Brussels and reached out to ordinary Europeans, all those unknown faces who probably didn't even know about his high-profile visit, to thank them for their continued support.

Police officers, rescue workers, teachers, scientists, doctors, farmers, SMEs, students, trade unions, NGOs, artists, lawyers, judges and journalists were among the professions the Ukrainian leader name-checked to express his gratitude.

“The fate of Europe has never depended on politicians alone. There should be no such illusion now as well,” he declared, ironically surrounded by politicians.

“Each and every one of you is important. Each and every one of you is strong. Each and every one of you can influence our common result. Our common victory.”

After the trip to the hemicycle, Zelenskyy moved to the European Council, where he met the 27 heads of state and government to discuss what’s next for his country as a new Russian offensive looms closer. High on the table: fighter jets and EU accession, ambitious goals that, despite Kyiv’s passionate pleas, remain long-term, distant objectives.

“It’s very important that all the talks we conduct can lead to results. And perhaps, that's slightly impertinent, but that’s not cynical, that’s a pragmatic point of view,” Zelenskky said during a press conference in response to a question by Euronews reporter Efi Koutsokosta.

“I have to believe there are no emotions. The emotions were left on the 24 of February last year, we're just pragmatic. For us to survive, we need these weapons. And that's what I'm talking about. For us to survive we need financial funds,” he went on.

“I simply don't have the right to come back without the results.”

GO DEEPER Check out our blog to recap the highlights from the extraordinary visit.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY Rescue operations continue against the clock in Turkey and Syria to find the survivors from two devastating earthquakes. At the time of writing, the death toll exceeds 19,000 people – an unimaginable loss of life. Our correspondent Anelise Borges is on the ground and reports anger is growing over the government’s disaster preparation. With criticism mounting, Turkish President Recep Erdogan acknowledged “shortcomings.” In Syria, the government of Bashar al-Assad asked the West for humanitarian aid but insisted it should flow through his regime, which remains under heavy sanctions.

FACT-CHECK Our team at The Cube debunks the misleading stories and fake videos about the earthquake that are going viral on social media.

THE FRONTLINE The Kremlin appears to be ready to launch a new military offensive before the war reaches the one-year anniversary. But analysts say Moscow might be unable to meet its military objectives after suffering countless setbacks. Kyiv has stepped up calls for Western weapons in order to repel the imminent attack: Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands have pledged 100 refurbished Leopard 1 battle tanks. Meanwhile, the EU has unveiled plans to deploy disinformation experts to counter false narratives spread by Russia and China.

HYBRID WAR Russia is waging a hybrid war on Moldova, the country’s prime minister told Euronews this week. “We are seeing, for example, pro-Russian forces trying to destabilise the country politically through paid protests which quickly subsided when the oligarchs that fled Moldova were put on the sanctions lists and their money flows were restricted,” Natalia Gavrilița said. “We've had the biggest cyber-attacks in 2022 in the history of our country, and we are seeing bomb threats.”

MIGRATION TALKS After years of stalemate, EU leaders are ready to tackle head-on the most divisive issue in the bloc’s agenda: migration. A surge in asylum-seekers and irregular border-crossings have fuelled a new sense of urgency but, as Jorge Liboreiro writes, member states continue to be bitterly divided by the question of relocation, with no breakthrough in sight. In fact, a voluntary scheme launched last year to transfer 8,000 asylum-seekers has resulted in just 435 relocations so far.

NEW RULES Speaking of migration, Italy has passed a new code of conduct for search-and-rescue vessels in the Central Mediterranean, laying out mandatory rules on how they must operate. The code has been harshly criticised by civil society and the Council of Europe, who say it contravenes international law. We spoke with NGOs to find out how the rules are set to influence their daily work.

JOINT EXIT In a notable U-turn, the European Commission has proposed a collective and coordinated exit of all 27 member states from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), an obscure international agreement that protects energy investors from unexpected circumstances that might hurt their profit expectations.

TOTAL CRISIS Climate change is impacting all aspects of our lives, from the way we power our homes to the heat waves that grip our cities in summer. In order to give you a better idea of the colossal challenge we’re facing, Euronews Green tells Europe’s climate story through data.

GO PARTY Berlin has a new initiative to encourage young people to go clubbing and revitalise the city’s famous entertainment sector amid the cost-of-living crisis.

TRAIN TRIPS Are you a fan of Interrail, the pass that enables easy travel across 33 European countries? If so, this list is for you: the best places to visit by train, from Salzburg to Lake Blend.

IT'S IN THE NUMBERS

The market disruption caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine has brought record-breaking profits for energy multinationals: BP has reported gains of $27.7 billion for 2022, more than double the $12.8 billion it had made in 2021. Shell netted $39.9 billion in profits last year, the largest figure in the company’s 115-year history, while Exxon Mobile reaped $55.7 billion, another historic high. The numbers have fuelled calls for so-called windfall taxes to help out the hardest hit by the energy crisis.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

For years, Poland suffered brain drain. Now it’s being reversed.

Poland was once known for the number of people who left the country for work, emigrating to Britain, Italy, the United States and even far beyond. But after years of steady economic growth, educated Poles are returning to their homeland in a kind of reverse brain drain. This shouldn’t be a surprise: the country is set to catch up economically with the UK in terms of GDP per person by the end of the decade. Warsaw, in particular, has become a hub of economic activity in recent years, with multinational companies such as Microsoft, Google and Nvidia attracted to the city’s highly-skilled workforce and relatively low labour costs. James Jackson takes us inside Poland’s tech boom.

NO COMMENT

Hope amid devastation: a little girl was pulled alive by rescuers from the rubble caused by the earthquake in Turkey.

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