European Parliament.Photo: JONAS ROOSENS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyreceived a standing ovation from European Parliament on Tuesday after delivering an emotional speech in which he said “light will win over darkness,” amidRussia’s invasion of his country.
Zelenskyy continued: “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness. Glory to Ukraine!”
His remarks came just hours after he submitted an application to the European Union to grant Ukraine immediate membership into the body — and the speech came one day afterpeace talks between Russia and Ukraine endedwithout any sort of agreement.
The request for EU membership strikes at the heart of Russia’s aggression, as Russian PresidentVladimir Putindoes not want Ukraine — a historic buffer with the rest of the continent — tied more closely with the West. European and NATO officials meanwhile have said Ukraine must make progress on corruption and other issues.
In his speech, President Zelenskyy said Ukraine was “fighting for survival — and this is the highest of our motivations. But we are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that’s exactly what we are.”
Zelenskyy has said he remains in Kyiv, his country’s capital, amid the invasion and has made a number of public addresses. One previous speech moveda translator to tears.
The translator could be heard saying “excuse me,” as she began to cry during those remarks, in which Zelenskyy said, “Ukrainians, we know exactly what we are defending. We will definitely win. Glory to each of our soldiers. Glory to Ukraine.”
She later shared more about the experience on Twitter.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues after the country invaded on Thursday, with their forces — which reportedly far outnumber and outpower Ukraine — moving from the north, south and east.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the interest of so-called “peacekeeping” — a claim those in the Biden administration have called “nonsense.”
source: people.com
