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Ukraine is fighting Russian invaders to defend its European “way of life,” Volodymyr Zelensky announced in Brussels on Thursday, making an impassioned case for his country to join the EU.
“I am here to bring our people home,” the Ukrainian president said from a lecture in the European Parliament, speaking to hundreds of EU lawmakers and top officials.
And in that way, he says, the EU.
“This is our Europe, this is our rule, this is our way of life, and for Ukraine, this is a home, the way home,” he said.
It was Zelensky’s first private address in Brussels since Russia’s invasion last year, part of a tour to strengthen Ukraine’s ties with the EU. Kyiv hopes to join the EU in record time, while also persuading EU countries to pledge not only modern tanks but also fighter jets as Russia prepares for a renewed offensive.
Zelensky’s speech leaned heavily on the theme that Ukraine and the EU are interconnected, both share values, a history – and a future.
“Ukraine is going to be a member of the European Union,” he predicted.