President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine spoke to the European Parliament shortly before midday on Thursday, February 9th. He was introduced by Roberta Metsola, the president of the EU Parliament, who referred to the threat of Russia to Ukraine and the European project as “an existential one.” She likened the bravery of Ukraine’s resistance to the final three Maltese fighter planes that defended her native island nation during World War II.
Zelensky’s message was less one of exhorting European leadership to support Ukraine than one of gratitude for the support already given. In particular, he focused attention on the role of ordinary European citizens in demanding this support be given to the war-torn nation:
The destiny of Europe, the fate of Europe has never rested on politicians, and that should not be the illusion now. Each and every one of us matter[s], each and every one of you are [sic] strong, each and every one of you is capable of impacting our common outcome, our common victory.
Europe’s ongoing disentanglement from Russian influence was also reinforced:
Today, during the meeting of the European Council, I’ll be able to thank the heads of state and the governments, for the decisions that over the course of last year, allowed our continent to do what the previous wave of leaders considered impossible. Europe at last is relieving itself of its ruinous dependence on Russian fossil fuels, Europe is cleansing itself of the corrupting influence of Russian oligarchic business, Europe is defending itself from the infiltration of the agents of the Russian secret services who looked at Europe as a hunting ground of opponents of the Russian regime.
However, the reality behind this rhetoric is still questionable. According to RussiaFossilTracker, while EU imports of Russian oil and gas have been steadily declining since the invasion last year, the EU is still the biggest importer of Russian hydrocarbons. Likewise, it appears that only a handful of the 45 Western banks that have Russian subsidiaries have left the country. For now, it appears the economic divorce of the EU and the Russian Federation will be an ongoing process.
Zelensky finished his speech with a reference to the hugely increased package of military aid that will be sent to Ukraine, including a recent pledge from Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands to send over a hundred Leopard tanks in the coming months. Additionally, he stated his firm conviction that Ukraine’s future lies with a strong and victorious European Union:
For the first time in its history the European Union is providing military assistance at such a scale, and I see such a positive assessment of reforms in a European country that is both fighting and defending itself, and is modernising its institutions simultaneously. Ukraine is going to be a member of a European Union that is winning.
Speaking to The European Conservative, Charlie Weimers, MEP for the Sweden Democrats and the ECR Group, had this to say:
President Zelensky spoke with passion and conviction about the need to defeat Russian aggression and to defend national sovereignty. I hope his request for more heavy weapons will be heard in the European Parliament and the other institutions.
With repeated warnings coming from the Ukrainian ministry of defence about an impending Russian offensive, it looks like the fighting nation will need all the help from Europe it can get.
