“We will overcome, I know it.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an emotional address to the European Parliament calling for support from Europe.
The President spoke at a special plenary session of the European Parliament on Tuesday (1 March).
Zelensky said that while it was a good day for Ukraine to speak at parliament, he recognised that times continued to be dangerous for citizens in the country.
“For some people this day is not good. For some people this is their last day.”
Zelensky thanked citizens who were “paying the ultimate price for freedom”.
“Today we are giving away our best people, our strongest, our most valuable,” he said.
“Ukrainians are incredible.
“We will overcome, I know it.”
Zelensky said that he no longer reads the newspaper in his country, as they are now “dealing with real life”.
“Two cruise missiles hit Kharkiv… it’s the city with the largest number of universities there, the youth is strong, bright there,” he said.
“The Freedom Square is there, the largest square [in the country], can you imagine?
“Two cruise missiles hit this freedom square, dozens killed.
“This is the price of freedom.
“Every square today in Ukraine, no matter what it’s called, is going to be called Freedom Square today.
“We are fighting just for our land and for our freedom.
“Nobody is going to break us. We are strong. We’re Ukrainian.”
Zelensky paid tribute to the 16 children who died in the country yesterday.
“Yesterday, 16 children were killed. Again and again, Putin is going to say it was some kind of operation, and we are hitting military infrastructure.
“Where are our children? What kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they [operating] or launching cruise missiles? He killed 16 people yesterday.
“We are fighting for our rights, for our freedoms, for our lives, and now, we are fighting for survival.”
Zelensky called for Ukraine to be added as a member to the European Union.
“We have proven our strength, we have proven that at a minimum that we are exactly the same as you are,” he said.
“So do prove that you are with us, prove that you will not let us go, prove that you are indeed Europeans so life will win over death and light will win over death.
“Glory be to Ukraine,” he concluded, to massive applause.
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