NEW DELHI: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has become the heroic face of his country’s struggle against the Russian forces, received a standing ovation after his address at European Parliament on Wednesday.
In his address, Zelenskyy said that no body is going to break Ukraine, which is fighting for its land and freedom
“We’re fighting for our land & our freedom despite the fact that all our cities are now blocked. Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,” he said.

The president, who wants his country to be a part of the European Union, told European parliament that Ukraine is fighting “to be equal members of Europe.”
“Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness,” he said in Ukrainian in a speech translated to English by an interpreter talking through tears, as emotion gripped the parliament.
“The EU will be much stronger with us. Without you, Ukraine will be lonesome,” Zelenskiy said, with Kyiv likely well aware that Ukraine’s membership bid will be long and difficult.
Following his speech, EU lawmakers, many wearing #standwithUkraine T-shirts bearing the Ukrainian flag, others with blue-and-yellow scarves or ribbons, gave Zelenskyy a standing ovation.
EU lawmakers are expected to call Russia a “rogue state” and urge the 27-nation bloc to agree even tougher sanctions, according to a draft text they will vote on later on Tuesday.
The European Union has taken unprecedented steps, including financing weapons deliveries to Ukraine, after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched war on its neighbour last week.
According to a draft resolution and amendments backed by the assembly’s main parties, lawmakers will call for the scope of sanctions to be broadened and “aimed at strategically weakening the Russian economy and industrial base, in particular the military-industrial complex.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “effectively makes Russia a rogue state,” the lawmakers are set to say.
While Putin “recalls the most dreadful statements of 20th century dictators,” Zelenskiy is being “heroic,” the draft of the non-binding resolution said.
The European Parliament will also urge EU leaders to be tougher on oligarchs and officials close to the Russian leadership, restrict oil and gas imports from Russia, ban Russia and its ally Belarus entirely from the SWIFT bank messaging system, and to close all EU ports to Russian ships or ships headed to or from Russia.
“The message from Europe is clear. We will stand up, we will not look away when those fighting in the street for our values stand down Putin’s war machine,” EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, speaking in front of the EU and Ukrainian flags.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation.”
(With inputs from Reuters)