Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky received a standing ovation when he addressed the European Parliament about Russia's ongoing invasion of his country, The Hill reports.
The address, delivered on Tuesday, March 1, via video link, saw Zelensky condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin after he ordered his forces to carry out a "special military invasion" of Ukraine last week.
"Every square in our country will be called The Square of Freedom. Nobody will break us, because we are Ukrainians," Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president went on to tell the representatives of the 27 European Union member states: "I don’t read from paper, the paper phase is over, we’re dealing with lives. Without you, Ukraine will be alone. We’ve proven our strength; we’re the same as you. Prove that you’ll not let us go. Then life will win over death."
Zelensky continued, while his translator became increasingly emotional: "This is the price of freedom. We are fighting just for our land. And for our freedom, despite the fact that all of the cities of our country are now blocked."
Calling on the European Union to grant Ukraine membership to the EU, he added: "We are fighting for our freedom, for our rights, and for our survival. And we also fight to be equal members of Europe. With us in it, the EU will be stronger. Please, prove that you are together with us. Then life will conquer death."
Flowing his speech, a number of EU officials, many dressed in #standwithUkraine t-shirts featuring the Ukrainian flag, gave Zelensky a standing ovation.
In less than a week, Ukraine has reported over 100 civilian deaths as a result of the war declared by Putin on Thursday, February 24.
At the time of writing, it is believed that around 160,000 Ukrainian citizens have been displaced within their country, and more than 500,000 have been forced to flee into neighboring countries such as Poland and Moldova.
As per the New York Times, the US ambassador to the United Nations has stated that the situation could displace up to 5 million Ukrainians. It has also been estimated that between 1 and 5 million Ukrainians will attempt to flee their country.
If you would like to know how you can support the Ukrainian people at this time, click HERE to find a list of organizations and groups dedicated to helping those affected by this crisis.
