As Russia's offensive against Ukraine intensified with fierce shelling and missile attacks on Day 6 of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the European Parliament. The speech, delivered virtually from Kyiv, received a standing ovation at the meeting.
Zelenskyy sought Ukraine's induction into the European Union, a demand which has been a thorn in Vladimir Putin's side and is believed to be one of the main reasons that Russia invaded its neighbour.
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The Ukrainian leader said, "We are fighting for our rights, for our freedoms, for life, for our life. And now we are fighting for survival and this is the highest of our motivation. But we are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that it is exactly what we are.
The European Union is going to be much stronger with us. So that's for sure, without you, Ukraine is going to be lonesome. We have proven our strength. We have proven that as, at a minimum, we are exactly the same as you are. So do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you indeed are Europeans. And then life will win over death, and light will win over darkness. Glory be to Ukraine."
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A day earlier, Zelenskyy had signed an application for Ukraine to join the European Union.
Meanwhile, the second round of negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are set to happen on March 2. The first round of talks near the Belarus-Ukraine border on February 28 did not lead to any breakthroughs, but the two sides "found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen".
Ukraine has claimed that over 350 civilians have died so far in Russian attacks.
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