Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses parliamentarians in Westminster Hall on Feb. 8, 2023, in London, England.
Wpa Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
BRUSSELS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting European leaders on Thursday as he continues his second major trip abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader is anticipated to handle the European Parliament Thursday morning after which attend a rare meeting of the 27 EU heads of state later within the day.
The discussions in Brussels come after a surprise visit to the UK on Wednesday and a last-minute meeting with French and German leaders in Paris that evening. It’s the second time that Zelenskyy is thought to have left Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24 last 12 months.
The president is using his time abroad to thank allies for his or her support up to now, while also asking for further commitments at a time when Ukrainian authorities predict a large-scale offensive by the Russians.
In London on Wednesday, Zelenskyy brought a helmet from a Ukrainian pilot with the message “now we have freedom, give us wings to guard it.”
Last month, Zelenskyy asked Ukraine’s allies for fighter jets — a request that has up to now not received the greenlight from Western nations. Nonetheless, the U.K. said Wednesday it would provide training to Ukrainian pilots to fly fighter jets, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said nothing was off the table on the subject of supporting Ukraine.
In Paris, Zelenskyy was also very clear together with his requests to the French and German heads of state. “The earlier we get heavy long-range weapons and our pilots get modern planes, Emmanuel, the sooner our pilots can get modern planes, Olaf, the more powerful will likely be our tank coalition,” Zelensky said.
