Zelenskyy warns lack of EU accession date could let Russia 'block Ukraine for decades by dividing Europe'

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday stressed the importance of setting a clear date for Kyiv's accession to the EU, describing it as a crucial element of ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.

Addressing the European Parliament via video conference during an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels, marking four years since the start of the war, Zelenskyy thanked Europeans for their "constant attention, constant support, and firm position."

"We never chose this war. We didn't start it, and we did not provoke it, and we do everything we can to stop it," he said, adding that Moscow has repeatedly brought "a very cruel, ruthless anti-European project" to the continent.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is holding Russia back but has not yet secured lasting guarantees of safety, emphasizing that security can only be ensured "together in Europe, together with America," despite the challenges of maintaining transatlantic unity.

He stressed that a defined timeline for EU membership is "very important as part of the diplomacy process right now, within all the diplomacy aimed at ending the war."

"This is not just a wish, it's a clear understanding of how (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will act. If there is no date, if there is no such guarantee, he will find a way to block Ukraine for decades by dividing you, by dividing Europe," he said.

Ukraine formally applied for EU membership shortly after the war started in February 2022 and was granted candidate status later that year.

The Ukrainian president also urged European countries to apply the "full range of protection" against Russia, from strong sanctions to continued support for civilians affected by Russian strikes.

"There must be no place in the free world for Russian oil, for Russian tankers, Russian banks. ... The time has come to fully ban all participants in Russia's aggression from entire Europe," Zelenskyy said.