The European way of life is ‘our people’s way home’, Zelenskyy tells MEPs in visit to Brussels

‘European way of life is Ukraine’s way home,’ Zelenskyy tells MEPs

“Slava Ukraini!” President Zelenskyy declared as soon as he took the floor in the European Parliament, prompting another standing ovation from MEPs.

The Ukrainian leader then thanked the Parliament for its consistent support throughout the war.

“Europe is lucky that in this plenary, in the biggest parliament in Europe, in the European Parliament, a principled and energised approach enjoys an absolute majority,” he said, speaking in Ukrainian through a translator.

Zelenskyy then listed the values commonly attributed to the “European way of life,” such as pluralism, diversity of opinion, equality, the right to freely protest and territorial borders that are “not violated”.

Put together, these make people have “trust and faith in tomorrow,” he said.

“This is our Europe, these are our rules, this is our way of life,” he said. “And for Ukraine, it’s a way home.”

“I’m here to defend our people’s way home,” he added.

Russia, he went, is trying to “annihilate the European way of life through war.”