Russian forces close in on Ukraine’s capital as death toll mounts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an impassioned video handle to the European Parliament on Tuesday, asking for Ukraine to be handled as an equal member of Europe.

“We’re preventing for our rights, for our freedoms, for all times. And now we’re preventing for survival. That is the best of our motivation, however we’re preventing additionally to be equal members of Europe,” Zelensky stated. “Now we have confirmed our energy. Now we have confirmed that, at a minimal, we’re precisely the identical as you’re, so do show that you’re with us. Do show that you’ll not allow us to go. Do show that you simply certainly are Europeans. After which, life will win over dying, and lightweight will win over darkness.”

Zelensky stated Ukraine’s second largest metropolis, Kharkiv, had suffered two giant missile assaults on Tuesday, together with one which hit its central Freedom Sq..

“This morning was a really tragic one for us… two cruise missiles hit Kharkiv,” he stated, referring to a Russian assault on the nation’s second most populous metropolis. Kharkiv, solely about 25 miles from the Russian border, has been hammered by Russian artillery for at the least a day. Emergency providers stated at the least 10 individuals have been killed within the metropolis on Tuesday and lots of extra injured.

“That is the most important sq. in Europe, known as Freedom Sq.,” Zelensky stated. “Are you able to think about? This morning, two missiles hit this Freedom sq.. Dozens killed. That is the value of freedom.”

Charles Michel, president of the EU’s governing political council, stated European Union establishments and governments must look critically at Ukraine’s “symbolic, political, and bonafide” request for membership within the bloc, although he stated there was no unity on the difficulty.

“It’ll be troublesome,” Michel stated. “We all know there are completely different views in Europe.”