1,000 days into the conflict: Zelensky calls for stronger EU stance

Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Tuesday during an extraordinary plenary session in the European Parliament, commemorating 1,000 days since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He connected with the attendees remotely.

The Ukrainian president expressed gratitude, among other things, for the fact that "not a single one of the thousand days of this terrible war became a day of betrayal of our shared European values." Zelensky stated that Ukraine, alongside Europe and its partners in America and across the globe, not only prevented Putin from seizing control of Ukraine but also worked to safeguard the freedom of all European nations.

The President of Ukraine also stated that "even with North Korea's Kim Jong-un by his side, Putin remains smaller than the united strength of Europe."

Zelensky expressed confidence that if they managed to prevent Putin from taking control of Ukraine and defended European values, they could collectively push Russia towards a just peace agreement. He also pointed out that Ukraine had proposed a peace formula two years ago, with strong backing from the European Parliament.

The President of Ukraine remarked that the greatest obstacle to peace was the one who disrupted it—Putin.

Zelensky also called on the EU politicians to ensure that every attack and threat from Russia is met with harsh sanctions capable of radically reducing the Kremlin's economic and military capabilities. As he noted, Moscow is still earning from the sale of, for example, oil transported by the so-called shadow fleet. He stressed that as long as this kind of business exists, Russia will keep killing, pointing out that the need for severe sanctions is crucial.

Zelensky noted that while some European leaders may prioritize winning elections in their own countries, Putin's primary focus remains on winning the war. He warned that "Putin is focused on winning this war, he will not stop on his own. The more time he has, the worse the conditions become," Zelensky said in a video address. He believes that Russia should be cut off from resources used to fund the production and procurement of ammunition and drones, and that its military bases need to be dismantled.

As he stated, "Putin does not value people or rules. He values only money and power. These are the things we must take away from him to restore peace." He emphasized that only if he lost both could peace be restored.

The Ukrainian President also released a video on platform X titled "1,000 days together, 1,000 days of Ukraine".