Ukrainian President Zelensky addresses Belgian parliament in latest call for support

Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Belgian Parliament via video link on Thursday afternoon in the President of Ukraine’s latest direct appeal to Western governments for support in the war with Russia, reports RTBF.

During his speech, president Zelensky compared the siege of Mariupol, in the south of Ukraine, to the destruction of Ypres during the First World War and used the comparison to once again call for the implementation of a no-fly zone over his country.

“Mariupol has been under siege for more than four weeks,” he said. “There is nothing, no water, no food, no medicine, no life. Yet Mariupol does not fall.”

Mariupol is "today one of the most horrible places in Europe, hell on earth, disaster, but no one has enough determination to help us stop the catastrophe," said the Ukrainian president.

"What do they expect, the defenders of Mariupol and the defenders of other towns and villages where there are battles no less terrible than the battle you experienced in Ypres? Maybe even what is happening today in Mariupol is worse (than in Ypres)?" What they expect, Zelensky said, is the implementation of "a no-fly zone." "We have the impression that the Europeans do not have enough courage to do so," he continued, "while Ukraine has already given thousands of lives to defend security in Europe."

Zelensky then spoke of the economic interests at stake. “Do the inhabitants of Mariupol think about the money and income of the companies? I don't think so," he said. For them, "it is freedom that is most important." he adds. "There are those for whom Russian diamonds, sometimes sold in Antwerp are more important, those for whom accepting Russian boats in their ports and the income of these boats is more important than our struggle.”

He then expressed his gratitude to Belgium, "one of the first countries" to have given aid, which "has already accepted in its land more than 30,000 Ukrainians.”

“I ask this country, at the heart of Europe, to become an example for others to do more, to help push back the Russians and bring back peace. Peace has more value than Russian diamonds, than Russian boats, than agreements with Russia, than Russian oil and gas."

In response to the Ukrainian President's speech, the Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo said Ukraine's struggle was not only for its "survival" but also "for the sustainability of our common values of freedom and democracy".

De Croo said he understood the frustration of the Ukrainians in regard to Western military support. "You have been advocating since the beginning of this war for Nato to impose a no-fly zone," acknowledged the Belgian prime minister, addressing the Ukrainian president. "But let's put it bluntly: it would mean shooting down Russian planes and thus triggering an escalation that could topple all of Europe."

"There would be even more casualties, the war would spread and take us all further away from a solution," he added. "Nato is not a party to this conflict. It must not become one. I know that's not the answer you want to hear, but I think you understand that argument."

This did not prevent Belgium from choosing a side, De Croo added. Belgium would continue to provide political support "by inflicting high economic costs on Russia, by offering diplomatic support, military support, and receiving refugees,” he said. "Sanctions are effective and, make no mistake, they will last for a long time to come."

De Croo also confirmed that "the Belgian army has ordered new weapons for Ukraine".

On the subject of Ukraine wanting to become a member of the European Union, Alexander De Croo said that "Europe would be making a terrible mistake if it made Ukraine wait until the formal process of accession to the European Union", because this process is "long and demanding".

De Croo said he advocates "a faster and more direct solution", "accelerated economic integration of Ukraine and Europe". It would be about 'trading', 'investing' and 'giving Ukrainians the right to become fully European.

"While Vladimir Putin wants to annihilate" the economic power of Ukraine, De Croo concluded, "Europe will be at the forefront of the reconstruction of Ukraine, with a European Marshall Plan for Ukraine", provided that "this barbarity stops as soon as possible".

At the beginning of the parliamentary session, two Polish musicians, playing violin and cello, performed the Ukrainian national anthem. Representatives of the Ukrainian ambassador were also present.

RTBF/Le Soir