Zelensky speaks at National Assembly of France
He arrived there immediately after an official reception ceremony at the Palais des Invalides. Before the speech to the MPs, the presidential couple also met with the President of the Parliament Yael Braun-Pivet, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"It was from the victories of free peoples that Europe was born 80 years ago - our Europe, a continent that can be a source of hope," the President said, recalling the anniversary of the landing of Allied troops in Normandy.
"It was the battles won that returned Europe to humanity. Without these won battles, there would be nothing, neither you and me, nor the free Europe itself as a concept," Zelensky added.
According to him, he had two feelings during the ceremony in Normandy: "Joy that this victory was won. And a sense of duty - to win this victory again. We live in a time when Europe is no longer a continent of peace. And at a time when Nazism is returning, unfortunately. When they are trying to redraw Europe again and tell us that certain nations do not deserve to exist independently. All this is aimed at Ukraine. But we can already see how it can go further," the President explained.
According to Zelensky, the Russian regime does not recognise borders. Even Europe is not enough for it. It has already destroyed Syria and is moving on, for example, to the Sahel and is already taking over Africa.
"It is in Ukraine that the key to the security of the whole of Europe lies," he said.
"Now the battle is going on in Ukraine, but it has the same existential importance for Europeans," the President added.
He expressed hope that Europe will not "reach the point where it will be impossible to win without landing allies from across the ocean. A victory that would be in the interests of the whole of Europe."
Zelensky thanked France and the French for all the assistance provided, as well as for the security agreement. The MPs greeted the speech with several minutes of applause.
As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelensky is on an official visit to Paris on 7 June. Before meeting with Emmanuel Macron, he is to visit the plant of the Franco-German arms group KNDS in Versailles, which produces Caesar guns for Ukraine. He is also scheduled to meet with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
Photo for illustration purposes
