The Ukrainian President has called on the European Parliament to prove it will support his country to defend itself from Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said nobody would break Ukraine in an historic address to MEPs.
He used his speech to call for Ukraine to be immediately made a member of the EU, adding: “We have proven our strength. Prove that you are with us”.
“We are fighting just for our land and for our freedom,” he said. Despite the fact that all the cities in our country are now blocked, nobody is going to enter and intervene with our freedom.”
At times the translator cried as Zelenskyy said 16 children were killed in attacks yesterday
He received a standing ovation, with European Council President Charles Michel pledging EU support.
“We have one common message - Russia: Stop the war; go home and let’s talk”.
But other world leaders have admitted it won't be enough.
Just had a chance to ask a question to @BorisJohnson https://t.co/4ee6eXJj6g
— Daria Kaleniuk (@dkaleniuk) March 1, 2022
Ukrainian woman Daria Kaleniuk made an impassioned plea to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to close Ukrainian air space.
“Kharkiv, the city where I was studying was bombarded today – fully, the downtown square,” she said.
“You are talking about the stoicism of Ukrainian people, but Ukrainian women and children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles falling from the sky.
“The Ukrainian people are desperately asking the west to protect our skies. We are asking for a no-fly zone and we are being told that would trigger World War III – but what is the alternative?
“To observe as our children, instead of planes, are protecting NATO from the missiles and bombs?”
In response, Mr Johnson said: “I am acutely conscious that there is not enough we can do as the UK Government to help in the way that you want and I have got to be honest about that,” he said.
“You talk about the no-fly zone and as I said to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, I think, a couple of times, unfortunately the implication of that is that the UK would be engaged in shooting down Russian planes and would be engaged in direct combat with Russia.
“That is not something we can do, or we have envisaged. I think the consequences of that would be very difficult to control.”
At home, Cabinet has considered a memo in support of Ukraine, with Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney saying Ireland could take in as many as 20,000 refugees.
He said the State would not be able to accommodate them all – adding that families would be asked to open up their homes to Ukrainians for a “temporary period of time”.
Additional reporting from Michael Staines.
