Zelensky addressed the European Parliament in person for the first time on Thursday.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was offered a special gift by the Ukrainian delegation - the remains of a Russian missile, bearing a painting of religious icon St Sophia. Bettel described it as an emotional reminder of the situation in Ukraine, taking an item designed to inflict death and changing it into art.
The video below shows Bettel’s reaction to the gift (report in Luxembourgish).
Bettel told RTL he held a private conversation with President Zelensky, discussing fighter jets and peace talks - with the latter seeming to be a long way off.
The Luxembourgish PM was somewhat reticent over the supply of fighter jets, explaining:
“I don’t want to get too involved as a Luxembourger. We share a plane with the Belgian army, so it is hard for me to lecture others on the topic. The EU is important. I’d like to avoid a situation in which one country is described as ‘good’ and others as ‘bad’.”
Both Slovakia and Poland promised support to Ukraine at the summit, while Dutch PM Mark Rutte warned against public promises: “Allies should discuss the matter in private. The enemy should not know more than they need to.”
Bettel suggested the EU should not make too many promises in terms of Ukraine’s potential membership. The European Commission could give the procedure the green light by the end of the year.
“There are criteria which need to be met, so we are waiting for the Commission to green-light the process. That should take place at the end of the year. They have implemented a lot so far, so we will continue to support them.”
Migration remains an issue that divides the 27 member states. As far as Bettel is concerned the EU should not be a fortress. He said the ball is back in the Commission’s court to draw up concrete proposals.
Finally, the EU heads of state and government agreed to expand aid for the region affected by the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
