Michel to Ukrainian Parliament: EU Will Help Ukraine Win on the Battlefield

Russian President Vladimir Putin's war is doomed to failure, and the EU is determined to help Ukraine on the battlefield.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who arrived on a visit to Kyiv on January 19, spoke to the Ukrainian parliament.

"This is more than a war, this is a strategy of systematic destruction, to force you into submission, to force your country into a vassal state. It is doomed to fail. And it will fail. Ukraine is unbreakable, Ukrainians are united, resilient, brave and rightfully proud," said Michel.

He assured that the EU "determined to help you win on the battlefield."

"When President Zelenskyy called me on February 24th, he said, "Charles, we need weapons, we need ammunition". So far, we have mobilised a total of 11 billion euros in military support (via the European Peace Facility and EU Member States). In addition, we are training 15.000 soldiers (through our military training mission).

The coming weeks and months will be decisive. You need more. More air defence systems, more long-range missiles and ammunition and, most of all, you need tanks. Right now," said Michel.

He added that the EU is doing everything to isolate Russia. The EU has adopted nine packages of hard-hitting sanctions. "And this is not the end," Michel promised.

He also mentioned compensation to Ukrainians for losses in the war.

"Ukraine will rebuild. The damages must be compensated. We have frozen over 300bn euros of Russian assets. I am strongly convinced these should and will be used for Ukraine's reconstruction," Michel said.

Separately, the head of the European Council noted that the perpetrators of the crimes committed in Ukraine will be brought to justice.

Michel also said in his speech that the question of Ukraine's EU membership has been answered. Ukraine is the EU and the EU is Ukraine.

Earlier on Thursday, Michel met with President Zelenskyy.