Russia-Ukraine war: Zelenskyy says Ukraine would join the EU after winning the war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believed the country would be able to join the European Union once it wins the ongoing war with Russia. This comes as the country has filed an application to join, even as the process takes years.

Zelenskyy travelled to Brussels this week, where he spoke to members of the European Parliament in what would be his second overseas engagement since the war began in February last year. In his remarks, Zelenskyy said he believes Ukraine will be part of the EU when it wins the war while also saying Kyiv and its partners in Europe are fighting back against Russian aggression.

“We are moving closer to the European Union. Ukraine will be a member of the European Union,” said Zelenskyy, saying that Ukraine “is winning.”

“Europe, we are defending ourselves against the biggest anti-European force of the modern world,” said Zelenskyy. “We, Ukrainians, on the battlefield, together with you.”

Zelenskyy also thanked allies for the continued military and humanitarian aid that was provided since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year.

On the same day, Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov said hundreds of officials in the ministry and in the armed forces have been disciplined last year following internal audits, adding that he had “zero tolerance” for corruption. Reznikov said 621 officials from Ukraine’s armed forces and the ministry received fines or reprimands for unspecified “violations” in 2022.

“My principled position was, is, and will remain unchanged; zero tolerance for any violations,” said Reznikov in a post on Facebook. “All persons whose guilt has been proven by the relevant authorities bear and will bear responsibility.”

Meanwhile, top Ukrainian general Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on Friday that two Russian missiles crossed into the airspaces of Romania and Moldova before entering Ukraine. Two Kaliber missiles launched from the Black Sea entered Moldovan airspace, then Romanian airspace before they went into Ukraine, according to Zaluzhnyi.

The Ukrainian air force spokesperson, according to the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet, said Ukrainian forces had the ability to shoot down the missiles but did not do so as they did not want to endanger civilians in foreign countries.