Zelenskyy tells MEP delegation that EU solidarity is vital for morale

The Ukrainian prime minister made the comments to a group of MEPs from the liberal Renew Europe group, of which his own party is a member.

Transcript

00:00 "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says strong messages of solidarity and support

00:06 are important factors in morale for soldiers fighting on the front line."

00:10 "It gives such signal not only to the world and Europe, also to our people who are defending

00:19 European world.

00:21 This feeling is very important not to lose it, not to lose the morale of the soldiers

00:25 that they are not alone, they are on the front line."

00:28 He was speaking in Kiev to a delegation of MEPs from the Liberal Renew Group in the European

00:33 Parliament of which his party is a member.

00:36 The visit comes as part of the preparations for the European elections in June.

00:40 "It's much better than when the focus is not only on the war because of different elections

00:47 in Europe and in the United States.

00:50 It's an important signal for men, women, our children that we are part of Europe and Europe

00:57 knows that we are defending for our common values."

01:02 The urgent need for more weapons was also a central issue in the discussion.

01:07 "He knows that we are working for European defence but of course as it has been told

01:14 to us by all the persons we had during these two days, they are asking for more weapons,

01:24 more ammunition and he also confirmed that there is a real need on the ground."

01:32 His message comes as Russia continues to pound Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones.

01:37 Ukraine says it urgently needs air defences and more consistent military support.

01:42 An emergency meeting of the Ukraine-NATO council was held on Thursday to discuss the renewed

01:46 air strikes, particularly on the capital.

01:50 And as EU member states continue to disagree over how best to support Ukraine in the short

01:54 and long term, with air raid sirens ringing in Kiev and with Ukrainian soldiers suffering

02:00 ammunition shortages on the front line, Putin, it's feared, is gearing up for an even bigger

02:06 war.

02:07 Shona Murray, Euronews, Kiev.

02:08 [WHOOSH]