Scholz criticized amid calls for stronger EU support for Ukraine

On the thousandth day of Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression, speaking remotely during a special session of the European Parliament, the President of Ukraine emphasised that Putin will only stop when the war is no longer profitable for him.

– You know that he doesn't care about rules or people. He values only money, and to restore peace, it needs to be taken away from him, he argued. He urged that Russia's ability to finance the war with oil trade revenues be continuously curtailed.

– Oil is the regime's driving force, and the "shadow fleet" ensures its survival. As long as these tankers are afloat, Putin will not stop killing. Strong sanctions are needed, emphasised Zelensky.

In the European Parliament, this postulate could certainly count on applause, as just a few days ago, MEPs passed a resolution calling for the EU to intensify monitoring and inspections and impose restrictions on specific units of the "shadow fleet" and its supporting ecosystem – insurance companies, operators, and owners, as well as financial institutions enabling their settlements and earning from Russian goods.

The Ukrainian president used a maritime metaphor: – No one can enjoy calm waters during a storm, he declared, speaking of those who think Moscow can 'sell' Ukraine, the Baltic countries, Georgia, or Moldova and gain something from it. He contrasted this vision with a strong United States of Europe, which Putin is weaker than even with Kim Jong Un by his side.

Zelensky appealed, "Please, don't forget this and how much Europe can achieve." He thanked the European Parliament and EU leaders for ensuring that not one of the thousand days of this terrible war had become a day of betrayal of our common European values. He also reminded that Ukraine proposed a peace formula two years ago, and the European Parliament supported it—the only opponent was Russia itself.

Zelensky received two standing ovations in the European Parliament – once upon his welcome and again right after his speech. The EU authorities and MEPs expressed solidarity with Ukraine. Since yesterday, EU buildings have been adorned – alongside the blue-starred banner – by the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine. In the European Parliament, parliamentary factions announced continued support for Ukraine, but the traditional difference between the centre and the left and the far-right appeared.

Speaking on behalf of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber stated that Ukraine will soon be an EU member state and should also be in NATO, as it currently has the strongest army in Europe – while Russia will remain an imperialist state.

The leader of the EPP also emphasised that Europe must follow the example of Joe Biden, who allowed Kyiv to attack targets deep in Russia with American weapons. "It's time for Europeans to do the same," Weber stated. He then criticised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (the German CDU party, part of the EPP, is in opposition to his government):

The German Chancellor expressed his commitment to taking all necessary actions in cooperation with the United States. In response, Weber called for the transfer of Taurus missiles deemed crucial for Ukraine. Scholz has consistently declined to supply Ukraine with these German weapons.

"Full support" for Ukraine was also declared by Iratxe García, the leader of the second-largest faction in the European Parliament – Socialists and Democrats. – Let's defeat the defeatist narrative that Ukraine cannot win this war. Russia has lost many wars in its history, assessed the leftist politician, acknowledging that to win the war, more than words are needed, but ammunition, tanks, soldiers, and air defence.

Valérie Hayer, representing the liberal faction, said that some MEPs call themselves pacifists, but in reality, they are allies of Vladimir Putin, and for them, peace is the right of the stronger. She called for supporting Ukraine with both weapons and money, including billions from frozen Russian assets, and added that attacks on targets in Russia are justified.

According to Green faction co-leader Terry Reintke, Vladimir Putin is trying to return to times when Europe was ruled by empires – and he is trying to rebuild the Russian empire, while the return of Donald Trump to the White House is another alarm signal for the EU, which must have the strength to defend itself and become energy independent from authoritarian states and their dictators.

Representing the European Conservatives and Reformists, Nicola Procaccini emphasised that Ukrainians teach everyone that the word homeland does not belong to the past, because it still matters to its citizens. – In China, in Africa, in Latin America, in the Middle East, they are watching to see if the entire West still believes in its values, including peace, he noted, recalling Winston Churchill's words that accepting bad peace terms is like feeding a crocodile in hopes that the feeder will be bitten last.

No one from the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations spoke; many seats in the part of the plenary occupied by the far-right were empty. However, Kinga Gál, representing Patriots for Europe, joined in condemning Russian aggression, emphasising Hungarian assistance to Ukrainian refugees, but she assessed that the longer the war continues, the harder it will be for Ukraine to provide a sufficient number of soldiers. The MEP from Hungary's Fidesz pointed out that more and more Hungarians from Zakarpattia, including members of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, are dying at the front.

– The war is taking place in our neighbourhood, so the escalation of the conflict would have drastic consequences for us. Therefore, we do not participate in arms supplies to Ukraine and oppose proposals that would lead to escalation, stated Gál. She believes the current EU strategy hasn't worked and that a ceasefire and peace negotiations should be reached as soon as possible. She hopefully stated that after Donald Trump's victory, there is a greater chance for this than ever before.