Russia lost its influence in European Union - Zelensky

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his address to the Slovenian parliament, Ukrinform reports.

“I am grateful to all the countries of the European Union in which such appeals of mine took place. We know that Russia tried to disrupt them, tried to use its various connections - political, diplomatic, even business. In Moscow they understand that they have nothing to oppose such trust between the people of Ukraine and Europe and such communication activity with. Therefore, they threatened Europeans, manipulated those who depend on them. But this is already the twenty-fourth parliament of the twenty-seven countries of the European Union, and I want to congratulate you on this obvious evidence that Russia has lost its influence in the European Union. The fact remains the following: most of the countries of the European Union cannot be ruled by Russia. And this is a new political reality in Europe, which we achieved together - every country that stood up for the defense of our common freedom,” Zelensky said.

He added that the words about freedom are not just words, but a key goal of the anti-war coalition. Now, according to the President of Ukraine, new and strong security, political and economic steps are being taken on the basis of a new unity.

“And legal steps are next, namely: bringing Russian war criminals to justice. Most importantly, by going through this terrible challenge of the Russian war together, we prove that European values do not remain just a reference to old treaties and conventions, do not serve as formal criteria only at the level of rhetoric, but are the real basis of life on the continent here and now. And every country of the united Europe made its contribution to this,” he said.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, firing at Ukrainian cities and villages with artillery, multiple launch rocket systems and ballistic missiles.