Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Brussels on Thursday. He will address the European Parliament at a special session, sources report ANP.
After the speech, he will immediately leave the parliament building. It is not clear whether Zelensky will join an EU summit with the 27 heads of government later today. That plan has not yet been confirmed for security reasons.
The EU has been trying to persuade Zelensky to come to Brussels for some time. He sometimes spoke to the EU leaders by video connection. Zelensky has left his country once since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. In December he visited Washington.
Zelensky will very likely thank the EU countries for the promised tank deliveries. At the same time, he will call for more support. The EU countries will discuss this on Thursday.
Germany and European allies want to deliver two full tank battalions of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. That is about ninety tanks in total. For a long time, countries pressed Germany for permission to supply tanks. In January, the country gave the green light. That permission was necessary because the vehicles are made in Germany.
The eastern neighbors expect that enough Leopard 2 tanks will soon be assembled to fulfill the promise of two battalions. Germany itself sends fourteen, just like Poland. A handful of other countries have also pledged Leopard 2 tanks.