Zelenskyy Calls For Time-Bound EU Membership As G7 Nations Pledge Full Support To Ukraine In Russia War

As the world marked the completion of four years of the Russia-Ukraine war on Tuesday (February 23, 2026), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for setting a date for his nation’s accession to the European Union, calling it “a crucial element” of the current efforts to end the military conflict.

At the European Parliament, Zelenskyy spoke via video conference at the plenary session currently ongoing in Brussels, when the bloc marked the four years of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Zelenskyy thanked the European bloc for its “constant attention, constant support, and firm position” on the Russia-Ukraine war on the side of his nation.

“We never chose this war. We didn’t start it, and we did not provoke it, and we do everything we can to stop it,” he said, accusing Russia of repeatedly bringing “a very cruel, ruthless anti-European project” to the continent.

The Ukrainian President noted that his nation was fighting back against Russia’s military operations, but was not yet successful in securing a permanent guarantee of safety to his people.

He stressed that security could be ensured “together in Europe, together with America,” despite the challenges of maintaining transatlantic unity.

A defined timeline for EU membership of Ukraine was “very important as part of the diplomacy process right now, within all the diplomacy aimed at ending the war,” he noted.

“This is not just a wish, it’s a clear understanding of how (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will act. If there is no date, if there is no such guarantee, he will find a way to block Ukraine for decades by dividing you, by dividing Europe,” he said.

Ukraine had formally applied for EU membership shortly after the war started in February 2022 and was granted candidate status later that year.

Zelenskyy also urged European countries to apply the “full range of protection” against Russia, from strong sanctions to continued support for civilians affected by Russian strikes.

“There must be no place in the free world for Russian oil, for Russian tankers, Russian banks. … The time has come to fully ban all participants in Russia’s aggression from entire Europe,” Zelenskyy said.

Meanwhile, the G7 nations marked the four years of the Russia-Ukraine war with a statement that reaffirmed the members’ “unwavering support” for Ukraine in “defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence.”

“We express our continued support for President Trump’s efforts to achieve these objectives by initiating a peace process and bringing the parties to direct discussions. Europe has a leading role to play in this process, joined by other partners,” the statement issued on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) said.

“We also support the commitments under the Coalition of the Willing to provide robust and reliable security guarantees to Ukraine. We acknowledge that only Ukraine and Russia, working together in good faith negotiations, can reach a peace agreement,” it said.

Welcoming the G7 member nations’ efforts, along with other partners, in providing “substantial financial and in-kind support” to Ukraine, the statement said these were for helping the nation to get through this winter.

The G7 nations said substantial additional power production capacities were mobilised in recent weeks, together with other critical equipment, including the shipment of more than 2500 generators and other much needed equipment like transformers, turbines, cogeneration units, boilers and repair equipment from the G7 countries to Kyiv since January.

“…and more than half a billion Euros of new pledges were made to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to purchase equipment to repair and protect the Ukrainian energy system. A resilient and robust energy system will be needed ahead of next winter and for the country’s recovery.”

The G7 nations committed to working closely in terms of ensuring nuclear safety, including with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Ukraine, to promote fundraising for the rehabilitation at the earliest of the Chernobyl containment arch and to prevent any radiological incident that would have serious humanitarian and environmental consequences for the entire continent.

“We also support initiatives aimed at ensuring the immediate, safe and unconditional return of Ukrainian children to their families and communities, and commend the work of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children,” their statement said.

The G7 nations said they would continue to provide humanitarian aid and support to the Ukrainian population.