Iran Press/ Europe:  After long speculation about tensions between Russia and Ukraine, on February 24, Russian troops launched military operations on Ukrainian territory and have so far advanced in various parts of the country.

The United States and France urged on Sunday their citizens staying in Russia to "leave immediately" amid worsening travel conditions as countries increasingly close their airspace to Russian aircraft.

"Today, the European Union and Ukraine are already closer than ever before. There is still a long path ahead. We have to end this war. And we should talk about the next steps," von der Leyen said when addressing the European Parliament plenary.

"Prove that you are with us," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the European Union on Tuesday, a day after Kyiv officially asked to join the bloc as it battles Russian forces.

EU lawmakers, many wearing #standwithUkraine T-shirts bearing the Ukrainian flag, others with blue-and-yellow scarves or ribbons, gave Zelenskiy a standing ovation as he addressed the European Parliament via video link, Reuters reported.

"We are fighting to be equal members of Europe," Zelenskiy said in Ukrainian in a speech translated into English by an interpreter who spoke through tears.

"Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans, and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness," he said. "The EU will be much stronger with us."

Zelenskiy has remained in Kyiv to rally his people against the Russia military operation in that country. As he spoke to EU lawmakers and top officials, a Russian armoured column was bearing down on Ukraine's capital.

"We are (with you)," European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said in response to Zelenskiy's appeal, saying the EU would provide Ukraine with weapons, on top of unprecedented sanctions on Russia after it attacked Ukraine last week.

"And we will be with you to rebuild your beautiful country after your victory," he said.

Hard to join EU

The presidents of eight central and eastern European nations on Monday published an open letter calling for Ukraine to be granted immediate EU candidate status and for the start of formal membership talks.

Ukraine is well aware, however, that any membership process will be long and difficult, even if it manages after the war to avoid falling back under Moscow's domination. 

Charles Michel, the chairman of EU leaders, told the EU Parliament after Zelenskiy's speech that the bloc would have to seriously look at Ukraine's "legitimate" request to join.

But he added: "It is going to be difficult, we know there are different views in Europe (about further enlargements)."

The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution - by 637 votes to 13, with 26 abstentions - calling for tougher sanctions "aimed at strategically weakening the Russian economy and industrial base, in particular the military-industrial complex".

While Russian President Vladimir Putin "recalls the most dreadful statements of 20th century dictators", Zelenskiy is being "heroic", they said.

The European Parliament also urged EU leaders to be tougher on oligarchs and officials close to Putin, restrict oil and gas imports from Russia, ban Russia and its ally Belarus entirely from the SWIFT bank messaging system, and to close all EU ports to Russian ships or ships headed to or from Russia.

However, EU lawmakers rejected an amendment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the purpose of the country's military operation in Ukraine was to defend the civilian population of Donbas, recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, and Russian sovereignty over the Crimea.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Putin's decision to launch an operation in Ukraine had had the effect of uniting countries against Russia.

"If Putin was seeking to divide the European Union, to weaken NATO, and to break the international community, he has achieved exactly the opposite," von der Leyen told the EU Parliament.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday signed an official appeal for the EU, asking for accession of Ukraine via a new special procedure.

IMF, World Bank to boost financial, policy support for Ukraine

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank announced on Tuesday that they are working together to support Ukraine on the financing and policy fronts and are urgently increasing that support.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank Group President David Malpass said in a joint statement that commodity prices are being driven higher and "risk further fueling inflation," which hits the poor the hardest.

"Disruptions in financial markets will continue to worsen should the conflict persist," they said, adding that the sanctions announced over the last few days will also have a "significant" economic impact, Xinhua reported.