Zelenskyy wraps up European tour with visit to EU summit

Mr Zelenskyy will be stepping up from a half-dozen video addresses to the EU leaders over the past year to use his impressive aura and oratory skills in person to make sure that nothing stalls in Europe’s unwavering backing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu walk on the tarmac of the Orly airport, south of Paris (Julien de Rosa/AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is wrapping up a whirlwind tour of his major European backers – already heading home with heaps of goodwill, promises of more military aid and France’s highest medal of honour.

The European Union’s 27 leaders are awaiting the man in khaki in Brussels on Thursday, hoping to impress on him that the powerful bloc is steadfast in its support of embattled Ukraine as Russia is feared to be making moves for a new offensive around the February 24 one-year anniversary of the war.