Zelenskyy Meets EU Leadership Appeals to 'Join NATO'...Russ, all-time defense spending confirmed.

[Anchor]
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with the new EU leadership in his country and called for support for NATO membership, along with the use of additional weapons.

Russia has shown no signs of backing down, including an airstrike on the day of the EU leadership's visit and finalizing its largest defense budget ever.

Correspondent Jo Su-hyun reports from London.

[Reporter]
President Zelensky welcomes new EU summit president António Costa out of his car and shares a hug.

As soon as the new EU leadership, including Chairman Costa, was launched, it visited Kyiv, Ukraine.

In a joint press conference after the meeting, Zelenskyy stressed the need for more weapons to protect his country before any negotiations with Russia.

He also reiterated his call for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and NATO to end the war and for Ukraine to survive.

He added that there is still time for the Biden administration, which will retire in January next year, to persuade skeptics in Europe on NATO membership.

[Volodymyr Zelensky / Ukrainian President: Invitations to join NATO (except for Russian-occupied territories) are not acceptable. All territories should be included.]

Costa said the EU plans to provide Ukraine with 1.5 billion euros per month, about 2.2 trillion won, over the next year.

[Antoniu Costa / EU Summit President: The aid comes from proceeds from Russian assets frozen by the EU and can also be used for military purposes]

In response, Russia has confirmed its largest defense budget ever, up nearly 30% from this year.

President Putin signed a budget plan to increase defense spending to 13.5 trillion rubles and 190 trillion won next year.

Defense spending accounts for 32.5% of next year's total budget, which is more than the combined welfare and education sectors.

Russia also conducted nighttime airstrikes targeting various parts of Ukraine ahead of the EU leadership visit, resulting in more than 30 casualties.

I'm Jo Suhyun of YTN in London.

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