BRUSSELS, Feb  6, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - The EU is preparing for a potential 
visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy to Brussels on Thursday to meet 
the bloc's leaders and address parliament, officials said Monday. 

  If it goes ahead -- and the trip has not been confirmed -- the visit would 
be the first made by Zelensky to the seat of the EU since Russia invaded his 
country almost one year ago.  

 The Ukrainian leader has so far made one only trip abroad since Moscow 
launched its all-out assault on February 24, visiting Washington in December. 

 A source at the European parliament said there was the "likelihood of an 
extraordinary Plenary Session on Thursday, February 9 with the presence of 
Volodymyr Zelensky."

 The leaders of the 27 EU member states will be in Brussels on Thursday for 
a planned summit.

 A spokesman for European Council chief Charles Michel, who organises EU 
summits, said only that "there is an open invitation to president Zelensky to 
visit Brussels".

 Officials said there was no final confirmation Zelensky would come and that 
his potential arrival was being kept under tight wraps due to security 
concerns. 

  The Ukrainian presidency did not confirm the visit. 

 Last week, Zelensky met top EU officials in Kyiv to push the bloc to speed 
up Ukraine's bid to join. 

       The EU has committed tens of billions of euros towards helping Ukraine 
withstand the Russian onslaught.  

 Zelensky has warned that Ukrainian forces are facing an increasingly 
difficult fight in the east of the country as Russia seeks to claim more 
territory in its grinding offensive.