Lifted ban on US missiles didn’t prompt applause from EU | Fact check

A Nov. 22 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows people standing and clapping in a crowded room. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can be seen on a large monitor in the background.
“Applause in the European Parliament for giving the green light to launch U.S. missiles from Ukraine to hit Russia,” the post’s caption reads in part.
Other versions of the claim were shared on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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The clip shows Parliament members applauding Zelenskyy during a session that marked the 1,000th day of the war between Ukraine and Russia. Neither Zelenskyy’s remarks nor the members’ applause were related to the lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S. missiles.
President Joe Biden lifted a ban on Nov. 17 that previously barred Ukraine from using U.S. long-range missiles to strike targets deep within Russia. Two days later, Ukraine fired at least six of the missiles, targeting a weapons depot in Russia’s southwestern Bryansk region.
But the Facebook clip doesn’t show the European Parliament applauding this decision.
The clip was originally shared on X on Nov. 19 by Tomasz Froelich, an Alternative for Germany party member and a member of the European Parliament. In the caption, Froelich commented on the U.S. decision to lift the ban but didn’t say the Parliament members were specifically applauding the move. “Almost the entire EU Parliament stands up for #Zelenskyy, while at the same time the #Ukraine, after the USA has given the green light, fires the first #ATACMS missile at Russia,” reads an English translation of Froelich’s caption. “The enthusiasm for war and the lack of will for diplomacy in this House are frightening.”
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A livestream of the Nov. 19 session on YouTube shows the Parliament members standing up and applauding before and after Zelenskyy’s speech to the 1,000th day of the war between Ukraine and Russia. The members didn’t clap immediately after any specific remarks.
A transcript of Zelenskyy’s remarks shows he didn’t mention Ukraine’s use of U.S. missiles. Instead, he spoke generally about the support his country has received from Europe and America in the 1,000 days since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
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