I wish you victory, Ukrainian people!
This is how the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi began his address today.
I will start with the words of support I hear from our partners. From our friends. Very important words of support, supported by concrete steps.
Every day and every night I talk to the leaders of many countries, to the leaders of the business community. During all the days of the war, there is almost no time when Ukraine does not hear what help it will receive.
He talked to President Biden about it again last night. I am grateful to him for his determination. For preparing more new solutions for Ukrainians and Europeans. More new sanctions against aggression!
And before that he spoke with US congressmen, senators. More than two hundred representatives of both parties of Congress. Very sincere. They are most interested in really helping us. Specific.
Conversations that increase our confidence. For on whose side the world is, he will never fall into darkness.
The world has the power to close our skies to Russian missiles. For Russian fighter jets, propellers.
If anyone still doubts, Ukraine needs planes. In fact, it’s easy when you have the will. To make the sky safe. The sky of Ukraine. The sky of Europe.
He spoke with the Prime Minister of Australia. And I am grateful to Australians for their moral stance on Russian exports. There should be no port where a terrorist state can make money.
The Prime Ministers of Albania, Bulgaria and Israel. Support for Ukraine.
Inspirational conversation with Ilona Mask. With a man who makes rockets for the future. Instead of killing with rockets for the sake of the past. We talked about how to win now. About how we will work later. After the victory.
Support for Ukraine from global business, from the leaders of the most advanced companies is no less important than support from the world’s leading countries. When the corporate world is not afraid of you, you have double protection. Triple weapon. You have a future.
Ukrainians!
We have already won our future.
But we are still fighting for ours today. It is very important. We are fighting for where the line between life and slavery will pass.
And it’s not just our choice.
Russian citizens are making exactly the same choice right now. These days. At this hour.
Between life and slavery. Today. Tomorrow. Next week.
This is a time when evil can still be defeated without irreparable losses.
When the position is threatened with dismissal or paddy wagon, not the Gulag. Material losses, not shootings.
Don’t miss this opportunity. Social networks, friends, acquaintances and strangers, colleagues and relatives. You must be heard! We, Ukrainians, want peace!
Citizens of Russia! For you, this is a struggle not only for peace in Ukraine! This is a struggle for your country as well. For the best that was in it. For the freedom you saw. For the wealth you felt.
If you remain silent now, then only your poverty will speak for you. And only repression will answer her.
Don’t be silent!
The Russian military, who was taken prisoner by our defenders, spoke. Hundreds, hundreds of prisoners. Among them are the pilots of the planes that bombed our cities. Our peaceful people. We heard their testimony. We saw the documents. Maps. Plans. Not yesterday.
This is NOT improvisation. This is a war.
They prepared this invasion in this way – cruelly, cynically. Known for violating the rules of war. Therefore, Kharkiv. Therefore, Chernihiv. Therefore Sumy. Therefore, Mariupol. And many, many other Ukrainian hero cities have seen pure evil. Atrocity.
So it was planned.
But it will not kill our humanity.
Nevertheless, we treat prisoners within the framework of the Geneva Convention. However, our missiles do not hit Russian civilian targets in response. Or Belarus. From where rockets come to our territory every day. There are columns of equipment. Aviation is flying. Against peaceful people. Against peaceful cities. Zhytomyr, Korosten, Ovruch, suburbs of Kyiv, cities in the south … They are preparing to bomb Odessa.
Odessa!
Russians have always come to Odessa. Always felt in Odessa only warmth. Only sincerity. And now what? Bombs against Odessa? Artillery against Odessa? Missiles against Odessa?
It will be a war crime.
It will be a historical crime.
Ukrainians!
We have been fighting for 11 days. For freedom. For our state.
We persevered. We already understand how we will rebuild our country.
We are already forming special funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine. There are already four of them.
Fund for the Restoration of Destroyed Property and Infrastructure of Ukraine. Fund for Economic Recovery and Transformation. Public Debt Service and Repayment Fund. Small and Medium Business Support Fund.
And many more programs to support our people. Heroes who fight for our state.
And this is just the beginning.
And now we still need forces.
Wisdom is needed.
We need freedom.
We need a victory.
We need peace!
Peace to save Ukraine.
Glory to Ukraine!