War Speeches II

April 2022

BERLIN | AMSTERDAM

LMVERLAG

ISBN 9789083250465

NUR: 689

Published under CC 4.0 The Presidential Office of Ukraine.

https://www.president.gov.ua/

01220, Kyiv, 11 Bankova Str. Ukraine

©Cover design and typography Connie Nijman 

©lmverlag editors

Some minor spelling errors corrected.

Names have not been changed from the original text.

Net proceeds go to the Ukrainian Red Cross:

https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has won public adoration for his ability to motivate not only Ukrainians but people around the world. He might be the best version of a 21st-century political leader we’ve seen.
In many ways, Zelenskyy is the most unlikely of heroes. He grew up as a Russian-speaking Ukrainian Jew in the southeastern part of the country. He earned a law degree and pursued a career in standup comedy and acting. Then, quite incredibly, he starred in the comedy series The Servant of the People where he played a high school teacher who suddenly becomes President of Ukraine. In the spring of 2022, the ‘real’ President, Vladimir Putin of Russia, appears completely out of touch with reality, accusing Ukraine of ‘genocide’ and talking of the need to ‘de-nazify’ the country.
Complete and unabridged English edition of Zelenskyy’s speeches to the Ukrainian and Russian people, foreign governments and parliaments, and international organisations since the eve of the war.

‘Zelenskyy speech sparks soul-searching in Germany’, Laurenz Gehrke, Politico.

About Vladimir Putin: ‘This is the dictator who was courted in Germany. And for Schröder, Steinmeier, Merkel was the one not to be provoked. The madman who wants a war so much that he is no longer even willing to answer the phone when the Ukrainian president calls’, Paul Ronzheimer, Bild.

‘How Zelenskyy’s team of TV writers helps his victory message hit home’, Luke Harding, The Guardian.

net-proceeds go to the Ukrainian Red Cross
lmverlag Berlin | Amsterdam

Table of Content

War Speeches II

April 2022

Table of Content

We all equally want to win, but there will be battles ahead

1 April 2022 - 00:05

Europe has no right to react in silence to what is happening with our Mariupol

2 April 2022 - 01:17

It is time to do everything to make the war crimes of the Russian military the last manifestation of this evil on earth

3 April 2022 - 21:22

There is ample evidence that it is Russian troops who destroy peaceful cities, torture and kill civilians

5 April 2022 - 00:38

Kyiv is now the capital of global democracy, the capital of the struggle for freedom for all in Europe

6 April 2022 - 00:16

Speech in the Parliament of Greece

7 April 2022 - 14:17

Speech in Eduskunta, the Parliament of Finland

8 April 2022 - 15:05

The strike on Kramatorsk must be one of the charges at the tribunal regarding Russia’s war crimes

8 April 2022 - 23:37

Defense strategy for every civilized state is to put pressure on Russia to restore peace

9 April 2022 - 22:27

The new package of sanctions should be such that Russia does not even talk about weapons of mass destruction

12 April 2022 - 00:07

Speech in the Riigikogu, Estonian Parliament

13 April 2022 - 14:12

During the 50 days of this war, Ukraine became a hero for the whole free world

14 April 2022 - 23:59

The effectiveness of instruments of influence on Russia determines how long this war will last - address by the President of Ukraine

15 April 2022 - 23:31

Speech in the Assembly of the Republic, Parliament of Portugal

21 April 2022 - 20:50

Armed Forces of Ukraine are the foundation on which the fortress of our national unity should stand

22 April 2022 - 22:53

The Orthodox world has seen that Easter means nothing to Russia

25 April 2022 - 10:58

Ukraine is a real symbol of struggle for freedom

25 April 2022 - 23:07

Russia is trying to provoke a global price crisis, but Ukrainian exports will help stabilize markets 27 April 2022 - 20:50

Together with allies we can definitely stop the Russian aggression and reliably defend freedom in Europe

28 April 2022 - 22:57

Lend-Lease and other programs in support of Ukraine prove that freedom is still able to defend itself against tyranny

29 April 2022 - 22:03

We still need to fight and direct all efforts to drive the occupiers out, and we will do it

30 April 2022 - 23:35

We all equally want to win, but there will be battles ahead

1 April 2022 - 00:05

Ukrainians!

Our defenders!

The 36th day of our nationwide defense after eight years of war in Donbas is coming to an end. It’s hard to believe that, but March has already passed. Absolutely imperceptible!

The passage of time is somehow not even noticed. Every day and every night have become virtually the same for us. The same day, the same night.

And with one task for all - to protect ourselves, save people, rebuff invaders. Drive them out.

All this March and five days of February, the invaders have been trying to break in and gain a foothold in our house from different directions - from land, from the sky, from the sea. They go, fly, swim... There is so much evil in them, so much thirst for destruction that it reminds not of people, but of something otherworldly. Some monsters that burn and loot, attack and try to kill. Some hellish chimeras.

But when you are on your land, everything helps you. The land itself, rivers, every person. Everyone, even the one you didn't expect from before. We endured much more than the enemy expected.

They said - three or five days. They thought that this would be enough for them to seize our entire state. And it’s already 36. And we are standing. And we will continue to fight. Until the end.

Until we have strength and opportunities.

So that there are no monsters left on our land. So that if chimeras (points to the House with Chimeras - ed.), then native and good. The ones protecting us.

I am sure that it is extremely pleasant for each of you to read and watch the news that Ukrainian cities are gradually being liberated from the occupiers.

And so, it is. Our Armed Forces, the National Police and the National Guard, and intelligence are doing great. Absolute gratitude to them!

To the north of Kyiv, in the Chernihiv direction, in the Sumy region, the expulsion of the occupiers continues. They themselves are aware that they can no longer withstand the intensity of hostilities they could have maintained in the first half of March.

But we must also realize that for the Russian military, this is part of their tactics. All this is not occasional. We know their plans. We know what they are planning and what they are doing.

We know that they are moving away from the areas where we are beating them to focus on others that are very important. On those where it can be difficult for us.

That is why it is very important for everyone to show restraint. Restraint in emotions. Restraint in worries. We all equally want to win. Equally!

But there will be battles ahead. We still have a very difficult path to cover to get everything we strive for.

Of course, everyone should motivate our military, each other, and support our defense. Children - with "likes". Parents - with a warm word. Volunteers - with help. The people and the state - with all the resources and opportunities that we have, that are available in Ukraine.

Restraint in emotions, readiness to fight until we win and proper motivation for our military are essential elements.

I also work on motivation for them. Daily. Like each of us.

As always, before delivering the address, I signed a decree awarding our heroes. 136 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thank you to everyone!

And today another decision was made. Regarding antiheroes. Now I do not have time to deal with all the traitors. But gradually they will all be punished.

That is why the ex-chief of the Main Department of Internal Security of the Security Service of Ukraine Naumov Andriy Olehovych and the former head of the Office of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Kherson region Kryvoruchko, Serhiy Oleksandrovy are no longer generals.

According to Article 48 of the Disciplinary Statute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, those servicemen among senior officers who have not decided where their homeland is, who violate the military oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people as regards the protection of our state, its freedom and independence, will inevitably be deprived of senior military ranks. Random generals don't belong here!

And to the real heroes of the Security Service - the same absolute gratitude, just as to each and every one who sincerely defends our state. There are really a lot of heroes among the servicemen. We are grateful to them!

The situation in the south and in Donbas remains extremely difficult.

The invaders are allocating their sick creativity to the temporarily occupied areas of the Kherson region. They are trying to organize some of their incomprehensible structures there, they are trying to figure out how to consolidate their presence there.

Of course, this is hopeless for them. The more active they are there, the more substantial the losses of Russia itself will be in the end. The losses of Russians themselves. Because who else will pay for the occupation of a foreign land?

Also in Donbas, in Mariupol, in the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops are accumulating the potential for strikes. Powerful strikes. We will defend ourselves. We will do everything we can to stop the occupiers and clear our land of their evil and foolish chimeras.

Today I addressed the parliaments of our partner countries: Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. I felt total support. I am waiting for concrete steps. I called for tougher sanctions against Russia. We have to put pressure on the aggressor until the aggression is over.

I also spoke about this with President of the European Council Charles Michel. We need more support from our partners right now. When the Russian military is concentrating additional forces in certain areas.

In addition to sanctions, we discussed with Charles Michel economic support for Ukraine, financing of priority projects. The dynamics of our movement towards full membership in the EU.

The sanctions policy was one of the topics of conversation between Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak and US National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan.

The United States has imposed a new package of sanctions against Russia. We are grateful. It will not allow the current sanctions to be circumvented - we have already noticed such attempts. It will also limit the work of sensitive sectors of the Russian economy - its defense sector.

Let Moscow not forget that the sanctions policy will only be continued and intensified. As long as there is no peace - sanctions are needed. Until Russia begins to invest as sincerely in the search for peace as it invests in the destruction of our state, sanctions will remain unalterable.

I also held talks with President of Turkey Erdo.an today. We spoke very specifically. In particular, about the prospects of negotiations in Turkey with the Russian Federation. And also, about the creation of an effective system of guarantees for our state. About the security we have always needed and to the real provision of which we have come closer. I am grateful for Turkey's readiness to become a guarantor of security for Ukraine.

And finally. Both I and government officials have already said that the "Diia" state service has started accepting applications for compensation for the destroyed real-estate of our citizens. The state will return to our people everything that the occupiers destroyed - houses, apartments, etc.

In a few days, 25,491 applications have already been submitted. The number of residents in these houses and these apartments, which were destroyed, according to our estimates is 63 thousand 471 people. But we know that more needs to be restored. Much more.

So tell everyone who needs it about such a government program. An important program. The opportunity to submit applications will soon be available offline, in the administrative service centers, in the mode usual for many Ukrainians.

No matter what, we all have to think about the future. About what Ukraine will be like after this war. How we will live. Because this is a war for our future. This is a war for our lives, in which we have only one way - to gain peace for Ukraine. To gain Ukraine’s security.

Glory to all our heroes!

Glory to Ukraine!

Europe has no right to react in silence to what is happening with our Mariupol

2 April 2022 - 01:17

Ukrainians!

Our dear defenders!

This day, April 1, the occupiers decided to mark with two equally silly jokes. One such joke is about people in Russia. They started the spring conscription, which looks traditional, but is still different from the usual. Because this year's conscripts can be sent to war against our state, against our people. So, this is a guaranteed death for many very young guys.

And although they are not our citizens, although they are citizens of the state that is at war with us on our land, it is still our duty as people to warn.

Warn each such conscript, their parents. We don't need more dead people here. Save your children so that they do not become villains. Don't send them to the army. Do whatever you can to keep them alive. At home. At their home.

The Russians won’t be told the whole truth about this conscription and about the fate of the conscripts. But still if you can convey the truth to them - do it.

I want to dwell on the fact that the Russian Federation is trying to take people into the army in Crimea. This is a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime for which there will be responsibility. And which is also an argument for increasing sanctions against Russia.

That's why I want to tell the people of Crimea: sabotage this story. At any stage. And if it doesn't work out, don't fulfill criminal orders, and surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the first opportunity. We will understand everything. You will live.

The occupiers played a second very silly April Fool's joke with some residents of the southern regions of Ukraine, where Russian troops had temporarily entered.

They appoint some "Gauleiters", some temporary leaders. And they are threatening employees of enterprises and authorities to cooperate with these deceived appointees.

My message to them is simple: the responsibility for collaboration is inevitable. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow is a secondary issue. The main thing is the inevitability that justice will be restored. Therefore, everyone who became a Gauleiter can already register somewhere in Rostov. And there will be problems for cooperation with them or with the occupiers directly. This is the last warning.

The occupiers are withdrawing forces in the north of our country. The withdrawal is slow but noticeable. Somewhere they are expelled with battles. Somewhere they leave positions on their own. After them a complete disaster and many dangers are left. It’s true.

Firstly, the bombing may continue. Secondly, they are mining all this territory. Mining houses, equipment, even the bodies of killed people. Too many tripwire mines, too many other dangers...

We are moving forward. Moving carefully. And everyone who returns to this area must also be very careful! It is still impossible to return to normal life as it was. Even in the areas we return after the fighting. You will have to wait. Wait for our land to be cleared. Wait until you can be assured that new shelling is impossible.

In the east of our country, the situation remains extremely difficult. The Russian militaries are being accumulated in Donbas, in the Kharkiv direction. They are preparing for new powerful blows. We are preparing for even more active defense. We use all opportunities - both internal and external. Necessarily.

I emphasize once again: hard battles lie ahead. Now we cannot think that we have already passed all the tests. We all strive for victory. But when it comes everyone will see it. Everyone will feel that peace is coming.

In the afternoon I spoke with President of France Macron. About the humanitarian situation in the Ukrainian cities shelled by the occupiers. The situation in Mariupol was discussed separately. For which, I hope, there may still be a solution. Europe has no right to react in silence to what is happening in our Mariupol. The whole world must react to this humanitarian catastrophe.

Today humanitarian corridors worked in three regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia. 6,266 people were rescued. 3,071 people from Mariupol.