"Kyiv is now the capital of global democracy, the capital of the struggle for freedom for all in Europe!" Address by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky

06.04.2022 12:02

Photo by president.gov.ua

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed our people and spoke about the new sanctions that await the aggressor from the international community, and about the new role of Kyiv in the world.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainians!

Today I will not take away much of your attention. The day was very informative. I will only briefly walk through the main points of my work this Tuesday, the 41st day of the invasion of the Russian Federation.

He continued his active diplomatic work. He appealed to the UN Security Council, which convened for a special meeting on Russia's war crimes in Bucha and in the occupied territories of Ukraine in general. He said what should have been said in this format a long time ago.

The UN Security Council exists, and there is no security in the world. For no one. This means that the United Nations is currently unable to carry out the functions for which it was created. And only one state is to blame for this - Russia, which discredits the UN and all other international institutions in whose work it still participates.

Well, that's how he participates ... He tries to block everything constructive and use global architecture in order to spread lies and justify the evil he does.

I'm sure the world sees it. I hope the world will draw conclusions. Because if he doesn't, there will be only one institution left in the world to guarantee the security of states. Namely - weapons.

He suggested to the members of the UN Security Council and to all other states that respect international law, specific things that could change the situation. In particular, a global conference is already underway in peaceful Kyiv to determine how the world's architecture can be reformed, given all that Russia, which is still occupying the seat of a permanent member of the UN Security Council, received from the Soviet Union.

He also addressed the Parliament and the people of Spain. A state that supports our struggle for freedom and for the preservation of democracy in Europe.

He also spoke today with the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron about the humanitarian situation in the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine. About how you can help people in the blocked Mariupol. It was also agreed that France would provide the necessary technical and expert support in the investigation of the crimes of the Russian occupiers in Bucha and other cities of our country.

We are preparing a new package of powerful sanctions against Russia for all that it has done against our people.

Now is a crucial moment, especially for Western leaders. And this is no longer about how our people will evaluate the new sanctions and what I will say about them. This concerns how decisions on sanctions will be assessed in Western societies themselves. After what the world saw in Bucha, sanctions against Russia must be commensurate with the gravity of the occupiers' war crimes. If after that Russian banks will still be able to function as usual ... If after that the transit of goods to Russia will continue as usual ... If after that EU countries will pay Russia for energy as usual ... Then the political fate of some leaders will be to develop not as usual. I advise everyone to feel now that the moment is really important.

We are preparing to receive the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Head of European Diplomacy Josep Borrel in Kyiv in the near future. Working together in Kyiv is something that will be praised by many peoples of the world. And not only in Europe. Because now Kyiv is the capital of global democracy, the capital of the struggle for freedom for all on the European continent.

And I want to thank all our defenders, all our defenders, for making this possible. For the fact that the Armed Forces of Ukraine hold most of the areas in which the enemy tried to break into the country.

The most difficult, as in previous days, in the Donbass, in the Kharkiv direction. But we continue to do everything to ensure that our defenders, our defenders, have something to stop the Russian troops.

We are aware, that the occupiers outnumber. That they have more technology. We know of attempts by Russian leaders to recruit new fools across Russia from cadets of military schools, people with combat experience, and conscripts to send them all to slaughter in another offensive.

But we have no other choice - the fate of our land and our people is being decided. We know what we are fighting for. And we do everything to win.

Today in the Mariinsky Palace he presented the Golden Star orders to servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, and members of military families who were posthumously awarded this title.

Now it is in the Mariinsky Palace, in the White Hall, where we always receive foreign heads of state, that such important ceremonies will take place. We will demonstrate every time that our defenders deserve respect and honor at the highest level.

And the White Hall of the Mariinsky Palace will henceforth be called the White Hall of the Heroes of Ukraine. He also handed over the Order of Courage to the family of the deceased photojournalist Max Levin, who was viciously killed by the occupiers in the Kyiv region. During his life, he made a significant contribution to making us all see and know what is happening in our country.

Traditionally, before recording the evening address, I signed decrees awarding our military with state awards. 292 servicemen, 57 of them posthumously.

Eternal memory to all who gave their lives for Ukraine!

Eternal gratitude to each of our defenders, to each of our defenders!

All for victory! Everything for the world! Everything for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!"