Address of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the participants of the Warsaw Security Forum

Donald, Mr. Prime Minister, distinguished Prime Ministers of Lithuania and Norway, Mindaugas and Jonas, dear Katarzyna, dear Zbigniew, dear Kasia, our moderator, and all the participants of the forum. Dear ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I want to thank you, you all, for your attention to Ukraine, our people, for your support, for Poland's support, and for understanding how much security matters, especially now when we are facing another wave of escalation from Russia, and when we have real tools to reduce this escalation.

Yesterday, we were all hardly surprised that after a sudden but very important post from the American president saying that he had secured an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, that at that very moment, Russian jet-powered Shaheed drones were flying in our skirts. Large parts of Kiev had no water supplies and electricity, and repair crews were working to restore power after Shaheed strike on a power plant. And immediately after the post, Russia launched a targeted strike on a power plant in Kharkiv, causing further damage to our energy system. It was clear that Putin does not read truth socially, and his Shaheed drones follow a different set of instructions.

But this post is actually about something that affects the lives of millions of people, and that makes it very, very important. First of all, in Ukraine, because Russia is trying to use another winter, another period of cold weather against our country, taking our power plants, power grids, and all parts of our energy infrastructure every single day. But this also concerns Russia, and not only its oil refining industry, those refineries that Putin is so shamelessly trying to sell to the world as a solution, claiming they can somehow make up for the losses in global oil supplies caused by the crisis in the state of Olmos and across the Middle East.

This winter, if Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire, we will respond. So that is why yesterday, the American president's post drew real interest and real hope that the energy ceasefire could actually work. We in Ukraine immediately supported this idea, as we did, by the way, as we did more than once for months when we ourselves put forward the idea of the energy ceasefire. We agreed to an energy ceasefire. The American team knows very well what this means for us. We do not have major oil reserves, large oil export capacity, or dozens of oil refineries.

We import large amounts of diesel and other oil products, and I'm grateful to all our neighbors, especially Poland, for helping us with our energy needs, and also Norway. Thank you so much. For us, the key issue is electricity. Russia started its campaign of strikes against our power generation and power grid years ago, and every winter, including this one, Russians try to make these attacks even more intense. We have power cuts every single day.

For Russia, of course, gasoline shortages and burning oil refineries because of our strikes in response are painful. These are not the same volumes that could be lost because of the crisis in orbit, but if Russia wants us to stop our long-range strikes against its oil refineries and oil exports, then Russia must stop its strikes against our energy system and critical infrastructure and stop killing our people.

This is only fair. I hear from leaders across Europe and around the world that they support us on this. In Ukraine, we have just one oil refinery, and it was badly damaged by Russian strikes long, long ago. So importing oil products is simply our reality, and that is why our offer is honest and clear. We are ready to respect an energy ceasefire if Russia is ready to do the same.

We agree if they agree, and we have already shown that we mean it. Last night, Russian oil refineries were not burning, but at midnight, a Russian jet power jet hit a gas production facility in Ukraine. There was also a Russian strike on an ordinary gas station in several zones, and repair crews are still working to fix the damage from yesterday's attacks. There were Russian violations of the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump, and all morning today, more and more Russian jet-powered sheikhs have continued to enter our skies over Kiev and other Ukrainian cities.

We shoot down many of them, and if we didn't, that would clearly be even more damage to our energy infrastructure. So for now, this is Putin's answer to Trump. Russian attacks, but we are waiting. We are waiting for the details of the conversation between the Americans and the Russians, and we are waiting to see what specific steps the Americans are ready to take. This energy ceasefire can work, and it can become a major step toward ending the war if if the Americans truly step in now and make sure Russia respects the energy ceasefire. Now, it is still the middle of the night in Washington, but we know that people there wake up early, and they will immediately see what we are seeing here.

So let me say it once again, especially for them. We are grateful to America, and we support the idea of an energy ceasefire. And now Russia must also show that it agrees to this energy ceasefire. And if the Americans need it, we are ready to sign these guarantees to make sure they can be trusted. And it's important that we all see this situation in the same way, that we get the priorities right.

No one in Europe is the source of destabilization or war. No one in Europe is rejecting peace or wants an endless war. No one in Europe wants anything bad for America. Quite the opposite. Everyone wants the closest and friendliest possible relations with America. Everyone, everyone in Europe, but not Russia. By the way, when we started responding to Russia's operation against our data centers, and when our strikes reached Yandex data centers, it suddenly became a little easier to breeze on many social media platforms. A lot of people, a lot of people noticed it.

And there was less hate, less division, and fewer provocations, because

there were fewer bots. And it's pretty clear where those bots were coming from. And if they disappeared when Yandex went offline, there's proof again and again that Europe is not the source of the problems. Europe is not the one making everything more difficult. Most importantly, we need people in America every morning when the day in Europe is moving toward evening to really see what is happening, to see the truth. We want peace, and we are ready to work together with America and with everyone else to end this war, and also to end the war in the Middle East, which is causing so many global problems, including problems with prices, and to solve any other problem we face together.

And we must deal with all these challenges together, together with America. And we need to feel that same unity from America. America is without question the strongest country in the world, and it's important that America uses its strengths to make the world a better place. Dear friends, over these past weeks, we have been in almost constant contact with Donald. I mean, Prime Minister Tusk. And we have also been in touch with Jonas and our other real, real friends and partners.

And we are preparing joint steps and decisions first. It's important that we all speak with one voice now. We need American pressure on Russia, not sanctions relief, not concessions, but real pressure so that we can achieve at least what the American president posted about yesterday, an energy ceasefire.

Please, speak about this. Make it clear that Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire, and Russia must be ready too. Steps toward peace must be exactly like this, honest, with both sides doing the same and helping millions of people. Second, please stand with Ukraine every single day right now. We need your support every day. Munitions for our F-16s that shoot down Russian jet-powered checkpoints, interceptors for our air defense, funding to produce our own weapons and drones, political support for Ukraine, and global pressure on Russia above all through sanctions. And I know that Poland and Norway and the Baltic states and other friends have a very firm position on this, based on strong principles.

And this is important for Europe as a whole. Sure, this will be a very active week in Europe, and we'll have our meetings and you will have your decisions at the EU level. And here is what matters. Please do not allow any pauses in Ukraine's European integration. We're expecting to open two classes in our EU accession negotiations, and we must open two more by the end of this year.

This is not just about politics. It's also, in many ways, about moral, about motivation. Our people need to feel that despite all the difficulties, Ukraine's European future is closed, and we are ready to work on all the difficult issues. But we must remember that the biggest challenge for all of us is Russia. And it is Ukraine that is giving the strongest response to this challenge. And it is our cooperation between Ukraine and all of you that gives Ukraine the greatest support and motivation.

Please do not allow any pauses in this world. Fourth, please do not underestimate the threats to your own countries. There is no such thing as a small act of destabilization. Our intelligence services know that Russia is planning many, many aggressive deliberations against Europe, against different countries, against your countries. Pay attention to every situation that could become a problem, and stay united in your defense.

Unity at home is always important when facing threats from outside. Fifth, please be sure that Ukraine is always ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with you. And we always welcome joint projects with Poland. And we need shared achievements and real results together. And we need joint production. And the best way to move forward is through a drawn deal between our countries and other similar agreements that make both Ukraine and Poland stronger.

Our experience in defending against threats and our technological progress can help strengthen your security and your capabilities can help strengthen ours. The most important thing is that we stay together and that we make sure we can prevail together instead of allowing Russia to defeat us first and then come after you, as they want to do. Of course, Ukraine and Poland are natural allies. And when we stand together, Russia has no chance. Please remember this. And please dedicate your time today to making sure Washington hears one clear message.

And energy ceasefire and other steps to reduce escalation and guarantee security are truly needed here in reality, not just on truth social. We need to end Russia's war. We need to guarantee security. We need to stand together, Europe and the United States. Thank you. Slavo Vrein.