Day 31 of the war. Address of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Free peoples of a free country. Free Slavutych, which cannot be subdued by invaders. Today we were all together with you, on your streets, in your protest. And all together we told the occupiers one thing – go home while you still can walk. Russian invaders entered Slavutych and met the same reaction there as in the south of our state, as in the east of our country.

Ukraine is united in the desire to live freely, to live independently, and for the sake of its own dreams, and not others' sick fantasies. Every day of our struggle for Ukraine, for our state, every manifestation of our resistance in all the districts where the occupiers have entered, so far prove that Ukraine is a state full of life, which has historical roots and a moral foundation throughout its entire territory. Nothing the occupiers do will help, neither the shutting down of our television nor the switching on of the incantations of Moscow TV presenters, the propaganda leaflets, the distribution of rubles, which in Russia will soon be accepted by weight or by mass, and not by nominal value.

Nor will the bribery of marginals, whom the occupiers search for in all the trash cans, to depict a supposedly pro-Russian government, help. The answer to the Russian troops will be only one – hatred and contempt. And the Armed Forces of Ukraine will inevitably come. That is why simple Ukrainian peasants capture, take prisoner pilots of downed Russian planes that fall on our land. That is why our tractor troops, Ukrainian farmers, take Russian equipment in the fields and give it to our Armed Forces of Ukraine. Including the newest models, which Russia tried to keep secret. And now the occupiers abandon them on our land and simply flee.

In principle, they are doing the right thing, because it is better for them to flee from here than to die. And there simply are no other alternatives and there will be none. Every man and woman in Ukraine has united and for more than a month have been giving all their energy to the defense of our state. Together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with all our defenders, with all our female defenders, together with our National Guard.

I want to once again congratulate the National Guard of Ukraine on its day with great respect. Sincere gratitude for everything you do to protect our state, to protect Ukrainians. Thank you for all the steps toward the victory that will be, and which became possible thanks to you. Today I presented awards to the fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine who distinguished themselves in battles with the Russian occupiers.

And also promoted five colonels of the National Guard of Ukraine to the rank of brigadier general. In total, during the full-scale war since February 24th, 476 fighters of the National Guard have already been honored with state awards.

I also spoke today with the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, twice. About our people who found refuge on the territory of Poland. And about the need to strengthen our common security. The security of our states, security, in fact, for all Europeans. What is the price of this security? It is very, very concrete. It is aircraft for Ukraine. It is tanks for our state. It is anti-missile defense. It is anti-ship weapons. It is what our partners have. What is simply gathering dust for them. Ultimately, this is all for the freedom not only of Ukraine, but for the freedom of Europe.

Because for everyone on the continent, it cannot be acceptable if the Baltic states, Poland, Slovakia, and the entire East of Europe find themselves at risk of collision with Russian invaders. They will find themselves so only because aircraft will be left somewhere in hangars [except for] only one percent of all NATO aircraft and one percent of all NATO tanks. One percent—we did not ask for more.

And we do not ask for more. But we have been waiting for 31 days already. So, who manages the Euro-Atlantic community? Is it still Moscow through intimidation? Partners need to intensify aid to Ukraine. Exactly these words. Partners need to, because this is the security of Europe. And this is exactly what we agreed upon in Kyiv.

When three prime ministers of Eastern European countries, as well as Mr. Pkachinsky, arrived in our capital. This was in mid-March.

Today, immediately after the conversation with the President of Poland, we contacted the defenders of Mariupol. I am in constant contact with them. Their determination, their heroism, and resilience are impressive. I am grateful to each of them, to every one of them. At least as a testament to the heights of their bravery to those who for 31 days have been thinking about how to transfer a dozen or two aircraft or tanks. And, by the way, we spoke today with our warriors of Mariupol. You know, with our heroes who are defending this city. We spoke in the Russian language, because in Ukraine there has never been a language problem.

But now you, Russian occupiers, are creating this problem. It is you who are doing everything so that our people themselves move away from the Russian language. Because the Russian language will be associated specifically with you, only with you, with these explosions and killings, your crimes. You deport our people. You poison our teachers. You force them to repeat everything your propagandists say. It is you who took our mayors and Ukrainian activists captive. It is you who are putting up billboards with appeals on the occupied territory. Today they appeared.

They are not afraid to speak in the Russian language. They are not afraid to speak. Just think about what this means. Where Russian was always a part of everyday life, just as the Ukrainian language is in the east of our state, and where you are turning peaceful places into ruins today, Russia itself is doing everything so that derussification appears on the territory of our state. You are doing this in one generation and forever.

This is another manifestation of your suicidal policy.

Our representatives, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, met today in Poland with colleagues from the United States of America. US President Joe Biden also joined them. As I was reported, the negotiations, in particular, concerning these vital interests that I mentioned above, concerned what we truly need while this ping-pong continues over who and how should transfer aircraft and other defense tools to us.

Ukraine cannot shoot down Russian missiles with shotguns or machine guns, of which there are too many in the shipments. And it is impossible to unblock Mariupol without a sufficient number of tanks and other armored vehicles, and certainly, once again, aircraft. All the defenders of Ukraine know this, all the defenders of Mariupol know it, thousands of people, citizens, civilians who are dying there in the blockade know it.

This

The USA knows, all European politicians know. We told everyone. And people on earth must know this as soon as possible. And as many people on earth as possible, so that everyone understands who and why was simply afraid to prevent this tragedy, simply afraid to make a vitally important decision.

Of course, we have already captured a certain number of Russian tanks, which the military command of this state does not tire of sending so that we can burn them here. But still, the peoples of the world will certainly not understand if the battlefield in Ukraine becomes a larger supplier of tanks for the defense of freedom in Europe than our partners. Ukraine's position must be heard. I want to emphasize, this is not only our position.

This is the position of the absolute majority of the population of Europe. The majority of Europeans. If anyone does not believe it, let them look at current public opinion polls in the world. And if they do not want to hear the position of the people, then hear the strikes of Russian missiles, which hit very close to the Polish border. Or are you waiting for the rumble of Russian tanks? I also spoke today with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Kiril Petkov, in particular, about the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the actions of the Russian troops and about how to save our people.

I also spoke today at the Doha Forum in the capital of the state of Qatar. This is a prestigious gathering that is important not only for the Islamic world, but also for many other states. Latin America, Africa, etc. These are exactly the regions where Russian propaganda still has a great influence. But we are working against the lies everywhere in the world. Let them know in Russia that the truth will not be silent and every nation in the world will feel the depth of the injustice that Russia commits against Ukraine.

Against everything that keeps the world within the bounds of morality and humanity. The occupiers have committed another crime against history, against historical justice. Near Kharkiv, Russian troops in their signature inhuman style "denazified" the memorial to the victims of the Holocaust in Drobytsky Yar. During the years of the Second World War, Nazis shot about 20 thousand people in this place. After 80 years, they are being killed a second time. And this is being done by Russia. The menorah in Drobytsky Yar was shattered by Russian shells today. This is yet another question to the entire Jewish community of the world about how many more crimes against our shared memory of the Holocaust Russia will be allowed to commit on our Ukrainian land.

Russian troops consciously strike civilians, destroy residential quarters, strike shelters and hospitals, schools, universities, even churches, even memorials to the victims of the Holocaust. Russian troops receive exactly such orders to destroy everything that makes our people a people, our people human, our culture a culture. 80 years ago, the Nazis tried to capture Europe in exactly this way. Exactly how the occupiers are acting in Ukraine. No one will forgive them for this.

There will be accountability. Just as 77 years ago. Most likely, not in Nuremberg, but the meaning will be analogous. You will see. All of you will see. Everyone. We guarantee. Glory to all our heroes. Glory to Ukraine.