Day 35 of the war. Address of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Ukrainians

Dear Ukrainians, today I have few words, not much time, and very many emotions, and even more tasks. This is such a moment, a turning point, when one can and should speak only about the most important things. Yes, there is a negotiation process that continues, but so far these are words, without specifics. There are also other words sounding about the alleged withdrawal of Russian troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv, about the alleged reduction of the occupiers' activity in these directions. We know that this is not a withdrawal, but the result of expulsion, the result of the work of our defenders.

But we also see that at the same time, there is an accumulation of Russian troops for new strikes in Donbas. And we are preparing for this; we do not believe anyone's beautiful verbal constructions. There is a real situation on the battlefield, and right now that is the most important thing. We will give up nothing and will fight for every meter of our land, for every single person of ours.

In the situation in which our state currently finds itself, there should not be the kind of discussions that society and our political class grew accustomed to in peacetime. If someone pretends they can lecture the Armed Forces of Ukraine on how to fight, how to resist the enemy, then the best way to do this is to go directly to the battlefield. Not from a chair at home or in the place where you went for safety, but from real combat encounters. If you are not ready for this, you should not start lecturing our defenders.

Today I had a very active diplomatic day. The complex priorities are known. There are three: weapons for Ukraine, new sanctions against Russia, and financial support for our state. A conversation took place with US President Biden. Very detailed. It lasted an hour. Of course, I thanked the USA for a new humanitarian aid package in the amount of one billion US dollars and an additional 500 million dollars in direct budget support.

And I emphasized that right now is the turning point. I told President Biden what Ukraine needs and was maximally sincere with him. The support of the USA is fundamental for us. And now it is especially important to lend a shoulder to Ukraine, to show all the power of the democratic world. If we want to fight for freedom together, then we ask our partners. But if we are actually fighting for freedom and the protection of democracy together, then we have the right to demand help in this turning, difficult moment.

Tanks, aircraft, artillery systems. Freedom must be armed, no less than tyranny.

I also spoke about this today in an address to the parliament of the people of Norway. To one of the states that has supported us significantly, I called on them to continue helping Ukraine. Also with weapons, also with sanctions against the Russian Federation. I spoke today with the President of Egypt and with the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates. I have done, I am doing, and I will do everything so that our people can defend themselves until justice is restored on Ukrainian land and in the Black Sea region.

This is our fundamental interest; this is our survival. It is precisely for the survival of the Ukrainian people that we are fighting now in this war—without any exaggeration, a patriotic war against Russia.

And now I want to note a few more important things. First, there are those who work together with everyone on the defense of the state, so that Ukraine can choose its own future. We value the work of every such person. And there are those who waste time and work only to remain in office. Today I signed the first decree on the recall of such a person, such an ambassador of Ukraine from Morocco. Also, the ambassador from Georgia has been returned.

With all due respect, no weapons, no sanctions, no restrictions for Russian business. Please look for another job. I expect concrete results in the coming days from the work of our representatives in Latin America, in the Middle East, in Southeast Asia, and in the countries of Africa. I expect the same results in the coming days from military attachés. The diplomatic front is one of the key fronts.

And everyone there must work as effectively as possible for victory and the aid of our army, just as every defender of ours does on the battlefield, and everyone on the diplomatic front.

And secondly, as is traditional, today before recording this address, following the submission of the Commander-in-Chief, I signed a decree on awarding state honors to our military. 122 defenders, 23 of them posthumously. Eternal memory to all who died for Ukraine. Eternal glory to all our heroes. Glory to Ukraine!