Day 44 of the war. Address of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Ukrainians

Ukrainians! Ukrainian women! The 44th day of our defense against the Russian invasion is ending. A 44th black day. This morning, Russian troops launched a missile strike on the railway station in Kramatorsk. 38 people died on the spot. During the day, another 12 people died in hospitals. We lost 5 children. Dozens of seriously wounded remain in the hospital. This is another war crime by Russia, for which everyone involved in its commission will be held accountable.

Russian state propagandists were in such a hurry to shift the responsibility for this strike onto Ukrainian forces that they accidentally revealed Russia's guilt. The Ria Novosti agency published news that the strike on Kramatorsk was carried out while the missiles were still in the air. And on the eve, other Russian propagandists spread threats to everyone escaping Donbas by rail. All the leading nations of the world have already condemned the Russian strike on Kramatorsk. We expect a firm global reaction to this war crime. Like the mass killings in Bucha, and like many other war crimes by Russia, the missile strike on Kramatorsk must become one of the charges at the tribunals, which will certainly take place.

All the world's forces will be directed toward establishing minute by minute who did what, who and how, and what orders were given. And where did the missile come from? Who transported it? From whom did the team receive the command? And how was this strike coordinated? Responsibility is inevitable. Today I spoke about this with representatives of the European Union who arrived in Kyiv, with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.

During the day, they visited Bucha and saw with their own eyes the consequences of the occupation, saw how many people were killed by Russian military. I appreciate the European Union's readiness to provide the necessary financial and technical assistance for documenting and investigating Russian crimes.

We are grateful to the President of the European Commission for her personal involvement and assistance in the creation of a joint investigation team to establish the full truth, the exposure of the Russian occupiers, and holding all the guilty accountable. We are also grateful for the financial support – one billion euros for weapons.

Plus, today we agreed on another 500 million euros for defense needs. I held negotiations with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, thanked them for the unprecedented defense and other support, and for the warmth of Slovak hearts toward Ukrainians and Ukraine. I also spoke with European Union representatives about further steps to force Russia toward peace. I pointed out that existing sanctions are insufficient; pressure on Russia needs to be increased further.

A full energy embargo on oil and gas needs to be introduced. It is energy exports that provide the lion's share of Russia's profits and allow the Russian leadership to believe in their impunity. It allows them to hope that the world will ignore the war crimes committed by the Russian army. We will not allow this. Everyone in the world who has the courage, like Ukrainians, to resist tyranny will not allow it. Russian banks must also be completely disconnected from the global financial system.

Not just some of them, but all. The entire banking system of Russia; it cannot be that the greatest threat to global security finds ways to global wealth. In this context, I evaluate the new package of sanctions against Russia that has been announced. I consider the softness with which some in the West still treat the Russian state to be wrong. We know who constantly tries to soften the sanctions proposals. And we will do everything so that Europe finally understands that in any case, truly principled and truly strong sanctions must be introduced against Russia, not some partial restriction on Russian energy exports, not some partial restriction on Russian shipping.

We know everyone who is delaying these decisions. But I am confident that these politicians and these countries will change their position under the pressure of everything Russia is doing against Ukrainians and against freedom in Europe. Today I addressed the parliament and people of Finland. I called on Finnish politicians to do everything to help Ukraine.

I also reminded them that the best way to stop tyranny and protect freedom is to provide Ukraine with the necessary weaponry, the weaponry we have repeatedly requested from the West and which exists there. I will continue to fight daily, literally every hour, to obtain everything that is necessary for our state.

Russia's war against our people can end with the victory of freedom significantly faster than many in the world think, if Ukraine simply receives the weapons, the list of which we have provided. Any delay in providing such weapons to Ukraine, any excuses, can mean only one thing – the relevant politicians want to help the Russian leadership more than they want to help us, the Ukrainians.

Whatever the case, we will continue to protect our land and our people in any event. Yes, not everyone in the world has yet found the courage that we have. But we have powerful and principled partners and friends, real friends, who help Ukraine in a way that truly protects us, that truly protects freedom in Europe. And I am confident that Ukraine's victory is only a matter of time. And I will do everything to shorten this time. By the way, I also spoke today about the time necessary for Ukraine's full membership in the European Union.

Today we received a questionnaire from the European Commission. Finally, a questionnaire, the answers to which will be the basis for the preparation of the European Commission's conclusion regarding Ukraine's readiness for membership negotiations with the EU. Our government will prepare the answers qualitatively and very quickly, I think within a week.

Next is the European Commission's conclusion, which will be prepared within the next few months. And then the decision of the member states and negotiations on accession. I am convinced of our success on this path. I am convinced that we have finally come very close to the realization of our long-standing goal. Ukraine will be one among equals in our common European home. Ukraine will be a member of the European Union. A peaceful, sovereign, rebuilt state.

And we will ensure this, there are no doubts. We are also preparing for tomorrow's mass action in Warsaw, which will take place as part of the initiative of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau Stand for

Ukraine. This is about support for Ukrainians, for our displaced people. All funds are only for our own. All funds are for the support of Ukrainians. Glory to Ukraine!