Updated from 18:00
A video of the president’s message to the Verkhovna Rada appeared on the network.
Volodymyr Zelensky began his speech by explaining how the last 10 months have changed Ukraine and the world.
“Ukraine has become one of the world leaders. Our national colors are an international symbol of courage and invincibility. In any country, on any continent, when they see blue and yellow, they know that it is freedom. Of a people who did not give up, who survived and united the world “Thanks to Ukraine, the world believed that values give strength. Believed after our struggle. The world was convinced that tyranny would lose. Following our faith. The world has seen that freedom can become a victor. After our successes on the battlefield. It will definitely become”, – said the President.
Ukraine joined the European Union
According to him, Ukrainians helped the West find itself and return to the global arena. And now no one in the West is afraid of Russia anymore.
“We helped the European Union to acquire real subjectivity … It was Ukraine that united the European Union. It turned out that this is possible! And now Europe is defending itself. Europe is overcoming crisis. And this despite the colossal resources thrown by Russia to break up our continent,” Zelensky said.
He stressed that for the first time in history, the European Union is helping to defend itself against large-scale Russian aggression. And some countries have revised the concept of neutrality and are helping Ukraine.
It is time to start EU accession negotiations
Zelensky noted that this year Ukraine received the status of candidate for EU membership. But this is only part of the result, because our country deserved this status 20 years ago.
“Now our achievement is much bigger. Ukraine is cementing itself. Consolidate the European Union and the whole free world fighting for freedom and peace… The time has come to start negotiations on the accession of the ‘Ukraine to the European Union,” he added.
Thanks to the soldiers
The President expressed gratitude to the heroes who are the hope for the lives of millions.
“Ukrainian soldiers get peace for us. And they will get it! Today, Ukrainian soldiers prove that greatness does not come from the size of the state, not from the missile equipment and not from the ability to force someone to do something. Greatness comes from strength heart of one who defends his home, defending freedom for his people,” he said.
According to him, Ukrainian soldiers drove the invaders out of Kiev, and this was the first turning point in a full-scale war. In addition, there are fewer Russian flagships in the Black Sea, and the Crimean bridge is increasingly working for departure, which shows that the future will be Ukrainian.
He also recalled that the Russians quickly fled the Kharkov region, leaving their positions, weapons, soldiers and collaborators, although they had an advantage in this direction.
About weapons
The advantage of Ukrainian soldiers is enhanced by powerful weapons. For the first time, Ukrainians use Western models: “Haymars” and “Crab”, “Harpoon” and “Nasams”, “Bayraktar” and M777 howitzers, “Caesar”, “Bushmaster”, “Iris T”, “Krotal” – and these are just a few of the dozens of the best weapons. Additionally, there is an agreement to deploy the 1st Patriot Battery.
But Ukraine is capable of producing its own missiles, sea drones, armored vehicles, aircraft and other types of weapons.
“We are already doing it. We already have ours. All this is ours. “Stugna”, “Alder”, “Neptune”, marine drone and more … Ukraine and the Ukrainian military-industrial complex have been and will be one of the most powerful in Europe and in the world I’m sure,” Zelenskyj stressed.
Ukrainians have to agree
To reach the moment and opportunity when Ukraine becomes a true ally of the civilized world, Ukrainians must agree among themselves on:
- maintain unity
- security enhancement
- leadership in green energy
- leadership in digital transformation
- leadership in global food security
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People’s deputies Yaroslav Zheleznyak and Aleksey Goncharenko were the first to report on the speech of the head of state in parliament.
In his speech, Zelensky said that Ukraine is moving towards the victory that all our generations have dreamed of, and “everything that has not been achieved before will be with us.”
What the president said: main theses
- We will get through this winter, the Russian “Shahed” strikes will not help.
- Our goal is to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine and to free all who are now in captivity. Since the beginning of the war, our 1456 people have been returned.
- We have helped the West to find itself and to feel how the West prevails. Nobody is afraid of the Russian Federation. It was Ukraine that joined the EU.
- Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 850 diplomatic events have taken place, in which the president has been personally involved.
- The Ukrainian military-industrial complex will be one of the most progressive.
- We need new guarantees of security, the reform of the existing international organizations (they should guarantee peace, but they are not able to).
- Unity is what we must preserve now.
- Ukraine is moving towards the victory that all our generations have dreamed of. Everything that has not been achieved before, we will have. Now there is national unity, a functioning state and support for peace.
- Our country will become a leader in the construction of “green energy”. We also need to develop our nuclear generation.
- We will bring the number of Starlink terminals to over 30,000 in the near future.
- We will complete the total digitization of all public services
- We will develop relations with African and Southern countries for the sake of food security. 30 donor countries have joined the Grain from Ukraine initiative.
- Business is also the protection of Ukraine, taxes are also security. More than $1.2 trillion was earmarked for defense during the year. UAH It should be remembered that this is money, only for domestic taxes and duties, and international assistance goes for humanitarian purposes.
- The existing tax system is not suited to both tax payers and tax collectors. We must seek consensus to improve it.
- There should be an international tribunal for the war criminals of the occupiers.
- The restoration of Ukraine will be the largest economic project in Europe. We will restore the “normalcy of life” on the territory of Donbass and Crimea.
- Millions of our citizens abroad should not become refugees. We have to take them home.
- A modern veterans policy and rehabilitation policy should be created.
It was noted that in addition to the president, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny was also present at the meeting, the government was in full force, foreign diplomats, military personnel and family members of the dead heroes.
After Zelensky’s speech, which lasted almost an hour, the servicemen were awarded.
What Zelensky said in his message last year
Last year, on December 1, the president delivered his annual address to the Rada. It was devoted to the internal and external situation. The date was timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence referendum.
Notably, then Zelensky reported that despite the COVID pandemic and economic crisis, the economy exceeded $190 billion, public debt fell below 50% of GDP for the first time since 2013, and reserves of gold and foreign exchange reached $30 billion.
He also announced a program for thermal modernization of houses and an economic passport for a Ukrainian, according to which it was planned to open an account for every child, which would accumulate funds from the extraction of natural resources.
In addition, he announced substantial funding for the defense and security sector, the launch of an integrated missile program and the recovery of the fleet. However, many plans were interrupted by a full-scale Russian invasion.
Presidential speeches in 2022
Since the beginning of the invasion, Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken more often in parliament, first appearing under the dome of the Rada on May 3, when then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also addressed the Ukrainians at a distance.
The Ukrainian president reminded the people’s deputies that in wartime conditions it is necessary to forget about politics, legislative spam, squabbles and PR. He also called them part of a large Ukrainian army and noted that the only thing that can justify absence from the plenary sessions is to work abroad, in the regions or die for the country’s interests.
In his next speech on May 23, 2022, Zelensky spoke about Poland’s important role in supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia. And he noted that since February 24, both countries have started writing a new volume in the history of their relations.
In a speech on July 28, the president, in the presence of several foreign leaders, stressed that Ukraine applied for membership of the European Union and received its candidacy at a speed and on conditions that no other country had. He further noted that EU accession negotiations should start with the same speed.
