We Want the War to End, but Not the End of Ukraine - Zelensky 0 138

“We want the war to end, but not the end of Ukraine. Are we tired? Very. But does that mean we are ready to surrender? Those who think so are deeply mistaken. Apparently, over all these years, they have not understood who Ukrainians are. A people who have endured 1407 days of full-scale war. Just realize these numbers! This is longer than the duration of the Nazi occupation of many of our cities during World War II. 1407 days of unyielding Ukraine,” said Zelensky.

He emphasized that Russia has never voluntarily stopped any war it has started, but the world can force it to stop.

“Russia does not end wars on its own. There has not been a single war in history that it has stopped on its own initiative. Only under external pressure. (…) This has been the case every time Russia has fought someone — that is, throughout its existence,” stated the Ukrainian president.

He added that this can be confirmed by all those with whom Russia has fought at different times: Poland, Turkey, Finland, Syria, Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Chechnya — “and this list can go on indefinitely, as practically all of Russia's territory has been gathered as a result of wars.”

“Get out of Donbas — and it will all end — this is how the deception sounds in translation from Russian. In translation into Ukrainian, English, German, French — into any language in the world. Does anyone still believe them? Unfortunately. Because the truth still often eludes, this is called diplomacy, although in reality — it is lies in suits. And that is why Ukraine is under pressure, yes. And that is why we fight so hard,” noted Zelensky.

According to him, Ukrainians are proving seemingly obvious truths: after the occupation of Crimea, the partial occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the full-scale invasion, after Bucha, Mariupol, Yelenivka, and everything the Kremlin has done during this time, believing their words is a sentence for international security and for every leader who is obliged to protect their people.

“Have our arguments been heard? We really hope so. Have they agreed with us? Not fully. Not yet. That is why we are still saying that the peace agreement is ready at 90, not 100 percent,” said Zelensky.

He emphasized that Ukraine is not satisfied with the results of the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk Agreements, as they turned out to be weak and only fueled the war. Ukraine needs a strong agreement with security guarantees.

“Intentions must become security guarantees. And this means they must be ratified by the U.S. Congress, the parliaments of Europe — all partners. The Budapest paper will not suit Ukraine. Ukraine does not need Minsk traps written with precision. Signatures under weak agreements only fuel the war. My signature will stand under a strong agreement. This is what every meeting, every call, every decision is about right now,” stated the President of Ukraine.