by CNN
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed a joint meeting of Congress in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, marking his first visit outside Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February. Read his comments transcribed by CNN.
Dear Americans in all states, cities and communities, all those who value freedom and justice, who cheer us on as strongly as Ukrainians in our cities, in each and every family, I hope my words of respect and gratitude ring in every American heart. .
Madam Vice President, I thank you for your efforts to help Ukraine. Madam speaker, you bravely visited Ukraine during the full-blown war. Thanks a lot. Great honor. Thank you.
Very privileged to be here. Dear members of Congress, representatives of both parties who also visited Kyiv, esteemed congressmen and senators of both parties who will visit Ukraine, I am sure that in the future, dear representatives of the diaspora, present in this chamber and spread throughout the country, Dear Journalists, it is my great honor to be in the United States Congress and to speak to you and to all Americans.
Against all odds and pessimistic scenarios, Ukraine did not fall. Ukraine is alive and kicking.
And it gives me a good reason to share with you our first, first joint victory. We defeated Russia in the battle for the minds of the world.
We are not afraid, nor should anyone in the world be. Ukraine got this victory and it gives us courage, which inspires the whole world.
The Americans won this victory and that is why they have managed to unite the world community to protect freedom and international law.
The Europeans won this victory, and that is why Europe is now stronger and more independent than ever. Russian tyranny has lost control over us.
And it will never sway our minds again. However, we have to do whatever it takes to ensure that the Congress of the global south wins that victory as well.
I know one more thing, I think, very important. The Russians will have a chance to be free only when they defeat the Kremlin, in their minds.
However, the battle continues and we have to defeat the Kremlin on the battlefield, yes. These battles not only for the territory for this or in another part of Europe. The battle is not just for the life, liberty and security of Ukrainians or any other nation that Russia is trying to conquer.
This fight will define what world our children and grandchildren, and then their children and grandchildren, will live in. It will define whether it will be a democracy for Ukrainians and for Americans, for everyone.
This battle cannot be frozen or postponed. It cannot be ignored in the hope that the ocean or something else will provide protection. From the United States to China, from Europe to Latin America, and from Africa to Australia, the world is too interconnected and interdependent to allow anyone to stand aside and feel safe when such a battle rages on.
Our two nations are allies in this battle. And next year will be a turning point. I know. The point at which Ukrainian courage and American determination must guarantee the future of our common freedom, the freedom of the people who stand up for their values.
Ladies and gentlemen, Americans, yesterday, before I came here to Washington, DC, I was on the front lines in our Bakhmut, in our stronghold in eastern Ukraine in the Donbas.
The Russian army and machinists have been taking Bakhmut non-stop since May. They’ve been taking it day and night, but Bakhmut stands his ground.
Last year, last year, 70,000 people lived there in Bakhmut, in this city, and now there are only a few civilians left. Every inch of that land is drenched in blood. Roaring cannons sound every hour. The trenches in the Donbas changed hands several times a day in fierce fighting and even hand-to-hand fighting. But the Ukrainian Donbas remains.
Russians, the Russians use everything, everything they have against Bakhmut and our other beautiful cities. The occupiers have a significant advantage in artillery. They have an ammunition advantage. They have far more missiles and planes than we’ve ever had. And it is true, but our defense forces resist.
And we, and we are all proud of them. The tactics of the Russians are primitive. They burn and destroy everything they see. They sent thugs to the front, they sent convicts to the war. They turned everything against us, similar to the other tyranny, which is in the Battle of the Bulge.
He threw everything he had at the free world, just like the brave American soldiers who held their lines and fought against Hitler’s forces during Christmas 1944, the brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas .
Ukraine, Ukraine is holding its lines and will never surrender. So, then, here is the front line, the tyranny that is not without cruelty against the lives of free people, and your support is crucial not only to stay in that fight, but to reach the tipping point to win on the field. of battle.
We have artillery, yes. Thank you. we have it. It’s enough? Honestly, not really. In order to ensure that Bakhmut is not just a fortress, which slows down the Russian army, but in order for the Russian army to fully withdraw, more cannons and shells are needed.
It is true. Like the Battle of Saratoga, the fight for Bakhmut will change the trajectory of our war for independence and freedom. If your patriots stop the Russian terror against our cities, you will allow Ukrainian patriots to do their best to defend our freedom.
When Russia, when Russia cannot reach our cities with its artillery, it tries to destroy them with missile attacks. More than that, Russia found an ally in this, in this genocidal policy: Iran. Hundreds upon hundreds of deadly Iranian drones sent to Russia became a threat to our critical infrastructure. This is how one terrorist has found the other. It’s only a matter of time before they attack your other allies if we don’t stop them now. We must do it.
I think, I think there should be no taboos between us in our alliance. Ukraine never asked US soldiers to fight on our land for us. I assure you that Ukrainian soldiers can perfectly operate American tanks and planes.
Financial assistance is also vitally important and I would like to thank you, thank you very much. Thank you for the financial packages that you have already provided us with and that you may be willing to decide on. Your money is not charity. It is an investment in global security and democracy that we manage in the most responsible way.
Russia, Russia could stop its aggression, really, if it wanted to, but you can hasten our victory. I know. And it will prove to any potential aggressors that no one can succeed in breaking through national borders, no one commits atrocities and rules over people against their will, it would be naive to expect steps towards peace from Russia, which enjoys being a terrorist state.
The Russians are still poisoned by the Kremlin. The restoration of the international legal order is our joint task. We need peace, yes. Ukraine has already offered proposals that I just discussed with President Biden, our peace formula, 10 points that must and must be implemented for our joint security, guaranteed for decades to come, and the summit that can be held.
I am pleased to share that President Biden supported our peace initiative today. Each of you, ladies and gentlemen, can assist in implementation to ensure that the leadership of the American people remains strong, bicameral, and bipartisan. Thank you.
You can strengthen the sanctions so that Russia feels how ruinous its aggression really is. It really is in your power to help us bring to justice all those who started this criminal and unprovoked war. Let’s do it.
Let the terrorists: let the terrorist state be responsible for its terror and aggression and compensate all the losses caused by this war. Let the world see that the United States is here.
Ladies and gentlemen, American ladies and gentlemen, in two days we will celebrate Christmas. Maybe by candlelight. Not because it’s more romantic, no, but because there won’t be, there won’t be electricity. Millions will have neither heat nor running water. All of this will be the result of Russian missile and drone attacks on our energy infrastructure. But we don’t complain. We do not judge or compare whose life is easier. Your well-being is the product of your national security, the result of your struggle for independence and your multiple victories. We Ukrainians will also go through our war of independence and freedom with dignity and success.
We will celebrate Christmas, we will celebrate Christmas and even if there is no electricity, the light of our faith in ourselves will not go out. If they are Russian, if Russian missiles attack us, we will do everything possible to protect ourselves. If we are attacked by Iranian drones and our people have to go to bomb shelters on Christmas Eve, the Ukrainians will still sit at the festive table and cheer each other on. And no, we don’t have to know everyone’s desire, since we know that all of us, millions of Ukrainians, want the same thing: victory. only victory.
We have already built a strong Ukraine with strong people, a strong army, strong institutions together with you. We develop strong security guarantees for our country and for the whole of Europe and the world together with you and also together with you we will put all those who will challenge freedom in their place. putin This will be the basis for protecting democracy in Europe and around the world.
Now, in this special time of Christmas, I want to thank you. All of you. I thank all the American families who value the warmth of their home and want the same warmth for others. I thank President Biden and both parties, in the Senate and the House, for his invaluable help. I thank your cities and your citizens who supported Ukraine this year, who welcomed our Ukrainians, our people, who waved our national flags, who acted to help us, thank you, thank you all, from all who are now on the front lines. of all. who is evading victory.
Standing here today, I am reminded of the words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which I think are very good for this moment: “The American people, in their just strength, will win until absolute victory.” The Ukrainian people will also win. Absolutely.
I know that everything depends on us, on the Ukrainian armed forces, but a lot depends on the world. So much in the world depends on you.
When I was in Bakhmut yesterday, our heroes gave me the flag, the battle flag, the flag of those who defend Ukraine, Europe and the world at the cost of their lives. They ask me to bring this flag to the United States Congress, to the members of the House of Representatives and senators whose decisions can save millions of people. So let these decisions be made. May this flag stay with you, ladies and gentlemen. This flag is a symbol of our victory in this war. We stand, we fight and we will win because we are united: Ukraine, America and the whole free world.
(Zelensky presents House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a battle flag signed by Ukrainian troops.)
Just one thing, if I can, the last one, thank you very much, may God protect our brave troops and citizens. May God forever bless the United States of America. Merry Christmas and a happy and victorious New Year.
The CNN Wire
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