northNew Year’s celebrations show a happy face to the world, but the war in Ukraine continues.
the president of the country, Volodymyr Zelenskyhe addressed his people in his speech on December 31, praising their courage and showing in a combative tone his optimism for the end of the conflict.
Join the EU
“This is the year Ukraine changed the world. And the world discovered Ukraine. They told us to surrender. We chose a counterattack! They told us to make concessions and compromises. We joined the European Union and NATO,” he said. .
He also stressed that he would like 2023 to be the year when people and soldiers can return to Ukraine, as well as prisoners and migrants who have been expelled by the Russian invasion.
“Let this year be the year of return. The return of our people. Soldiers – to their families. Prisoners – to their homes. Migrants – to their Ukraine.”
And a “return of our lands”, Zelenskiy he said, adding that all territories, including Ukraine’s eastern Donbas and Crimea, occupied by Russia since 2014, “will be free forever.”
The speech began with Zelenskiy remembering the events of February 24, 2022, when the invasion began.
“It was dark. It was loud. It was difficult for many and scary for some. It’s been 311 days. It can still be dark, loud and complicated for us. But we will definitely never be afraid again. Never be ashamed,” Zelenskiy said.
He closed his speech by saying: “May the New Year bring all this. We are ready to fight for it. That is why every one of us is here. I am here. We are here. You are here. You are all here. We are all Ukraine.” .
