Expensive Ukrainian individuals!
I’m talking in entrance of the Mom Ukraine monument. A Ukraine that stands firmly, that isn’t bowing her head, that appears forward of her, believes in her future and in victory over the evil Russia introduced us. A Ukraine with a sword and a protect, able to securing a simply peace. Of defending her individuals, her colors, her independence. At the moment I’m addressing everybody who values Ukraine, protects their nation, and whose phrases "That is my nation" are full of love. I’m grateful to you for 2024. To you, Ukrainian individuals, who overcome hardship with dignity. Individuals who satisfaction themselves on being Ukrainian. I too satisfaction myself on being the president of such individuals, of Ukrainian individuals who present that no cruise missile can defeat a folks that has wings.
Throughout this 12 months, a intercalary year, we proved this each day. We noticed this yesterday, after we had been overjoyed on the return of 189 Ukrainians from Russian captivity. They’ll have a good time the arrival of the brand new 12 months at house. As a result of we’re bringing our individuals again, 1,358 individuals this 12 months, 3,956 individuals [since the beginning of the full-scale invasion]. These should not estimates however actual numbers, as a result of behind these numbers are individuals, our individuals, individuals who matter to us. With every individual we deliver again, we additionally deliver again life.
And all of us cry every time this occurs. It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s a mom moved to tears, or a baby who lastly acquired to see their dad once more, or the President of Ukraine – all of us cry, as a result of we’re all people, and now we have all managed to protect our inside gentle.
This gentle has helped us stand our floor for greater than 1,000 days now. To be courageous when it’s so wanted. To be robust when it’s so wanted. That is what our lecturers, medical doctors, vitality and transport staff, air defence personnel and cell hearth models have performed. Troopers who’ve shot down 1,310 cruise and ballistic missiles and seven,800 Iranian Shahed drones this 12 months. Bravo! We’re so pleased with them! We’re so grateful. We made it by means of this 12 months collectively. Collectively we overcame every thing this 12 months introduced: victories and defeats, triumphs and challenges, tears of pleasure after we managed what we got down to do, and tears of ache after we encountered setbacks and had our hearts damaged.
A morning in July. Okhmatdyt youngsters’s hospital. Solely weak individuals and cowards act like that. We are going to always remember these children’ eyes. And we’ll by no means forgive! When evil brings loss of life, we reply by forming a human chain. That’s what Ukrainian individuals’s power seems like. Our unity was seen from area. God noticed it. Noticed our individuals, our youngsters. And I’ll always remember the eyes of the little boy from Okhmatdyt, a grown-up’s eyes, so filled with resolve, of life, of vitality and dignity. This one baby is a lot stronger than Putin. All of our kids are a lot stronger than Russia’s evil. Ukrainian girls and boys, who’re profitable this struggle, finding out on-line and in basements, profitable worldwide science olympiads, elevating cash for our military, developing with creative technical options to bolster our defence. You’re an unbelievable technology! You’re who we’re preventing for. You’re who our heroes, our troopers are defending. The individuals holding the road and carrying Ukraine’s independence on their shoulders. On each entrance, the place bravery and valour are preventing every single day, together with right this moment, on New Yr’s Eve. On each entrance. Within the east, the place the scenario is extraordinarily difficult. However we imagine and we all know: they may stand. Our troopers will stand. Their spirit and their bravery will stand. Every part that has enabled you to not give up our Sumy and Kharkiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, nevertheless a lot the Russians needed to seize these cities. As an alternative, you could have repaid the occupiers by bringing the struggle to their house, to Russia. And people who introduced evil to our land now sow it on theirs, in Kursk Oblast and different locations that grew to become targets of our assaults, of our justice.
Justice. Only one phrase, however a whole lot of hundreds of our individuals stand behind it. Our defence trade and our science, which labored to make us stronger, with 30% of weapons and gear our troopers used on the battlefield this 12 months having been made in Ukraine.
I as soon as requested a younger engineer at a defence manufacturing facility: "How had been you capable of obtain a lot, how might these individuals have performed a lot?" He quipped again: "They’re not simply individuals, they’re rockets."
And , at that second, I used to be so ashamed as a citizen that our state had for therefore lengthy, because the 90s, failed to concentrate to these individuals. And I’m proud after I hear throughout conferences all year long that they’re blissful that Ukraine wants them. That Ukraine has resumed home manufacturing of [defence equipment], of missiles, and is for the primary time ever producing greater than 1,000,000 drones a 12 months and forcing the enemy to be taught Ukrainian phrases: Palianytsia, Peklo, Ruta; to shiver from the phrases Neptun and Samsan. These are all our missiles. Ukrainian-made missiles. Hor, Vampir, Kolibri, KAMIK, Liutyi, Heavy Shot, Fireplace Level – these are all our drones. Ukrainian-made drones. These are all of the arguments we deploy to realize a simply peace.
Solely power can safe it. And now we have confirmed numerous instances that now we have it. Our athletes. Oleksandr Khyzhniak, Olha Kharlan, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, all of our Olympians and Paralympians, whom we supported and rooted for a lot, yelling with pleasure when our blue-and-yellow flag was raised. We took the punches and fought again along with Oleksandr Usyk. All that is about extra than simply sport. It’s about our character. About who we’re and what we’re able to. It’s about which means and symbols. It’s about how [Usyk’s] fights, just like the each day battles Ukraine faces, present us that it doesn’t matter how a lot larger the enemy is, however how a lot stronger your will is. And the entire world has its breath taken away. International leaders informed me frankly: "We’ve by no means seen something like this, with the complete Notre Dame de Paris corridor applauding." That applause was for all of you. All of our individuals. That is what respect for Ukraine feels like. That is what independence is.
Once we refuse to surrender what’s ours or to go away our individuals, these in Russian captivity, behind. We are going to combat for each one who sadly nonetheless stays there. We are going to combat for everybody whom Russia compelled into occupation, however whose Ukrainian hearts it has didn’t occupy. And irrespective of what number of passports this evil palms out at gunpoint, our individuals say: "You aren’t right here without end, you might be solely right here quickly." And all that imported weed won’t take root on our land, won’t defeat the individuals indigenous to this land. I at all times consider the story of an previous Ukrainian man, whom the occupiers requested, in Russian: "What time is it?" And he stated, in Ukrainian: "It’s time so that you can get off our land." That is what is going to is, will that’s not possible to occupy. And I need to say to everybody within the quickly occupied territories who carries this may inside: Expensive Ukrainians! I do know that you’re celebrating the New Yr in keeping with our time zone, and you might be listening to these phrases proper now in our Crimea, in Donbas, in Melitopol, in Mariupol – in all places the place individuals anticipate Ukraine’s return, and the place someday Ukraine will return, for all of us to be collectively once more. The one factor that can stand between Ukrainians will probably be a beneficiant desk.
I do know that every one of our individuals will meet at this desk, together with those that are overseas now however who’ve preserved Ukraine of their hearts. The Ukrainian nationwide anthem will probably be heard within the first moments of the brand new 12 months in Warsaw, New York and Buenos Aires, and folks in Berlin, Prague and Tokyo will say to one another: "Glory to Ukraine!" And the world will reply: "Glory to heroes!" As a result of Ukraine will not be alone. As a result of our buddies stand by our facet. The US stood with Ukraine because the first moments of this struggle, and I imagine that the US will nonetheless be by Ukraine’s facet within the first moments of peace.
I bear in mind my dialog with [US President] Joe Biden after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. I bear in mind my dialog with Donald Trump after the election. All of my conversations with US Congresspeople, Senators, and extraordinary Individuals – conversations with individuals who assist us within the US, in Europe, and the world over. A typical chorus throughout all these conversations was this: Putin can’t win. Ukraine will prevail.
I’m grateful to each American who put these phrases into motion. I’ve little doubt that the brand new American President is prepared and capable of result in peace and put an finish to Putin’s aggression. He understands that the previous is not possible with out the latter. As a result of this isn’t a avenue combat the place you need to appease the 2 sides. This can be a full-scale aggression of a deranged state towards a peaceable one. And I imagine that we, along with america, are able to displaying the power we have to present, of forcing Russia to simply accept a simply peace. Which means not forgetting or forgiving every thing that Russia has performed: Bucha, Olenivka, Avdiivka, all of our destroyed cities and villages. A really simply peace can’t start with ranging from scratch. As a result of the rating will not be 0–0. The rating is hundreds and hundreds of Ukrainians whose lives had been taken by Russia.
Ukraine’s coronary heart right this moment is riddled with scars, the names of our fallen heroes. God forbid some other household on this planet undergo something like this. I might not want on any world chief to expertise the emotions I’ve skilled when presenting posthumous awards and seeing the eyes of moms, wives and youngsters of troopers who’ve given their lives for Ukraine and listening to from them: "Please don’t let it’s in useless." Hundreds of our women and men have been killed. They’re at all times right here, with us, they give the impression of being down on us from the heavens. And now we have no proper to allow them to down, to betray their heroic deeds and their reminiscence.
Every day within the new 12 months I – and all of us – must preserve preventing for Ukraine, for it to be robust sufficient. As a result of solely a Ukraine that’s robust sufficient is heard and revered, on the battlefield and on the negotiating desk.
I’m grateful to everybody who stood by our facet, our companions, allies, buddies and leaders. True leaders, who I’m calling that not as a result of this can be a frequent flip of phrase, however as a result of they’ve confirmed their mettle with their actions. Individuals who weren’t afraid to come back to Ukraine, understanding how necessary it’s to bodily stand facet by facet. Individuals alongside whom we labored throughout distance and time zones to seek out options and obtain outcomes: Patriots, IRISs, NASAMS and ATACMS, F-16s, Scalps and Storm Shadows. The Czech initiative to provide Ukraine a million shells. The Danish mannequin and the a whole lot tens of millions invested in home manufacturing. Twenty seven safety agreements and US$40 billion to assist our military. The European Union’s resolution to provide €50 billion to assist our economic system. The Group of Seven and their resolution regarding US$50 billion of frozen Russian property. These had been big worldwide undertakings, our nice worldwide victory. I’m grateful to our companions, grateful to you, grateful to the crew. The military, the federal government, the Workplace [of the President of Ukriane], the parliament, the areas and communities, the volunteers. Everybody working to make our nation stronger and who takes care of our individuals.
I’m grateful to everybody who has helped Ukraine stand and endure. Ukraine will obtain peace and power. It is going to develop into a European Ukraine. And these should not simply phrases. They grew to become actuality in June this 12 months with the opening of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, a historic achievement. This path is irreversible. Ukraine will probably be within the European Union. And someday Ukraine will probably be in NATO, strengthening the Alliance and stability worldwide. Europe’s unity determines the destiny of each nation on the continent. And this unity should be revered by all, together with Budapest and Bratislava. I do know that each the Hungarian and Slovak peoples are with us, with Ukraine, with Ukrainian individuals, on the facet of reality. These international locations’ leaders additionally must see the reality. There isn’t a should be afraid of Ukraine in Europe, however we have to do every thing we are able to to maintain Russia out of Europe. Its tanks, its missiles, and the evil it would certainly take additional afield if Ukraine doesn’t stand. If Russia shakes your hand right this moment, it doesn’t imply that tomorrow it won’t begin killing you with the identical hand. As a result of Russians are afraid of free individuals, of what they don’t seem to be accustomed to. They’re afraid of freedom. They had been born underneath Putin, went to highschool underneath Putin, went to serve underneath Putin and are dying for his sick concepts.
That’s why right this moment it’s so necessary to assist all of the individuals preventing for his or her freedom. Individuals in Chișinău who refuse not relinquish their freedom. Individuals in Tbilisi who’re preventing for his or her future. And I’m sure {that a} day will come after we will all say: "Lengthy stay Belarus!"
Expensive Ukrainian individuals!
Might 2025 develop into our 12 months, Ukraine’s 12 months. We all know we won’t be gifted peace. However we’ll do every thing to cease Russia and put an finish to this struggle. That’s what each one in every of us needs.
Mom Ukraine watches over each one in every of us. She deserves peace. That’s what I want for us all. Subsequent 12 months I’ll do every thing I can to realize it, as each the President of Ukraine and a Ukrainian citizen. And I’ll know I’m not by myself, that tens of millions of Ukrainians are doing the identical by my facet. A powerful, free, stunning and unbiased individuals.
Joyful New Yr, expensive Ukrainian individuals!
Joyful New Yr, Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Meghan-McCain-watch-what-happens-live-123124-24fdaa23b2854a5c9e90903032210865.jpg)
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
