Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a powerful address at the Crimea Platform parliamentary summit, warning Europe that territorial borders cannot be changed by force. Speaking via video link, he said Ukraine is working closely with the US and European partners on peace steps that “strengthen, not weaken” the country. Zelensky also highlighted sensitive progress on the release of Ukrainian POWs and abducted children, while rejecting any attempt by Russia to gain legal recognition for occupied territories.
00:00To welcome the president of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is joining us remotely from Ukraine.
00:06Mr. President, the floor is yours.
00:14Thank you so much, dear ladies and gentlemen, dear Sweden, honorable Mr. Speaker, and all the friends, dear Ruslan.
00:23I'm glad that the Ukrainian-Krimean platform and its parliamentary track continues to work and keeps attention on a simple truth.
00:34Every nation and every state must be respected.
00:38And the core principle that kept Europe peaceful longer than at any other time in its history must be protected.
00:46These principles are clear. Respect for human life, no changing orders by force, and no fears of influence.
00:57Applied terms used to cover the desire to dominate other nations and wage wars of aggression.
01:05This is exactly what the Crimean platform stands for, refusing to accept that launching wars of conquest is normal and refusing to normalize cruelty toward people and nations.
01:21Thanks. Thank you for taking this principled position and for clearly stating that the annexation of Crimea in 2014 was illegal.
01:35We all understand the global reality.
01:39In a world of hundreds of nations, there are thousands of potential wars.
01:44Some frozen, of course, some hidden under old deals, some still smoldering.
01:50But in most cases, peace is upheld by international law, by conventions, agreements, and the UN Charter.
02:00If these principles do not work here in Europe, then where will they work?
02:08It is a rhetorical question.
02:11And behind it lies a global fear that war, not peace, could again become humanity's everyday reality.
02:20As in darker times, we cannot allow this.
02:24Right now, we are at a critical moment and we are working closely with the United States, with European partners, with many, many others to define steps that can end Russia's war against us, against Ukraine, and bring real security.
02:45And there is a lot of noise in the media, a lot of political pressure, and even greater responsibility for the decisions ahead.
02:57Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen to break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty.
03:08And that's the main problem.
03:11You all understand what that means.
03:15He wants it not only from Ukraine.
03:18He wants it from the whole world.
03:21And it's very dangerous.
03:23And I want to stress one more thing.
03:29In the steps we have coordinated with the side of the U.S., we've managed to keep extremely sensitive points on the table, including the full release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war under the all-for-all formula and civilians, and the complete return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
03:53These are important steps, but to achieve real peace, more, more is needed.
04:00Of course, we all continue working with partners, especially the United States, and look for compromises that strengthen, but not weaken us.
04:13And we will continue explaining how dangerous it is to pretend that aggression is something one can simply overlook and move on.
04:24And I ask you, do not stay silent.
04:31Do not be passive observers of history.
04:35Be participants.
04:37It is important to support Ukraine, and I thank you for that support.
04:42It is important to support the negotiation process, and I am grateful for every piece of advice and every bit of information we receive from European leaders.
04:55And it is crucial to support the principles on which Europe stands, that borders cannot be changed by force, that war criminals must not escape justice, and that the aggressor must pay fully for the war he started.
05:15And this is why decisions on Russian assets are essential.
05:19Please support these decisions, and above all, keep pressure on Russia.
05:27Russia is still killing people every day.
05:33Occupied territories remain occupied, and that means Russia remains a criminal state.
05:40Today, almost 70 parliamentary delegations are present, and if parliaments in Europe, in the world, do not close their eyes toward this, then no one will.
Be the first to comment