President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Ukrainians on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. In his speech, the head of state recalled the first days of the war, Russia's war crimes, key victories of the Defense Forces, and emphasized the unchanging position on the terms of peace.
“ Today marks exactly four years since Putin took Kyiv in three days. And this actually says a lot about our resistance ,” the president noted. According to him, behind these words stand millions of Ukrainians, their endurance, daily work, and the great journey that the country has been on since February 24, 2022.
During his address, Zelensky showed his office in the bunker on Bankova Street, where he was in the first days of the full-scale offensive. It was there that talks with leaders of other states took place. The president recalled that in those days he was offered evacuation.
“ I spoke with President Biden here and it was here that I heard that there was a threat and that we urgently needed to leave Ukraine. And I answered here that I needed weapons, not a taxi ,” Zelensky said. He added that everyone was scared at the time, but Ukrainians understood on an “invisible level” that they had no other country.
The President separately focused on the tragedies brought by the war. In his speech, he mentioned Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka, Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Olenivka, the explosion of the Kakhovka dam, strikes on Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Kryvyi Rih, Lviv and other cities. “ The pain that Russia has brought to each of our families cannot be contained in any tunnel ,” the head of state emphasized.
At the same time, Zelenskyy also emphasized the stages of the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the liberation of the occupied territories. He mentioned Balaklia, Izyum, Kupyansk, Kherson, as well as the recapture of Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. Separately, the president recalled Chornobayvka and the return of control over Zmiiniy Island.
The address included the names of fallen heroes - military and civilian - who gave their lives for Ukraine. The President emphasized that time cannot fully heal the wounds inflicted by war, but the memory of each fallen remains.
Zelensky also touched on the topic of peace negotiations. He noted that Ukraine seeks “a strong, dignified, and long peace,” but will not allow the years of struggle to be devalued.
“ No one will allow Ukraine to end ,” the president said. According to him, before each round of negotiations, the Ukrainian delegation receives clear directives – to prevent the nullification of achievements and to provide real security guarantees. The head of state emphasized that the future agreement must not only be signed, but also accepted by Ukrainian society.
The appeal was the culmination of four years of a full-scale war that Ukraine continues to wage for its independence and right to exist.
