The Kremlin Got The Main Point Wrong

Zelenskyy addressed the Ukrainian people on Independence Day.

On Ukraine’s Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the Ukrainian people on the holiday. In his address, he assured that Russia would not take the Donbas without a fight, and that no one would help the Kremlin “save” half a million of its soldiers.

The president spoke about the courage of Ukrainians on the front lines and at home, about the unity demonstrated by the Ukrainian people, and about how Ukraine will undoubtedly achieve a just peace. The video message appeared on the Telegram channel of the head of state.

Zelenskyy on Putin’s Biggest Mistake

The head of state emphasized: now, after many years of war with Russia, Independence Day has taken on a special “flavor”: every Ukrainian knows for certain that they are not alone, that the Ukrainian people are a force capable of winning the battle and securing their future.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, confident in the might of his state, believed he would quickly conquer Ukraine. But he made a mistake that proved fatal for him.

“In all his plans regarding Ukraine, Putin was wrong on the most important point. The enemy calculated our resources, our stockpiles, and our equipment, but failed to take into account the most important thing: the people—the greatest achievement of Ukraine’s independence. The people who make up our nation. Who take responsibility. Who do not want Russia here, and who defend peace and independence,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

He recalled the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who, without hesitation, took up arms to defend their country and their people.

“Hundreds of thousands of names, lives, and characters are holding the front lines, holding our independence. I thank all our soldiers who, all these years, all these days, and right now, at this very moment, are fighting so that Ukraine may live on. You defended our capital; you liberated the Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions. You are not surrendering our Donbas; you are not surrendering Ukraine. You are the best defenders—men and women alike. You are the best army in Europe. Period. And that is the plain truth, because our army is based not only on doctrines and standards, but also has a heart—a heart that needs no additional order to show courage,” he emphasized.

The head of state emphasized: Russians used to consider Ukrainians their “little brother,” but the war has shown just how deep the chasm between our peoples is and how alien to Russians are the traits that make Ukrainians who they are.

Ukraine’s defense industry is rapidly developing, while Russia has begun to crumble

The president called Ukraine’s defense industry “a giant that strengthens our independence around the clock.” But there are still many challenges ahead.

“We must do more. Tens of thousands of special forces are carrying out extremely dangerous missions on the front lines and have already saved thousands of soldiers. But we must do more. Our maritime drones are in action: the enemy had a fleet, and now it’s turning into scrap metal. But we must sink more. Our medium-range strikes are destroying their logistics. Our strike range is cutting into their revenue. Moscow, Tuapse, Tula, Ryazan, “Olenya,” Omsk, and dozens of other locations have already been hit by our strikes—places where our Ukrainian justice has already reached. Russia needs to see more of this justice. "Flamingos" should not be a rare species, but a common "bird." They should “winter” in Russia,” he said.

Zelenskyy thanked everyone who has been working tirelessly at defense industry enterprises all these years. And he reminded them: their task is to prevent Putin from carrying out his strategy of ballistic terror. The priority is our own anti-ballistic capabilities.

“Ukraine will do this. Ukraine has already tackled challenges that initially seemed insurmountable. Recall the day when 40 “Shaheds” first flew toward Kyiv. Some people were screaming that this was the end, while others were searching for and finding a solution. Now we’re shooting down more than 90% of the ‘Shaheds.’ Russia has switched to jet-propelled missiles. We’re already shooting those down too, but we need to do it on a massive scale. The same must be done with the ‘parcel drones,’ and the same must be done with their ballistic missiles. Ukraine is doing everything it can to achieve this. And it will succeed. Because it has proven time and again: our tenacity is beyond their capabilities,” he added.

Ukraine Will Not Surrender the Donbas to the Enemy

Zelenskyy stated that “Putin is stuck in the past”—and still believes he will not face resistance from Ukraine.

“There is no Ukraine like this anywhere—nowhere at all—except in his ‘reports.’ Our country has long since changed. Not an observer, but a player. Not a victim, but a fighter. We won’t let them seize the initiative, deceive Europe and the whole world into thinking that we just need to hand over Donbas, and everything will end quickly. There are no illusions. We don’t trust them. We won’t save the Kremlin half a million soldiers. Russia keeps pushing back the dates when they’re ‘about to’ and ‘definitely’ take the entire Donetsk region. It will keep pushing them back in the future, too. Ukraine is different and won’t give up what’s hers,” he emphasized.

Russia is currently preparing for a possible mobilization, but Ukraine isn’t sitting idly by either.

“We’re taking action. We must strengthen our army and have everything necessary for defense. Our soldiers must be supplied and equipped with everything they need so that reinforcements for the enemy army turn into fertilizer for our land,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

He emphasized: Putin is counting on the Ukrainians’ fatigue, but the Ukrainians remember that he is mortal and no longer young.

“You wanted to seize all of Ukraine, all of our land, but instead you lost your oil refineries, your fleet, your revenue, and an entire generation that you sent to the meat grinder. You wanted us to be wiped off the map; now you’re off the international agenda of the future civilization. For twenty-seven years, Russia’s leader has been talking about greatness, while Russians stand in lines for gas,” Zelenskyy said, listing the aggressor’s defeats.

Zelenskyy addressed the allies

“We must stand united and crush them. Ukraine, Europe, America, the world. I’m glad that the U.S. has shed all illusions about whether Russia truly wants to end this war. I believe that America will overcome all its contradictions and phobias regarding Russia. We need to bring the ‘Russians’ to the negotiating table. We must finally impose sanctions that will make them cry out. We need to give Ukraine everything that will force them to end the war. And this is possible,” the president emphasized.

He recalled that virtually every decision to provide Ukraine with various types of Western weapons also went through a process ranging from “impossible” to “very difficult” and “not so fast”—and ultimately led to the decision to transfer the weapons.

And today, Ukraine needs help from its allies to end the war.

“We’re not asking you to fight for us. Give Ukraine everything it needs to stop this war, to stop it before Putin has time to start the next one. To prevent that from happening, we must act together. Europe must be Europe—united, ambitious, and bold. China must no longer remain silent. When someone dresses up in a sailor’s uniform and a cap and, mispronouncing certain words, talks about a nuclear strike, China must respond; it must cool the fervor. “China must demonstrate its ambition to become one of the world’s leaders not only economically and technologically, but also in terms of civilization—making it clear that no dictators should threaten the planet with their outdated warheads,” Zelenskyy said.

He emphasized that Ukraine and the world together are capable of stopping the aggressor.

“We remember everyone who stood with us during the hardest times. We believe in everyone who stands with us going forward. This friendship today is also a manifestation of the finest human qualities inherent in Ukraine and its partners. And that is why nothing will shake the coalition that Ukraine has built around itself. There are more people on Ukraine’s side. There are more countries on the side of truth. And Ukraine has countless such friends; there isn’t a single avenue in the world that could hold the names of everyone with a Ukrainian heart—everyone who stands with Ukraine now, with our army, with our people. And all of this is not charity, not mercy, but an achievement of our state. A Ukraine that has long since stopped asking for help, but rather a Ukraine that offers, motivates, and unites. A Ukraine that wants peace. Very much so. And one that will achieve it,” the head of state noted.

In conclusion, the President addressed the Ukrainian people with a reminder: 35 years ago, Ukrainians achieved the restoration of independence. Their descendants are now fighting to preserve it.

“Over these 35 years, we’ve heard plenty of predictions about us, about ourselves. And almost none of them came true. They said there would be no state, that we wouldn’t withstand the upheavals, and on February 24—that we’d last only a few days. But we’ve held on all this time—through the war for independence,” the President said.

“The struggle for it—the struggle for freedom waged by all past generations—was so desperate that some in the world called us ‘crazy.’ But Ukrainians have always done everything they could to one day say: ‘God! We are free!” Thirty-five years ago, that day arrived. And the day when peace reigns in Ukraine will also come. We are all human beings; we all want to live not in “historic” times, but simply in quiet, peaceful, and safe times. In a peaceful Ukraine. A Ukraine that succeeded. A Ukraine that stood its ground. A Ukraine that preserved itself and its independence. That is what we are fighting for. That is what we stand for. With faith in one another, in our defense forces, and in our state!” Zelenskyy urged.

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