As delivered by way of interpreter
Thanks very a lot. Madam Speaker, contributors of the Congress, girls and gents, American citizens, buddies, I’m proud to greet you from Ukraine, from our capital town of Kyiv, a town this is beneath missile and airstrikes from Russian troops each day. Nevertheless it doesn’t surrender, and we’ve not even thought of it for a 2nd.
Zelensky is chatting with the USA Congress from a struggle zone. Somewhat than convene within the ornate and formal Area chamber, senators and congressional contributors are collected in an auditorium within the Capitol complicated.
Identical to many different towns and communities in our stunning nation which discovered themselves within the worst struggle since International Battle II. I’ve the respect to greet you on behalf of the Ukrainian other folks, courageous and freedom-loving individuals who for 8 years had been resisting the Russian aggression.
Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea in 2014 and fomented a separatist insurrection within the east of the rustic. Ukraine’s then-President Petro Poroshenko addressed a joint consultation of Congress in individual and requested US lawmakers for extra direct support to get up to Russia. The Obama management granted safety help however no longer deadly support. The warfare simmered on, leaving some 14,000 other folks useless within the years main as much as Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine in February.
Those that give their highest little children to forestall this full-scale Russian invasion. Presently the future of our nation is being made up our minds. The future of our other folks, whether or not Ukrainians might be loose, whether or not they’re going to have the ability to maintain their democracy. Russia has attacked no longer simply us, no longer simply our land, no longer simply our towns; it went on a brutal offensive towards our values, elementary human values. It threw tanks and planes towards our freedom, towards our proper to reside freely in our personal nation opting for our personal long run.
Those phrases talk without delay to the basics of American govt — existence, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the power of other folks to select their govt.
In opposition to our want for happiness, towards our nationwide desires, identical to the similar desires you might have, you American citizens. Identical to somebody else in america. I take note your nationwide memorial in [Mount] Rushmore, the faces of your outstanding presidents, those that laid the basis of america of The united states as it’s these days — democracy, independence, freedom and take care of everybody, for each and every individual, for everybody who works diligently, who lives truthfully, who respects the legislation.
We in Ukraine need the similar for our other folks. All that could be a customary a part of your personal existence. Girls and gents, buddies, American citizens, on your nice historical past, you might have pages that may assist you to perceive Ukrainians, perceive us now when you wish to have it at this time. After we want you at this time.
Right here, Zelensky is basically pronouncing, “Assist us and our democracy. Assist us emulate you.”
Take into accout Pearl Harbor. Horrible morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was once black from the planes attacking you. Simply commit it to memory. Take into accout September eleventh, a horrible day in 2001 when evil attempted to show your towns, impartial territories in battlefields. When blameless other folks have been attacked from air, sure. Identical to no person else anticipated it, it is advisable to no longer forestall it.
December 7, an afternoon that President Franklin D. Roosevelt mentioned would “reside in infamy” in an cope with to Congress. Sep 11, an afternoon that led the USA to invite NATO allies for assist. Those also are days through which the USA was once attacked from the sky. Lately, Zelensky needs a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Our nation skilled the similar each day. Presently, at this second, each and every night time for 3 weeks now, quite a lot of Ukrainian towns: Odesa … [names long list of Ukrainian cities], Russia has grew to become the Ukrainian sky right into a supply of loss of life for 1000’s of other folks. Russian troops have already fired just about 1,000 missiles at Ukraine, numerous bombs, they use drones to kill us with precision. It is a terror that Europe has no longer observed for 80 years and we’re requesting our existence for a solution to this terror from the entire international.
Is that this so much to invite for, to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine to avoid wasting other folks? Is that this an excessive amount of to invite? Humanitary, no-fly zone, one thing that Russia will be unable to terrorize our loose towns.
The Biden management has again and again rejected Zelensky’s requires NATO to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine — or switch fighter jets to Ukraine — arguing it will draw the USA into an energetic struggle with Russia and is a recipe for International Battle III. Army professionals have puzzled whether or not a no-fly zone would forestall the assaults.
If that is an excessive amount of to invite, we provide an alternate. You recognize what sort of protection methods we’d like, S-300 and different identical methods. You understand how a lot is determined by the battlefield, on the power to make use of airplane, tough, sturdy aviation to offer protection to our other folks, our freedom, our land. Aircrafts that may assist Ukraine, assist Europe and you realize that they exist and you have got them however they’re on Earth, no longer in Ukraine — within the Ukrainian sky. They don’t shield our other folks.
Zelensky asks for choice forms of assist — direct assist this is lower than a no-fly zone, together with Soviet-made S-300 air protection missile methods, which might be equipped by means of different nations. However Biden has additionally rejected proposals to offer Ukraine US fighter jets and in addition to give Poland American jets in order that nation may offload its Soviet-era jets to Ukraine.
I’ve a dream, those phrases are recognized to each and every of you these days. I will be able to say, I’ve a necessity. I would like to offer protection to our sky. I would like your choice, your assist, this means that precisely the similar, the similar you’re feeling whilst you listen the phrases, “I’ve a dream.”
Zelensky has spoken to the EU parliament, the United Kingdom parliament and the Canadian parliament, each and every time with a adapted message. Right here he invokes statements made by means of American civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr., a lot as he did with well-known statements by means of Churchill sooner than the United Kingdom parliament.
Girls and gents, buddies, Ukraine is thankful to america for its overwhelming make stronger, for the whole thing that your govt and your other folks have executed for us, for guns and ammunition for coaching, for funds, for management within the loose international, which is helping us to force the aggressor economically.
The United States authorized $13.6 billion for Ukraine as a part of a large spending invoice that was once signed into legislation this week.
I’m thankful to President Biden for his non-public involvement, for his trustworthy dedication to the protection of Ukraine and democracy in all places the sector. I’m thankful to you for the solution which acknowledges all those that dedicate crimes towards Ukraine, towards the Ukrainian other folks as struggle criminals. Then again, now, it’s true within the darkest time for our nation, for the entire Europe, I name on you to do extra. New programs of sanctions are wanted, continuously, each and every week till the Russian army device stops.
Zelensky has again and again expressed his gratitude for US and NATO make stronger, whilst again and again calling at the West to provide extra support and observe extra force on Russia.
Restrictions are wanted for everybody on whom this unjust regime is founded. We suggest that america sanctions all politicians within the Russian Federation who stay of their places of work and don’t reduce ties with those that are accountable for the aggression towards Ukraine, from state Dumas contributors to the ultimate legitimate who has loss of ethical to damage this state terror. All [American companies] will have to go away Russia from their marketplace, go away their marketplace instantly as a result of it’s flooded with our blood. Girls and gents, contributors of Congress, please take the lead in case you have corporations on your district who finance the Russian army device leaving trade in Russia, you must put force. I’m asking to make certain that the Russians don’t obtain a unmarried penny that they use to ruin other folks in Ukraine. The destruction of our nation, the destruction of Europe. All American ports must be closed for Russian items. We’re — peace is extra vital than source of revenue and we need to shield this theory in the entire international.
The severity of sanctions by means of the USA and the West has been not anything in need of outstanding. Russia is ready to default on overseas loans once this week. However Zelensky needs extra to be executed. Sanction all Russian politicians, no longer simply particular ones, he argues. Require US corporations to go away Russian markets.
Through pronouncing “peace is extra vital than source of revenue,” Zelensky is suggesting that some issues — the protection of democracy and the world rules-based order — are extra vital than the wear that sanctions will do to the worldwide financial system.
We already was a part of the anti-war coalition, a large anti-war coalition that unites many nations, dozens of nations, those that reacted in theory to President Putin’s choice to invade our nation, however we want to transfer on and do extra. We want to create new equipment to reply temporarily and prevent the struggle, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started on February twenty fourth. And it will be truthful if it led to an afternoon, that during 24 hours, that evil could be punished instantly. Lately the sector does no longer have such equipment. The struggle of the previous have precipitated our predecessors to create establishments that are supposed to offer protection to us from struggle, however they sadly don’t paintings. We see it, you notice it, so we’d like new ones, new establishments, new alliances and we provide them.
If Russia have been to assault a NATO member, NATO allies could be pressured to come back to that nation’s protection beneath Article 5 of the group’s constitution. However Ukraine isn’t a member of the alliance, and Biden and different NATO leaders have mentioned they’ve no plans to ship troops into the rustic.
We suggest to create an affiliation U-24 united for peace, a union of accountable nations that experience the power and awareness to forestall conflicts instantly, supply the entire essential help in 24 hours, if essential, even guns if essential, sanctions, humanitarian make stronger, political make stronger, funds, the whole thing you wish to have to stay the peace and temporarily save the sector, save lives.
This is a fascinating concept — a brand new world settlement that appears like an alternative choice to NATO, of which Ukraine isn’t a member, and the United International locations, the place Russia has the power to veto maximum issues as an enduring member of the Safety Council. Zelensky can also be looking for to sign much less of a want for Ukraine to enroll in NATO, a purple line for Putin.
As well as, such affiliation, such union would offer help to people who are experiencing herbal screw ups, man-made screw ups, who fell sufferers to humanitarian disaster or epidemic. Take into accout how tricky it was once for the sector to do the most straightforward issues, simply to offer vaccines, vaccines towards Covid to avoid wasting lives, to stop new lines. The sector spent months, years doing such things as that a lot quicker, to ensure there aren’t any human losses, no sufferers.
The sector continues to be very a ways at the back of in giving get right of entry to to Covid-19 vaccines to growing international locations. Zelensky additionally turns out to nod to local weather alternate right here, which professionals say will turn into the foremost international risk.
Girls and gents, American citizens, if such alliance would exist these days, this is U-24, we’d be able to save 1000’s of lives in our nation. In many nations of the sector, those that want peace, those that endure inhumane destruction. I ask you to look at one video, video of what the Russian troops did in our nation, in our land. We need to forestall it. We will have to save you it, preventably ruin each and every unmarried aggressor who seeks to subjugate different international locations.
Please watch the video.
The video is graphic and difficult to look at. It displays kids killed and wounded. Russian forces have more and more focused civilian spaces, a contravention of world legislation.
[IN ENGLISH] And after all, to sum it up, these days, these days it isn’t sufficient to be the chief of the country. Lately takes to be the chief of the sector. Being the chief of the sector approach to be the chief of peace. Peace on your nation doesn’t rely anymore best on you and your other folks. It is determined by the ones subsequent to you, on those that are sturdy. Sturdy doesn’t imply vulnerable. Sturdy is fearless and in a position to combat for the lifetime of his electorate and electorate of the sector. For human rights, for freedom, for the best to reside decently, and to die when your time comes. And no longer when it’s sought after by means of somebody else. Through your neighbor.
Zelensky switches to English right here and delivers a right away plea to Biden, the USA President who additionally aspires to be the chief of the loose international. What’s going down to other folks in Ukraine, Zelensky says, impacts each and every democracy.
[IN ENGLISH] Lately the Ukrainian individuals are protecting no longer best Ukraine, we’re combating for the values of Europe and the sector, [inaudible] within the title of the long run. That’s why these days the American individuals are serving to no longer simply Ukraine, however Europe and the sector, to stay the planet alive, to stay justice in historical past. Now I’m nearly 45 years outdated. Lately my age stopped when the guts of greater than 100 kids stopped beating.
I see no sense in existence if it can not forestall the deaths. And that is my primary factor because the chief of my other folks, nice Ukrainians, and because the chief of my country, I’m addressing the President Biden, you’re the chief of the country, of your nice country. I want you to be the chief of the sector. Being the chief of the sector approach to be the chief of peace.
That is a right away message to Biden, who has attempted to make his presidency about protecting democracy from autocracies, however has additionally refused to tempt International Battle III by means of doing extra for Ukraine.
Thanks.
[IN UKRAINIAN] Glory to Ukraine.
[IN ENGLISH] Thanks on your make stronger.
