Zelensky addresses his country on the second morning of the Russian invasion: 'The fate of Ukraine depends only on Ukrainians'

[Rogue Valley]

Zelensky addresses his country on the second morning of the Russian invasion: 'The fate of Ukraine depends only on Ukrainians'

Volodmyr and Olena Zelenskyy

2.25.22
In a Friday morning speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rallied his countrymen to strengthen their resolve in fighting against Russian forces invading their country, while making an appeal to Russians to continue protesting against the attack. "Stop the enemy wherever you see it," he said to Ukrainians. "The fate of Ukraine depends only on Ukrainians. No one but ourselves will control our lives. We are on our land, the truth is on our side. It will not be possible to destroy our character." Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a full-scale attack on Ukraine early Thursday morning. In the hours that followed Putin's speech, explosions were seen and heard in cities around Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have reported fighting on its borders with Russia and dozens of casualties. The US and the EU have pledged to impose sanctions on Russia in response. Zelensky said on Friday these actions did not deter Russia, adding that it is up to Ukrainians themselves to defend their country. "This morning we are defending our state alone, as we did yesterday," he said. "The world's most powerful forces are watching from afar.

His Friday speech came just hours after missiles were launched on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. In his address, Zelensky compared Friday's bombardment to when Nazi Germany attacked Kyiv in 1941.] Russia's invasion sparked massive protests back home, as thousands gathered across several cities, chanting and holding signs to object to Russia's offensive in Ukraine. The Russian government has warned that protestors may be arrested, with one report indicating that hundreds of protestors across multiple Russian cities have already been detained. Zelensky on Friday appealed to Russian protestors to continue voicing their opposition. "To all the citizens of the Russian Federation who come out to protest, I want to say — we see you," he said. "This means that you heard us. This means that you begin to trust us. Fight for us. Fight against the war," he added. "Tonight they started bombing residential areas of the hero city of Kyiv. It all reminds me of 1941," he said. Even as Zelensky appealed to Ukrainians to fight enemy forces, he also stressed the need for dialogue. "Russia will still have to talk to us sooner or later. Talk about how to end the fighting and stop this invasion. The sooner the conversation begins, the smaller Russia's losses will be," he said.

In retrospect, Ukraine should have joined NATO with Poland in 2004. But until Petro Poroshenko in 2014, Ukraine had a series of corrupt pro-Russia governments since its independence in 1991. As long as Ukraine was subserviant to the Kremlin, Moscow didn't care a whit about Ukraine. It was only after pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych broke his campaign promise to apply for EU membership and Maidan resulted that Moscow/Putin suddenly cared.

Sources say that Ukraine president Volodmyr Zelenskyy and his administration remain in the government quarter of Kyiv. His fate is unknown if captured by the Russians. Execution? A "show trial" in Moscow? Tortured in a Putin gulag? Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, are both from the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih (615,000) at the confluence of the Saksahan and Inhulets rivers. They met when Olena was studying at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Kryvyi Rih National University. Both are Jewish. The couple have two children.

President Volodymyr Zelensky remains 'a prime target for Russian aggression,' State Department says

 

[HangLow]

Zelensky addresses his country on the second morning of the Russian invasion: 'The fate of Ukraine depends only on Ukrainians'

Volodmyr and Olena Zelenskyy
In retrospect, Ukraine should have joined NATO with Poland in 2004. But until Petro Poroshenko in 2014, Ukraine had a series of corrupt pro-Russia governments since its independence in 1991. As long as Ukraine was subserviant to the Kremlin, Moscow didn't care a whit about Ukraine. It was only after pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych broke his campaign promise to apply for EU membership and Maidan resulted that Moscow/Putin suddenly cared.

Sources say that Ukraine president Volodmyr Zelenskyy and his administration remain in the government quarter of Kyiv. His fate is unknown if captured by the Russians. Execution? A "show trial" in Moscow? Tortured in a Putin gulag? Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, are both from the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih (615,000) at the confluence of the Saksahan and Inhulets rivers. They met when Olena was studying at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Kryvyi Rih National University. Both are Jewish. The couple have two children.

President Volodymyr Zelensky remains 'a prime target for Russian aggression,' State Department says

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