The world was not ready for Ukrainian courage. For the courage of all our people who do not surrender to russia and continue to defend our state.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said this in his video address.
He reminded us that on 24 February 2022, many people did not even believe that Ukraine would be able to stand a full-scale war. This happened because many of those who doubted had not even begun to evaluate Ukraine. Many of them simply did not want to consider Ukraine.
Zelenskyy says it is convenient and fruitful for many world politicians to call certain russian politicians "Dostoevsky's heroes" as if it excuses them somehow. Likewise, it is convenient and fruitful to talk about russia's alleged historical sphere of influence and the alleged balance in relations in Europe, which is allegedly impossible without russia.
We heard these things this year in Davos. Despite the thousands of russian missiles that hit Ukraine, despite the dozens of thousands of Ukrainians killed. Despite Bucha and Mariupol, cities that were destroyed and "filtration camps" that were built by russia, where people are being murdered, tortured, raped, and humiliated all the time.
"But still in Davos, from the deep and distant past comes up Mr. Kissinger who says that we should give a piece of Ukraine to russia to avoid alienation of russia from Europe," - said the President of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that it gives an impression that Mr. Kissinger is living not in 2022 but in 1938, and he thought he was talking to an audience, not in Davos but in Munich of 1938.
The President of Ukraine reminded us that in 1938 when Mr. Kissinger's family was fleeing Nazi Germany, he was 15 years old, and he understood everything perfectly. And back then, he was not saying that it was necessary to adapt to the Nazis instead of escaping from them or fighting them.
Zelenskyy also recalled editorials of some Western media saying that Ukraine must accept so-called difficult compromises by giving up territory in exchange for peace.
"Great geopoliticians, those who advise Ukraine to give something to russia do not always want to see ordinary people behind all these geopolitical reasons. Ordinary Ukrainians. Millions of those who actually live in the territory they are suggesting to exchange for the illusion of peace. You always have to see people. And remember that values are not just a word," - urged Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy explained that this is the reason he always has a lot of international communication on his agenda.
In particular, in a conversation with the Chancellor of Austria, Nehammer, the President briefed him on the situation in Donbas and other areas of war actions, thanked him for the support, and arranged that Austria would treat seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers. They also discussed the cooperation regarding European integration of Ukraine in detail.
There was also a conversation with the President of Liberia regarding resistance to the food crisis provoked by the russian federation.
Zelenskyy noted that the UAF (Armed Forces of Ukraine) and other defenders of Ukraine resist the extremely fierce offensive of russian troops in the east. In some areas, the enemy has much more military equipment and personnel than the Ukrainians.
But the russian authorities have allowed older people to join the army on a contract basis; it means the russians no longer have enough young people, but the desire to wage war still remains.
Today, the President of Ukraine signed a decree granting 144 militaries of the UAF state awards, 17 of them posthumously.
In addition, Zelenskyy promoted three colonels of the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine to brigadier generals.
As previously reported, the time when russia's war against Ukraine ends depends on several things. The first is the desire of different sides, including the United West, then Ukraine's financial strength and weapons.