Ukrainian cities are destroyed, our sea is still blocked, but we remain free, said the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his address to the Stanford University community.
"It is truly an honor to address your community for a second time - the Stanford University community - students, lecturers, all American men and women who care about Ukraine and empathize with our struggle for freedom," Zelenskyy said.
He thanked the audience for their interest and the number of sincere, caring and bright eyes he saw today.
"I see people in front of me, people who are not in bulletproof vests, who are not in helmets and who are not in bomb shelters. There are no wounded by enemy shelling among you. I am very glad. Glad for you. And this meeting of ours cannot be interrupted by an air raid signal, because California is not threatened by russian missiles. But, unfortunately, this is not the case in Ukraine."
"A lot had changed since last September when I first visited Stanford during a visit to the United States. But on the other hand - much remains the same."
As I said then, Ukraine is a country where anything is possible. And so it was. But now the whole world knows that in Ukraine, it is possible even what others have been afraid to think about for many years," said the President of Ukraine.
He added that Ukraine is a country that has destroyed the myth of the extraordinary power of the russian army, which could conquer anyone it wants in a few days. But in Ukraine, the russian military continues to wage war it does not want to end and is trying to occupy the entire country. But we feel strong enough to think about the future of Ukraine, which is and will be open to the world.
"I know this path will be very difficult. Very painful. It will be a path on which young people won't look at university professors or their friends from a peaceful life as you do. But at their comrades in the trenches. And at the enemies who can be seen in sight or on video from reconnaissance drones. But I also know that for Ukraine on this path there will definitely be a stage where peace will begin."
"Now, I use words that each and every one of you read and hear very often in the media, in books. "Struggle for freedom," "myth," "russian army," "war," "survivors," "trenches," "path," "peace." Each of these words seems to be immediately clear. But do you feel all their depth now?" The President of Ukraine asked the Stanford community.
He said that the day before russian troops again shelled the largest city in eastern Ukraine - Kharkiv. They used MLRS and heavy long-range artillery to fire at common residential areas of Kharkiv, where there were no military facilities.
As a result of this and other shellings, nine people were killed in Kharkiv. Peaceful inhabitants. A family with a small child, five months old, was also shelled. The father died. The child died. The mother was badly injured.
Zelenskyy reminded that everyone who studies at Stanford is familiar with the question: what matters most to you and why? To study at this university, one needs to write an essay responding to this question.
"And I'm sure many brilliant essays have been written over the years of Stanford's existence. And I am sure that there have been many brilliant students at your university in the last eight years. Apparently, among them were those who survived the war. And their answers to this question - what matters most to you and why - probably differed significantly from the answers of those who were lucky enough to live in peace," the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Stanford community that since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, a special award ceremony was being held for the defenders. Those who excelled the most, who were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. As a special tribute, in the hall of the presidential residence, where the highest officials of foreign countries visiting Ukraine, presidents and heads of government, were usually received, today the President of Ukraine presents the Order of the Golden Star to the Heroes of Ukraine. Or gives the order to the Hero's family if the title is awarded posthumously.
"One of our pilots was recently awarded. Combat aviation pilot. One of the best. He died in the battles for Ukraine. When I gave his Golden Star to his wife, I expressed my condolences. Condolences that he passed away. And tears appeared in her eyes. She replied that he had not passed away. That he had been in the sky for 30 years. And now he remained in the sky. And tears appeared in my eyes. I felt that death did not conquer these people, this family. He remained in the sky. He is alive to her. And it will always be so in this family," said the President of Ukraine.
He noted that all these words: "sky," "life," "death," "Hero" for him, for her, for the President, for the Stanford community are different in their depth. And this depth, this distance in feelings, weighs a lot today. It explains, for example, why Ukraine, even on the 93rd day of the war, is forced to talk about tightening sanctions against russia, which will be enough for this country (Ukraine - translator's note) to finally start looking for peace, at least thinking about it. It explains why it is sometimes so long and difficult for us to negotiate with our partners on the supply of exactly the weapons needed to liberate Ukrainian land. Although they want to help.
"So for me, this question, on which you had to write an essay, feels different, a little different. Because, in fact, I have been answering this question for a very long time, more than 93 days, when I try to give my country everything it needs so that we can survive, defend our freedom and, in the end, win."
"What matters most to me and why? I do not know whether the current presidents of a state fighting for its freedom have ever answered this question. But here is my answer. Pragmatic," said Zelenskyy.
"Weapons that will help overcome the technical and quantitative superiority of the russian army.
Sanctions that will stop the flow of money for russian terror.
Finances that will allow Ukraine to maintain social normalcy while the war continues.
Freezing and confiscating all russian assets in foreign jurisdictions, that should be used to rebuild everything this russian army has destroyed.
A fair tribunal against all war criminals who killed, tortured, raped and deported our citizens.
Updated efficient security architecture that will prevent such new wars in the world."
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a complete restoration of normal peaceful life in our country is mandatory. So that our people, our students, can communicate freely and in complete safety with the presidents of democracies. So that Ukrainian men and women can not think about where the bomb shelter is and so that they do not need to know what the air raid siren sounds like.
"And I'm sure that something will change in the relationship between you - the American people - and us after this war. It is already changing. We became much closer in our feelings. We know for sure that we mean the same thing when we say the word "freedom," reassured the President of Ukraine.
Zelensky also mentioned that a full-scale war against Ukraine began on February 24, when 18-year-old Russian boys, soldiers, entered our country and entered the homes of our people to kill, torture and rape.
And exactly three months later, on May 24, in Texas, an 18-year-old boy went to a regular school to kill 19 children and two adults. It is impossible to understand at all. This is a tragedy.
"And we live in a terrible time when Americans express their condolences to Ukrainians over their deaths in the war. And Ukrainians express their condolences to Americans over their deaths in peace.
Please accept my condolences.
Every day you should not just ask yourself another question, but be sure to find the answer: who matters most and why? This is the main question for me: who matters most and why? Take care of yourself, your family, loved ones, friends. Take care of the world," concluded Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the entire journalistic community for their objective coverage of events in Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion and for bringing truthful information to people worldwide.