New Yr’s celebrations present a cheerful face to the world, however the struggle in Ukraine continues.
The nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed his individuals in his speech on December 31, praising their bravery and exhibiting his optimism for the top of the battle in a combative tone.
Becoming a member of the EU
“That is the 12 months when Ukraine modified the world. And the world found Ukraine. We had been informed to give up. We selected a counterattack! We had been informed to make concessions and compromises. We’re becoming a member of the European Union and NATO,” he mentioned.
He additionally confused that he would really like 2023 to be the 12 months that folks and troopers can return to Ukraine, in addition to prisoners and migrants who’ve been ousted by the Russian invasion.
“Let this 12 months be the 12 months of return. The return of our individuals. Troopers – to their households. Prisoners – to their houses. Immigrants – to their Ukraine.”
And a “return of our lands,” Zelenskyy mentioned, including that each one the territories, together with Ukraine’s japanese Donbas and Crimea, occupied by Russia since 2014, “will change into eternally free.”
The speech began with Zelenskyy wanting again on the occasions of February 24, 2022, when the invasion first started.
“It was darkish. It was loud. It was arduous for a lot of and scary for some. 311 days have handed. It will probably nonetheless be darkish, loud, and complex for us. However we will certainly by no means be afraid once more. And we’ll by no means be ashamed,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
He introduced his speech to an in depth by saying: “Might the New Yr carry all this. We’re able to combat for it. That is why every of us is right here. I am right here. We’re right here. You might be right here. Everyone seems to be right here. We’re all Ukraine.”
