Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.
In his speech on Friday, June 7, 2024, Zelenskyy compared Ukraine’s struggle against Russia’s aggression to the fight against Nazi Germany during World War II.
“Our Europe is the result of the courage of men and women at that time,” Zelenskyy said.
However, Zelenskyy added that the hard-fought peace won by the Allied troops is again at risk.
Voicing the threat of the war’s expansion, Zelenskyy said, “All of this is now aimed against Ukraine. But it is also for the purpose of being aimed against others tomorrow.”
“This Russian regime does not recognize borders. Even Europe is not enough for it,” he averred.
“It has already devastated Syria and is causing chaos in the Sahel…It uses everything to make countries weaker – from energy resources to food. In the XXI century, it has brought back the entire arsenal of the past centuries – from naval blockades to the mass abduction of our people’s children from the occupied territory of Ukraine in order to “re-educate” them into something entirely different, fostering hatred for their homeland.
“And it blackmails the whole world, so that the world is afraid to oppose it in full. It will find a way to destabilize everyone, destabilize Europe, destabilize you.This is what tomorrow may be like. Tomorrow – if Ukraine does not win.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
“This battle for Ukraine is as existentially important for Europe as the battles won by previous generations of Europeans,” he stressed.
“It is in Ukraine that lies the key to the security of Europe,” the Ukrainian President said, implying peace could not be made along the current lines of control.
“Because without control on Ukraine, Russia will have to be a normal national state and not a colonial empire that is constantly looking for new territory in Europe, as well as Asia and Africa,” he said.
Also, the Ukrainian President thanked France for its support to Ukraine, dding that Ukraine can rely on French air defense systems, armored vehicles, artillery and missiles.
“I am grateful for all you are already doing and it is a lot. But for a fair peace, more must be done,” he said.
In his speech, Zelenskyy mentioned the upcoming peace summit, saying, “Practically in one week, we will have our new D-Day – Diplomacy Day.”
“The inaugural Peace Summit, which may become the format that will bring a just end to this war closer,” he added.
“We have never relied on the power of arms alone. We were always focused on diplomacy.
“Putin rejected a diplomatic solution by launching a full-scale war and choosing an attempted genocide of Ukrainians over dialogue with Ukraine. That is his choice. And we need the unity of the world to overcome it. This is a lot of work, really – a lot of effort that is required from countries on all continents.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy Meets With President of the National Assembly of France
Also on Friday, President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the French National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet and chairs of committees.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the French Parliament and the whole of France for supporting Ukraine and emphasized the importance of the bilateral security agreement signed in February this year.
The Ukrainian President emphasized the importance of implementing the French initiative on the introduction of a new EU sanctions regime to combat Russian disinformation and destabilization of Europe.
The parties also discussed preparations for the Global Peace Summit.
Particular attention was paid to Ukraine’s European integration priorities, including the anticipated adoption of a negotiating framework for the actual start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
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