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Volodymyr Zelenskyy
106 quotes
“Немає таких тираній, які б не намагалися обмежити мистецтво, оскільки вони бачать його силу. Мистецтво може розповісти світу речі, які не можуть бути висловлені іншим способом.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech by Zelensky livestreamed during Venice Bienelle, "This Is Ukraine: Defending Freedom." (2022)
“Якщо весь демократичний світ побудований на ідеї свободи, тоді чому ви часто відчуваєте себе самотніми у захисті свободи? Якщо свобода є універсальною цінністю, тоді чому інші нації, які борються за свободу, ніколи не отримують рівної підтримки? Що ж відділяє нас один від одного в критичні моменти? Політики на це не відповість. Немає експертів, які можуть це пояснити та виправити. Відповіді також не знайдеш у ЗМІ. Бо йдеться про щось за межами слів.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech by Zelensky livestreamed during Venice Bienelle, "This Is Ukraine: Defending Freedom." (2022)
“Спочатку всією країною ми довели, що маємо гідність. Не побоялися водометів і кийків. А дехто не побоявся і снайперських куль. Тоді всією країною ми дізналися, що сотня може бути небесною. А згодом на нашу землю прийшла війна. Яку ми зустріли всією країною.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech by Zelensky during the celebration of Independence Day of Ukraine (24 August 2019)
“Кожен мій ранок починається з sms-повідомлення. Це sms від Генерального штабу. За минулу добу обстрілів – сім, втрат – дві. Цифри можуть бути різними, але тільки одна робить ранок добрим. Це – нуль. Обстрілів – нуль. Втрат – нуль.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech by Zelensky during the celebration of Independence Day of Ukraine (24 August 2019)
“In today's world, where we live, there is no longer someone else’s war. None of you can feel safe when there is a war in Ukraine, when there is a war in Europe. You can't think of the global and close your eyes to the details. Only one thing remains unchanged: contradictions between nations and states are still resolved not by words, but by missiles. Not by word. But by war.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Zelensky’s speech at the UN General Assembly (25 September 2019)
“Politics is like bad cinema — people overact, take it too far. When I speak with politicians, I see this in their facial expressions, their eyes, the way they squint. I look at things like a producer. I would often watch a scene on the monitor, and the director and I would yell, ‘Stop, no more, this is unwatchable! No one will believe this.’”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Joshua Yaffa, "The Swamp" – interview in The New Yorker (4 November 2019)
“Unless we make these difficult and unpopular decisions, there will be no economic growth or job creation.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: interview to NewsWeek (20 January 2020)
“Chance of ending the war...As soon as possible. I want to believe that it will be this year. I really want to believe it and I DO believe, I do. If it was only up to me, if it depended only on me…”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Volodymyr Zelenskyy: 'high chance' of ending war in Ukraine 'this year'. (August 25 2020)
“I will personally do everything possible to return Crimea so that it becomes part of Europe together with Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 23 August 2021 article https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/23/ukraines-president-pledges-to-return-russia-annexed-crimea Ukraine’s president pledges to ‘return’ Russia-annexed Crimea]
“On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (25 February 2022) quoted here regarding the attack on Snake Island
“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: February 25, When speaking to an U.S. intelligence official about being offered an evacuation from Kyiv during] the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, according a reporter from Association Press"AP Live updates: Zelensky…
“Without you, Ukraine is going to be lonely. We have proven our strengths, we have proven that as a minimum, we are exactly the same as you are. So, do prove that you are with us, do prove that you will not let us go, do prove that you are indeed Europeans, and then life will win over death, and light will win over darkness.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm the President of Ukraine. And I'm not iconic, I think that Ukraine is iconic. And I always was sure in it. And I knew it always. I knew it, that Ukraine is a special country. Ukraine is the heart of Europe.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Volodymyr Zelensky: See his dramatic transformation", CNN (2 March 2022)
“This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ukraine's Zelensky calls for war crimes investigation over Russian attack", The Hill (3 March 2022)
“There can be no Russian networks in Europe that split the EU from within, those that are trying to help Russia make as much money as possible even now. Everyone knows very well who in the European Union opposes humanity and common sense, and who does nothing at all to help establish peace in Ukraine. This must stop, and Europe must stop listening to any excuses from officials in Budapest.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (March 29, 2022)
“The war continues. Russia is sending new forces to our land to continue to destroy us, to destroy Ukrainians. We must do more to stop the war! The first and most important thing is weapons. Freedom must be armed no worse than tyranny.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Norwegian Storting" (30 March 2022)
“Let Moscow not forget that the sanctions policy will only be continued and intensified. As long as there is no peace — sanctions are needed. Until Russia begins to invest as sincerely in the search for peace as it invests in the destruction of our state, sanctions will remain unalterable.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: We all equally want to win, but there will be battles ahead" (1 April 2022)
“From time immemorial to the present day, mankind has been looking for heroes. People always appreciate heroes. They always support those who are brave. And always feel who is fighting for the good. During the 50 days of this war, Ukraine became a hero for the whole free world. For those who have the courage to call a spade a spade. For those who are not poisoned by propaganda. You have all become heroes. All Ukrainian men and women who withstood and do not give up. And who will win. Who will return peace to Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: During the 50 days of this war, Ukraine became a hero for the whole free world" (14 April 2022)
“Russia calls it a "military operation", and not a war. But look what happened in Bucha. It's clear that is not even a war. It's a genocide. They just killed people, not soldiers, people. They just shot people in the streets. People were riding bicycles, taking the bus, or just walking down the street. There were corpses lying in the streets. These were not soldiers. They were civilians. They forced children to watch as they raped their mothers. Then they threw them in a well, or in mass graves. Children. Adults. The elderly.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Zelensky: 'This is the most horrifying thing I have seen in my life'" by Colin Campbell, Yahoo News (17 April 2002)
“Exactly one hundred days ago we all woke up in a different reality. Exactly one hundred days ago, different us woke up. When Ukrainians are awakened not by the sun's rays, but by the explosions of missiles that hit our homes, then completely different Ukrainians wake up. In 2014, Russia came to us with one word, with a new word. And this is the word "war". On February 24, Russia added another word to it, making the phrase "full-scale war.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Peace", "victory", "Ukraine" - three words we have been fighting for for a hundred days already after eight years (3 June 2022)
“This is what Russia wants. A primitive plot in three acts for the world to make three dramatic mistakes. To get used to the war. To put up with the war. To forget about the war. This intention should never succeed. … Your position is important, your voice is influential, your word is loud. The least you can do today, or rather, NOT do, is not to be silent, not to be afraid, not to turn away, not to pass by and not to be indifferent to the war in Ukraine, which was unleashed by Russia.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address by the President of Ukraine to the participants of the Venice Film Festival (1 September 2022) · YouTube video
“Ukraine will continue to defend itself and will win in this war waged against us. Because we are on our land. The truth is on our side. And the whole civilized world is with us. We are fighting for what is true for any people on the planet - for life and freedom, for the right to happiness for all our families, for all our children.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address to the indigenous peoples of Russia: Fight to avoid death, defend your freedom in the streets and squares" (29 September 2022
“There was a lot of talk about humanitarian corridors. Every day they talked about the opportunity for people to get out of the cities where Russia moved in, the Russian military. I am grateful to every Ukrainian and everyone who stays around to defend our cities, our freedom. But I also know that there are people who really need to flee, who can't stay, and we heard the promise that there will be humanitarian corridors. There are none! Instead of humanitarian corridors, they can only ensure bloody ones.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Also quoted in "Instead of humanitarian corridors, Russian army can only ensure bloody ones - Zelensky", Ukrinform (6 March 2022)
“Right now the destiny of our country is being decided. The destiny of our people, whether Ukrainians will be free, whether they will be able to preserve their democracy. Russia has attacked not just us, not just our land, not just our cities; it went on a brutal offensive against our values, basic human values. It threw tanks and planes against our freedom, against our right to live freely in our own country choosing our own future.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people. Russian troops have already fired nearly 1,000 missiles at Ukraine, countless bombs, they use drones to kill us with precision. This is a terror that Europe has not seen for 80 years and we are asking for our life for an answer to this terror from the whole world.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We already became part of the anti-war coalition, a big anti-war coalition that unites many countries, dozens of countries, those who reacted in principle to President Putin’s decision to invade our country, but we need to move on and do more. We need to create new tools to respond quickly and stop the war, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24th. And it would be fair if it ended in a day, that in 24 hours, that evil would be punished immediately. Today the world does not have such tools.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The enemy is still in our territory. The shelling of our cities continues. Mariupol is blocked. Missile and air strikes do not stop. This is the reality. These are the facts. That is why the Armed Forces of Ukraine, our intelligence and all those who have joined the defense of the state are the only guarantee of our survival today. As a nation. As a state. The guarantee that works.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Yes, we can call positive the signals we hear from the negotiating platform. But these signals do not silence the explosion of Russian shells. Of course, we see all the risks. Of course, we see no reason to trust the words of certain representatives of a state that continues to fight for our destruction. Ukrainians are not naive people. Ukrainians have already learned during these 34 days of invasion and over the past eight years of the war in Donbas that only a concrete result can be trusted.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Yes, there is an ongoing negotiation process. But these are still words. So far no specifics. There are also other words about the alleged withdrawal of Russian troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv. About the alleged reduction of activity of occupiers in these directions. We know that this is not a withdrawal, but the consequences of exile. Consequences of the work of our defenders. But we also see that at the same time there is an accumulation of Russian troops for new strikes in Donbas. And we are preparing for this.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We do not believe anyone - we do not trust any beautiful verbal constructions. There is a real situation on the battlefield.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And now - this is the most important thing. We will not give up anything. And we will fight for every meter of our land, for every person.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Today this address will be without greetings. I do not want any extra words. Presidents do not usually record addresses like this. But today I have to say just that. After what was revealed in Bucha and our other cities the occupiers were expelled from. Hundreds of people were killed. Tortured, executed civilians. Corpses on the streets. Mined area. Even the bodies of the dead were mined! The pervasive consequences of looting. Concentrated evil has come to our land. Murderers. Torturers. Rapists. Looters. Who call themselves the army. And who deserve only death after what they did.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I want all the leaders of the Russian Federation to see how their orders are being fulfilled. Such orders. Such a fulfillment. And joint responsibility. For these murders, for these tortures, for these arms torn off by explosions that lie on the streets. For shots in the back of the head of tied people. This is how the Russian state will now be perceived. This is your image. Your culture and human appearance perished together with the Ukrainian men and women to whom you came.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The world has already seen many war crimes. At different times. On different continents. But it is time to do everything possible to make the war crimes of the Russian military the last manifestation of such evil on earth.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We see what’s at stake in this war. We see what we are defending. There are standards of the Ukrainian army - moral and professional. And it is not our army that has to adjust now. These are many other armies that should learn from our military. And there are standards of the Ukrainian people. And there are standards of the Russian occupiers. This is good and evil. This is Europe and a black hole that wants to tear it all apart and absorb.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am sure the time will come and the whole line of the state border of Ukraine will be restored. And for this to happen sooner, we must all be focused, ready to boldly face evil and respond to every criminal act against Ukraine, against our people, against our freedom. Evil will be punished. Glory to Ukraine!”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We need security guarantees from countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Turkey, Germany, and Poland, who can be security guarantors. I also invite India to be a security guarantor if they’d be willing.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EXCLUSIVE | Zelenskyy Details Possible Security Guarantors For Ukraine; Invites ‘Powerful’ India (2022)
“On India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, Zelenskyy said, “I understand that it is difficult to keep a balance between relationships with Ukraine and Russia…We thank you for the humanitarian assistance, but I’d like Narendra Modi to think of being a security guarantor for Ukraine. Willing to have powerful relationship with India.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ukraine In Ruins: History – OpEd, 2022
“Today I held a meeting dedicated to the reconstruction of our cities. Of course, this is a huge amount of work. But still less than defending the state in war. Than that we all — all Ukrainians, our army and all our people — are already really doing. So don't be afraid of the scale. What is important in our project of reconstruction of Ukraine? The task is not only to physically rebuild the houses, apartments, bridges and roads, businesses and social infrastructure that were destroyed by Russian troops. Not just to give people back everything they lost and give them a new foundation in life.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I met today with servicemen of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection. I handed over awards. The contribution of special communications servicemen to our defense, to our path to victory and peace, cannot be overestimated. Their work should be mentioned more often, they should be thanked more loudly. Since the first day of the war, we have had stable communication both within our country and with Ukraine's partner states. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who provides it!”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The world and history will take from Russia much more than Russian missiles will take from Ukraine. Every lost life is an argument for Ukrainians and other free nations to perceive Russia exclusively as a threat generation after generation.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It can now be stated that Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time. A very large part of the entire Russian army is now focused on this offensive. No matter how many Russian soldiers are driven there, we will fight. We will defend ourselves. We will do it daily. We will not give up anything Ukrainian, and we do not need what’s not ours.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Today is an important day, very important. For us. For our people. For our freedom. It was here, at the Mariyinsky Palace, that I held talks today with my friend, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. I am grateful to Justin for visiting our country. Exactly now, exactly on this day. A powerful sign of support and faith in the future of our people.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For the first time, Ukraine took part in a meeting of G7 leaders. The world's largest democracies. I outlined our vision of what needs to be done for freedom to win and to guarantee Ukraine's security. I called for increasing sanctions on Russia and creating conditions for Ukraine so that the war ends as soon as possible with the liberation of our land and our people.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We will not forget that the Russian war against Ukraine began with the occupation of Crimea. Russia has turned our peninsula, which has always been and will be one of the best places in Europe, into one of the most dangerous places in Europe. Russia brought large-scale repression, environmental problems, economic hopelessness and war to Crimea. War. Perhaps historians will one day determine how many people were killed as a result of Russia's use of Crimea for terror. Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? From Ukraine and Georgia to Syria and more remote regions.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I thank everyone who defends Ukraine! Eternal glory to all who fight for freedom! Glory to Ukraine!”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Today is 200 days of our resistance. Our struggle. Our people’s war. For freedom, for independence, for the right to be. In these 200 days, we have achieved a lot, but the most important, and therefore the most difficult, is ahead. And I want to dedicate this address to those who are ahead. Who are having the hardest time now, as they are doing the most important thing. These are all defenders of Ukraine. All those who have been courageously standing for 200 days, being the exact reason why Ukraine stands.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ukrainians! All Europeans! And everyone in the world who believes that terror should have no place on earth. Why is the biggest source of terror in the world — Russia — still able to wage this war? And why can it wage the war so cruelly and cynically? There is only one reason — insufficient pressure on Russia. The response to the terror of this state is insufficient.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This battle is not only for the territory, for this or another part of Europe. The battle is not only for life, freedom and security of Ukrainians or any other nation which Russia attempts to conquer. This struggle will define in what world our children and grandchildren will live, and then their children and grandchildren. It will define whether it will be a democracy of Ukrainians and for Americans — for all.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Establishing the full truth about the crimes of the occupiers on our independent Ukrainian land is a fundamental prerequisite for bringing Russia to full accountability for its aggression and terror. We must do everything for justice, and I am grateful to those of you who are bringing this day closer, this time — the time of justice.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: President at the events on the occasion of the Day of National Police" (4 July 2023)