Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Speech to European Union, 3.1.22 — Excerpts

We’re dealing with killed people, real life. You know, And, you know, I believe that we today we’re giving lives for the rights, for freedom, for the desire to be equal as much as you are. We are giving away our best people, the strongest ones, the most value-based ones.

“I speak today now about my citizens, citizens of Ukraine who are defending each other by paying the ultimate price they are defending freedom.

And this morning was a very tragic one for us. Two cruise missiles hit Kharkiv, the city which is located to the borders of the Russian Federation.

“There were always many Russians there, and they’re always friendly. There were warm relations there More than 20 universities are there. It’s the city that has the largest number of universities in our country. The youth is bright, smart there.

“And and this is the largest square in Europe. And that’s true. This is called the Freedom Square. Can you imagine this morning two cruise missiles hit this freedom square? Dozens of dead ones. This is the price of freedom We’re fighting just for our land and for our freedom.

“Despite the fact that all large cities of our country are now blocked, nobody is going to enter and intervene with our freedom and country. And believe you me, in every square of today, no matter what it’s called. It’s going to be called as today,

Freedom Square in every city of our country. Nobody is going to break us. We are strong.

“We are Ukrainians We have a desire to see our children alive. I think it’s a fair one. Yesterday, 16 children were killed. And again, and again, President Putin is going to say that is some kind of operation and we are hitting a military infrastructure, where children, what kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going with or launching cruise missiles?

We are fighting for our rights. For our freedoms. For life. For our life. And now, we’re fighting for survival. And this is the highest of our motivation. But we are fighting also to be equal members of Europe I believe that today we are showing everybody that’s exactly what we are.

We have proven our strength. We have proven that at 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 indeed are Europeans.

“And then life will win over death and light will win over darkness. Glory be to Ukraine.”