In an emotional speech marking the 31st anniversary of independence, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians on Wednesday that Ukraine was reborn when Russia invaded on February 24 and would return annexed Crimea and occupied territories in the east, Reuters reported.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr ZelenskyiPhoto: Press Office of the President of Ukraine / Zuma Press / Profimedia

In a speech recorded six months into the Russian invasion on February 24, Zelensky said that Ukraine sees the end of the war not when there will be peace, but when Kyiv actually wins.

“On February 24, at 4 o’clock in the morning, a new people was born. He was not born, he was reborn. The people who did not cry, did not scream and were not afraid. that did not run I didn’t give up. And she didn’t forget,” Zelenskyi said.

The 44-year-old Ukrainian leader made a speech in green military uniform in front of the central monument of Kyiv in honor of independence from the Soviet Union.

“What does the end of the war mean for us? We used to say: peace. Now we say: victory,” the Kyiv leader also said.

  • “We celebrate this day in different places. Some are in trenches and battalions, in tanks, at sea and in the air. Some are fighting for independence on the front lines. Some of them are on the roads, in cars, trains and trucks. And some – on smartphones or computers. They also fight for independence, collect money so that those on the roads have something to carry to those on the front lines.
  • We celebrate this day under different circumstances and conditions and even in different time zones, but with one goal – to preserve Ukraine’s independence and win victory. We are united together. Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!” – said Zelenky.

The streets of central Kyiv were unusually empty on Wednesday morning after days of warnings that Russia could launch more missile strikes on major cities.

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