Category: Speeches

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (11/10/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (11/10/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 11 October 2022.

    Fellow Ukrainians!

    Another day of our defense. A difficult day.

    Restoration work is currently underway across the country. We will restore all objects that were damaged by today’s attack by Russian terrorists. It’s only a matter of time. I tasked all structures of our state to ensure recovery as fast as possible.

    In some cities and regions, where there were blackouts due to shelling, the electricity supply has already been restored.

    As of now: Kharkiv region – 50% of energy supply has been restored. Energy crews need several hours to restore electricity supply to the majority of districts.

    Poltava region – restored almost everywhere. Mykolaiv region, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa region – connected. Cherkasy – connected. Khmelnytskyi – there is light in most parts of the city.

    In some cities and districts, efforts are still needed to give people electricity. Chernihiv region, Sumy region, Kyiv and Kyiv region, Lviv region, Ternopil region, Dnipropetrovsk region – we are working. Somewhere it takes hours, somewhere you have to wait a little longer, but the result will be everywhere.

    Unfortunately, 12 people died today in this terrorist attack. More than 80 were wounded or injured. Everyone who applied for help gets it.

    The Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine and all those involved in the defense of our state also perform their tasks.

    Of the 84 Russian missiles launched against Ukraine, 43 were shot down. Out of 24 Russian drones, 13 were shot down. And even after that, every ten minutes I get a message about the downing of Iranian “Shaheds”.

    Only in the last hours…

    16:28 – “Shahed” was destroyed, Litky district.

    17:26 – Kremenchuk, “Shahed” was destroyed.

    17:36 – Cherkasy, “Shahed” was destroyed.

    17:40 – Dovhyntseve, Kryvyi Rih, “Shahed” was destroyed.

    17:50 – Apostolove, “Shahed” was destroyed.

    And it’s like that all day long. Now as I speak I continue to receive such messages. Therefore, please follow the safety rules and pay attention to the air alarm. The danger is still there. But we are fighting.

    I am grateful to our Air Forces and Ground Forces units that were involved today!

    The leaders of the terrorists say that they hit all the targets they planned.

    First, they lie, as usual.

    Secondly, they lie, as usual. Take a look at their real targets, apart from energy facilities. Look at just one example of our capital…

    The crossroads in Kyiv where I stand. The crossroads of Volodymyrska Street and Shevchenko Boulevard. That’s the target.

    Seven hundred meters from here is the bell tower of St. Sophia’s Cathedral. Moscow did not yet exist when it was already standing.

    A little further there is Volodymyr’s Hill, a place that became the source of Christianity and culture for Eastern Europe. In particular, for the territory that much later came to be called Russia.

    Next to me are the buildings of the Shevchenko University, which will soon celebrate its 190th anniversary. They are damaged now by this Russian strike. But we will restore everything.

    The Teacher’s House was also damaged today. At one time, the Central Council of Ukraine worked there, and for Ukrainians this place will always be a place of memory about our glorious history of statehood.

    And right behind me there is a playground in Shevchenko Park, which also became a target for a Russian missile. But it is not just in Shevchenko Park. It is on one of the main museum streets of Kyiv. In particular, the Khanenko Art Museum was damaged by this attack by terrorists.

    And it’s like this in all the cities of our state – civil, cultural, educational facilities. Who can fight all this? Who can rejoice at strikes on such objects and such land?

    They say they want to push Ukraine back into the XVIII century. But they pushed themselves back into a much older era, in the era of savages, which they became quite consciously.

    And Ukraine will still remain in the XXI century.

    Kyiv saw various strangers. And survived them all. Kyiv will also survive this onslaught of terrorists who have no history, no tradition, no culture. They are temporary. And even if they live for 70 years, they still don’t have enough time to understand anything.

    Ukraine cannot be intimidated. We united even more instead. Ukraine cannot be stopped. We are convinced even more that terrorists must be neutralized.

    The Russian army carried out these strikes during the morning rush hour on purpose. This is a typical terrorist tactic. They wanted to incite more fear and affect more people. They affected. They affected the whole world.

    Today I have already spoken with the Chancellor of Germany, the President of France, the Emir of Qatar, the President of Poland, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

    I had a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador. Now I have conversations scheduled with the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the United States. Tomorrow – with the Prime Minister of Italy.

    I am grateful to all for the unambiguous support!

    We’re consolidating the world. And I feel that the world is with us. An extraordinary meeting of the G7 is already scheduled for tomorrow. We are working on a resolution for the UN General Assembly to condemn Russia for all its escalating steps, for its terror. Terror inevitably receives a global response. And the blatant nature of Russian terror only encourages everyone to be more determined.

    Regarding energy. We will do everything to restore normal production and supply of electricity. We need electricity to be supplied for all families, regardless of any manifestations of Russian terror. We need energy to be supplied to all our homes, in all regions.

    Therefore, we need a reasonable consumption of electricity now. There are hours of peak load on the power system – from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. I am asking you, please, at this time, consume electricity in such a way as not to overload the power system. Please postpone washing, ironing, repairing and using other electrical appliances that consume a lot of energy before 5 p.m. or after 10 p.m. A strong request.

    The more Ukrainians consume electricity in this way, the more stable our energy system will be.

    We are doing everything to get modern air defense systems. And I am grateful to the partners who are already speeding up the delivery.

    We are doing everything to strengthen our Armed Forces. And now the occupiers already cannot oppose us on the battlefield, that is why they resort to this terror. Well, we’ll make the battlefield even more excruciating for the enemy. And we will restore everything that was destroyed.

    Please help each other! Please take care of those who are left alone in such circumstances! Believe in yourself, in Ukraine, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and in our victory!

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Ranil Jayawardena – 2022 Comments on Horticulture Growth

    Ranil Jayawardena – 2022 Comments on Horticulture Growth

    The comments made by Ranil Jayawardena, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 11 October 2022.

    We all rely on farmers and growers every day to produce high-quality food, and to look after our environment.

    Whilst we have a high degree of food security, we can boost it further. We can increase home-grown fruit and vegetable production, which is why I am bringing in expert advice and match-funding robotics and automation projects.

    Technology offers huge opportunities to make farming greener and more productive, so we should harness it to help grow the economy, create jobs and improve food security too.

  • Leslie Griffiths – 2022 Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II (Baron Griffiths of Burry Port)

    Leslie Griffiths – 2022 Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II (Baron Griffiths of Burry Port)

    The tribute made by Leslie Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Burry Port, in the House of Lords on 10 September 2022.

    My Lords, it is a privilege to take part in this debate. We all know the troubles that the late Queen lived through. I have a list of them but, in obedience to the Chief Whip, I will jump straight to my conclusion for the sake of brevity. She navigated such difficult waters with the skill of a diplomat and as a stateswoman of the first order. She exhibited all the qualities that we heard so brilliantly set out in last evening’s speech by our new King. She must have willed herself to stay alive long enough to ensure the transfer of power just last Monday from one Prime Minister to another, which leads me to conclude that little became her in this life like the leaving of it.

    The president of the Methodist Conference, with whom I have spoken, highlights what for him were her qualities of excellence: her resilience and her patent faith. In his name as well as my own, I hope noble Lords will allow me to pay tribute to our late Queen on behalf of the people called Methodist.

    She was patron of the Boys’ Brigade. I was its president for several years, until recently. Members of the brigade, young men and women, were frequently called to do duty as marshals and stewards at royal garden parties at Buckingham Palace or Holyroodhouse. Her messages to the brigade were always bright, encouraging and supportive. She graciously allowed us to hold our special occasions in premises we could never otherwise have dreamed of, including St James’s Palace, where we saw so many noble Lords looking resplendent this morning.

    She invited me and a small party of young people to Balmoral at the time of her Diamond Jubilee, just a few days after her appearance with James Bond at the opening of the Olympic Games. We giggled and chortled as we recalled that incident. Her manner in putting our young people, who had been totally overwhelmed on arriving at Balmoral, at their ease was simply wonderful. She had a natural touch.

    A song we love to sing in the Boys’ Brigade has a chorus that runs like this. I am terribly tempted to sing it, but I believe I may be out of order.

    Noble Lords

    No!

    Lord Griffiths of Burry Port (Lab)

    I feel there is a consensus:

    “We have an anchor that keeps the soul

    Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

    Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

    Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.”—[Applause.]

    I paused precisely for that.

    It is not difficult to pluck from that Boys’ Brigade song the words “steadfast and sure”, the brigade’s motto, because they describe our late patron’s character to a tee. On behalf of the leadership of the Boys’ Brigade, and in my own name, I pay tribute to our late patron for her faithfulness shown in the small tasks of everyday life as well as the grand ones that we have heard others talk about today.

    Finally, I am so glad to be paying my tribute today rather than yesterday, because it allowed me, as it has all of us, to witness the remarkable, powerful, revealing, brilliant and moving address which King Charles III made last evening on television. He displayed all the qualities we so readily attribute to his late mother. I end by echoing a remark by Christopher Wren: if you want to define the late Queen’s legacy, look no further; you will see it in her son.

  • Joe Biden – 2022 Statement on Russian Attack on Ukrainian Civilians

    Joe Biden – 2022 Statement on Russian Attack on Ukrainian Civilians

    The statement made by Joe Biden, the President of the United States, on 10 October 2022.

    The United States strongly condemns Russia’s missile strikes today across Ukraine, including in Kyiv. These attacks killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets with no military purpose. They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr. Putin’s illegal war on the Ukrainian people.

    We offer our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were senselessly killed today, as well as our best wishes for the recovery of those who were wounded.

    These attacks only further reinforce our commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Alongside our allies and partners, we will continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression, hold Putin and Russia accountable for its atrocities and war crimes, and provide the support necessary for Ukrainian forces to defend their country and their freedom.

    We again call on Russia to end this unprovoked aggression immediately and remove its troops from Ukraine.

  • Anas Sarwar – 2022 Comments on Division

    Anas Sarwar – 2022 Comments on Division

    The comments made by Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, on Twitter on 10 October 2022.

    You don’t beat division with more division.

    There isn’t a majority for a referendum next year.

    There isn’t a majority for independence.

    There is a majority for change – in Scotland and across the UK.

    It’s time for change – it’s time for Labour.

  • Nadhim Zahawi – 2022 Comments about Moderna Vaccine

    Nadhim Zahawi – 2022 Comments about Moderna Vaccine

    The comments made by Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 10 October 2022.

    In an interview yesterday I misspoke and said the Moderna vaccine protects against Covid and flu. What I meant to say was that Moderna is bivalent, which means it protects against both variants of Covid. You still need your flu vaccine too so please get jabbed if you’re eligible.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Support from Londoners for ULEZ

    Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Support from Londoners for ULEZ

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 10 October 2022.

    Air pollution in our city is contributing to children growing up with stunted lungs and older Londoners developing dementia.

    The ULEZ has already made a big difference – reducing air pollution by nearly half in central London and helping us to tackle the climate emergency. It’s clear that Londoners now want the zone to be expanded given the immense harm air pollution is still causing in our city – from cancer to dementia. Expansion of the ULEZ would lead to five million more people being able to breathe cleaner, less polluted air.

    In making my decision I will carefully consider all responses to the public consultation and Londoners’ views.

    I don’t want us to miss out on any opportunities to protect Londoners from toxic air so that we can continue building a healthier, cleaner and greener London for everyone.

  • Keir Starmer – 2022 Statement on Russian Attack on Ukrainian Civilians

    Keir Starmer – 2022 Statement on Russian Attack on Ukrainian Civilians

    The statement made by Keir Starmer on 10 October 2022.

    I’m deeply concerned for the people of Kyiv and Ukraine as Russia escalates its unjustifiable attacks.

    The loss suffered by Ukrainians is immeasurable.

    The UK is firmly united in condemning Putin’s latest wave of violence and destruction. We stand with Ukraine, today and always.

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement to People of Ukraine Following Russian Attack on Civilians in Cities

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement to People of Ukraine Following Russian Attack on Civilians in Cities

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 10 October 2022.

    Ukrainians!

    The morning is tough. We are dealing with terrorists.

    Dozens of missiles, Iranian “Shaheds”. They have two targets.

    Energy facilities throughout the country. Kyiv region and Khmelnytskyi region, Lviv and Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy region, Kharkiv region, Zhytomyr region, Kirovohrad region, the south of the country.

    They want panic and chaos, they want to destroy our energy system. They are incorrigible.

    The second target is people.

    Such a time and such goals were specially chosen to cause as much damage as possible.

    But. We are Ukrainians. We help each other. We believe in ourselves. We restore everything destroyed.

    There may be temporary power outages now, but there will never be an outage of our confidence – our confidence in victory.

    Why such strikes exactly? The enemy wants us to be afraid, wants to make people run. But we can only run forward – and we demonstrate this on the battlefield. It will continue to be so.

    Rescuers are working now. Our air defense system is working. 38 aerial targets have already been shot down.

    Please stay in shelters today. Thanks to the help of our military, everything will be fine.

    Always follow the safety rules. And always remember: Ukraine existed before this enemy appeared, and Ukraine will exist after it.

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (10/10/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (10/10/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 10 October 2022.

    Today I want to address those in the world who give in to Russian manipulations about the alleged negotiations. About an assumption that it is supposedly only negotiations that can end this brutal Russian terrorist war.

    Does the terrorist state want peace? Obviously not. It proves that every day and every night.

    Zaporizhzhia. One of the Ukrainian cities against which Russia directs its missile terror.

    At least 14 people died last night as a result of Russian strikes on ordinary residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia. Unfortunately, this number may increase. Debris is still being cleared. More than 70 people were injured, including 11 children. All of them are provided with proper aid.

    Hundreds of families were left homeless. An entire block, from the first to the sixth floor, was destroyed by one of the missiles – a heavy anti-ship missile Kh-22 – aimed at an ordinary nine-story residential building.

    It was a deliberate strike. The one who gave the order and those who carried it out knew what they were targeting.

    The strikes this night continued a series of Russian missile strikes on Zaporizhzhia, which have killed at least 43 people since October 3 this week alone. And there were also strikes on Kharkiv, on the cities of Donbas, on other cities of Ukraine… There were also strikes by Iranian drones. Airstrikes. The absolute majority of them were aimed at the civil infrastructure of Ukraine and civilians.

    When someone wants to negotiate, he does not do so. And when someone is a terrorist, that’s exactly what he does.

    Do negotiations really help overcome terror? Now everyone has to answer this question honestly. Terrorists are neutralized.

    Terrorism is a crime that must be punished. Terrorism at the state level is one of the most heinous international crimes, which threatens not just someone in the world, but the entire international community.

    If terror goes unpunished, if the terrorist succeeds in intimidation so much that someone in the world is willing to simply turn a blind eye to terror, then that will be a loss – a loss of freedom, a loss of humanity and a loss of democracy. This is exactly what Russia longs for. This is why it needs all this terror – from missile strikes to global crises provoked by a terrorist state.

    This has already happened in history. Last time another terrorist state was allowed to do what it wanted because the world powers were afraid of its terror, World War II started.

    Now the world is united. Now everyone in the world understands what this war in Ukraine is actually being waged against by Russia. This is a Russian war against all those values that make people human and life peaceful.

    Ukraine will win this war. We can liberate our entire land and we can put the terrorist state in place. Russia must be punished for terror. Only this guarantees that the confrontation will not grow to an even greater scale and will not spread to other countries.

    But for this we must preserve the maximum unity – the unity of all the people of the world who value peace, respect the right to life for everyone and are honest enough to admit: the constant terror against the civilian population is an obvious Russian refusal to engage in real negotiations.

    Therefore, official designation of Russia as a terrorist state is needed – designation at all levels.

    It is necessary to limit any economic contacts with any Russian subjects – you cannot be a sponsor of terrorism.

    We need a clear condemnation at all levels of every escalating step by Russia – from terrorist attacks to the criminal attempt to annex our territory. The relevant resolution will be considered by the UN General Assembly in a few days. We will see from the vote who and how treat terrorists in reality.

    And Ukraine needs principled and sufficient aid. Aid to our people who are targeted by the terrorist state. It is necessary to accelerate the provision of a sufficient number of effective air defense systems to Ukraine. The negotiations on the provision of such air defense systems, the negotiations on increasing other defense, political and financial support for Ukraine are the only possible negotiation format that can really bring peace closer.

    I am grateful to everyone who helps us resist terror!

    I am grateful to everyone who fights and works for the return of peace to Ukraine and guarantees of the right to life and security to every Ukrainian.

    Eternal memory to all victims of Russian terror!

    Glory to Ukraine!