The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 6 March 2022.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the people through the Global Citizen platform to promote the decision to protect the Ukrainian sky from Russian attacks, civilians from bombing, and Ukrainian cities from destruction.
“The world must react firmly and, most importantly, quickly. The world must stop Russia’s authorities. Stop Russia. It must stop rocket attacks and daily bombings,” the Head of State stressed in his address.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the whole world knows what terrorism, hostage-taking, and plane bombing are, but now the world community is facing a much larger manifestation of terrorism.
“Now you see something worse – not an individual terror anymore, not some marginal terrorist organization. You see a terrorist state. A state, which deliberately destroys the cities of Ukraine with cruise missiles, air bombs and artillery. A state that allows itself to fire from tanks at nuclear power plants. No other terrorist has done this before,” the President said.
The Head of State expressed his conviction: if Western politicians are afraid to make an important decision to close the sky over Ukraine for Russian aviation, they must provide us with means of protection in the sky.
“Give us, Ukrainians, planes that we can use to protect us, our children, our friends, our parents, our cities, our memory, our architecture. Give Ukraine air defense to ensure that no nuclear power plant is blown up and that Ukraine and the whole of Europe are not destroyed,” he urged.
In order for everyone to understand the importance of making such a decision, Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested imagining a situation in which hospitals, schools, other civilian institutions and residential neighborhoods anywhere in the world are subjected to such devastating attacks and bombing.
“What would you do if terrorists completely destroyed them with missiles, missile strikes, air bombs? As it happens in our country, in Ukraine. In our Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol, Odesa and other cities?” the President asked, noting that today it happens every day in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the public around the world to join the rallies in support of aid to Ukraine and the adoption of a decision that would save our country.
“We know that ordinary civilians around the world hear us, understand us much better than any politician. Politicians always lag behind people. So please speak up! Talk about Ukraine, take to the squares of your cities, support us, show your strong position, show your support for Ukraine!” he said.
The Head of State also stressed that by helping Ukraine, the world also helps and protects itself, because terrorists and terrorism know no boundaries.
“You can’t just tolerate terrorists killing. You can’t make all the concessions. It is impossible. These are terrorists. We must help the victims of terror, we must help ourselves, because you know – terror knows no borders, there are no borders for terrorists. And terror is always looking for new victims,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.
He called on citizens around the world to unite and be strong.
“Mankind should put forward demands to terrorists, not the other way around. Ukraine must have the right to its own protection, protection of its own life. With your help in our sky. Or with the planes that you have, but they are on the ground. And for us they will be the salvation. Salvation in the sky, so that life remains on our land. We must choose life right now,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.
Global Citizen is a social action platform aimed at solving global problems, including overcoming world poverty through collective efforts.
