President Zelensky: Russia chooses path of war, Ukraine fights on path to peace

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address to the Japanese university community, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“We cannot lay down our weapons, because otherwise we will disappear. As a state, as a nation, simply as people. Russia has chosen the path of war, Ukraine is fighting on the path to peace. Russia is shooting for destruction, Ukraine is shooting for survival. War is a national idea of the Russian Federation. The national idea of Ukraine is peace,” Zelensky told.

In his words, for more than four months, people have seen, heard and read the news with the headlines ‘War in Ukraine’.

According to Zelensky, such ‘abbreviation’ may distort the global picture of events and the essence of things, everyone’s perception of what is happening in Ukraine, and it can replace the truth.

“This is a war in Ukraine, which the Russian Federation started, which the Russian Federation continues, and which the Russian Federation does not want to stop. Ukraine is defending its own land, its sovereignty, its territory. Ukraine is fighting for peace. This is a cruel paradox of the 21st century, and for us these are realities,” the President of Ukraine stressed.

Zelensky called on Japanese students to look around, explaining that what seems so ordinary and familiar to them is actually a huge blessing. The sky without missiles and bombs, houses and buildings – not destroyed and not damaged, loved ones and simply all their fellow citizens – not injured and alive.

“All this is a great blessing. And even more. All this is a ‘miracle’ for us today,” Zelensky noted.

With weapons in their hands, Ukrainians defend themselves, so that this miracle becomes a reality for them again, Zelensky emphasized.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

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