"There are no lines for the evil": President Zelensky addresses French National Assembly
Photo: Office of the President
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke at the National Assembly (Parliament) of France. He stated that Ukraine would not agree to territorial concessions to end the war; this would only give Russia pause before a new war.
Ukrinform reports this with reference to his speech before the National Assembly of France.
Zelensky arrived at the National Assembly immediately after the official reception ceremony at the Les Invalides. Before the speech to the deputies, the presidential couple also met with the speaker of the parliament, Yaël Braun-Pivet.
"It was from the victories of free nations 80 years ago that Europe was born – our Europe, a continent capable of being a source of hope," the president emphasized, recalling the anniversary of the landing of Allied troops in Normandy.
Zelensky added:
"It was the battles won that returned Europe to humanity. Without these battles won, there would be nothing, neither you nor us, nor free Europe itself as a concept."
According to him, during the ceremony in Normandy, he had two feelings:
"Joy that that victory was won. And a sense of duty – to win another victory. We live in such a time when Europe has ceased to be a continent of peace. And in a time when Nazism is returning again, unfortunately. When Europe is again being tried to be reshaped, they say that these or other nations do not deserve to exist independently. All this is aimed at Ukraine. But it is already clear how it can go further," the president explained.
According to Zelensky, the Russian regime does not recognize borders.
Even Europe is not enough for him. He has already destroyed Syria and is heading further, for example, to the Sahel and is already taking over Africa.
"Ukraine is the key to the security of all of Europe," he said.
"Now the battle is going on in Ukraine, but it has the same existential significance for Europeans," the president added.
He expressed the hope that Europe would not "get to the point that it would be impossible to win a victory without the landing of allies from across the ocean. Such a victory would be in the interests of all of Europe."
"Can Putin win the war? No, because you and I have no right to lose. Can this war die out on the lines that exist now? No, because there are no lines for the evil that existed 80 years ago and now. And if someone tries to draw temporary lines themselves, it will only give a pause before a new war…Hitler crossed line after line, and Putin is doing the same today," the head of state said.
Zelensky expressed confidence that Ukraine could win the war. He noted that Ukraine believes in its victory, just like the allied troops during the Second World War.
"Can we win this battle? Certainly yes. We can. Ukraine, Ukraine, and, therefore, Europe. Europe, and therefore France. I am sure of it, and so is France. France believed in freedom before D-Day, but both the day of the landing and the European victory were inevitable," the president added.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude to France and the French people for their invaluable assistance in completing the security agreement successfully.
Deputies greeted the speech with several minutes of applause.
For reference:
On June 6, the President of Ukraine arrived in France, where he met with his colleague Emmanuel Macron.
The French leader made several vital statements regarding assistance to Ukraine from Paris; in particular, he announced the provision of Mirage 2000 aircraft to Kyiv and talked about pilot training.
Macron also mentioned that France intends to train a brigade of Ukraine's armed forces, and he confirmed Paris' authorization for Ukraine to use French weapons in the event of any strikes against the Russian Federation.
Before the meeting with Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky toured the KNDS arms plant in Versailles, which manufactures Caesar guns used by Ukraine.
He was also scheduled to meet with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
