Zelenskyy urges global protests as invasion enters 2nd month

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday urged the Ukrainians and the people across the world to stage demonstrations together protesting against Russia´s attack as the invasion entered second month.

“That’s why I ask you to stand against the war! Starting from March 24 – exactly one month after the Russian invasion… From this day and after then,” said Zelenskyy in this speech to Ukrainians and the nations of the world.

“Show your standing! Come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities. Come in the name of peace. Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life,” he said, adding, “come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard. Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.”

He urged the people, who want to stop the war to gather in downtowns in their cities from March 24.

Zelenskyy also said that he wants to address the citizens of Russia separately.

“On March 24 it will be the month of our resistance. Heroic resistance of the Ukrainian state, the Ukrainian people to the ruthless invasion of Russia. It's already a month of our defense against the attempt to destroy us. Wipe off the face of the earth,” he said, adding that the original plan of the Russian troops failed already in the first days of the invasion. They thought Ukrainians would be frightened. They thought Ukrainians would not fight. They were wrong.

“They know nothing about us, about Ukrainians. They know nothing at all about freedom. About how valuable it is. They do not know how freedom enriches life. Gives meaning to life,” said the Ukrainian President.

But there are many of them! There are still many invaders. Russia is getting manpower from everywhere. Equipment. Air bombs, missiles. Looking for mercenaries around the world. Any scum capable of shooting at civilians, he said.

“Russian troops destroy our cities. Kill civilians indiscriminately. Rape women. Abduct children. Shoot at refugees. Capture humanitarian convoys. They are engaged in looting,” Zelenskyy said.

He said that the war of Russia is not only the war against Ukraine. Its meaning is much wider.

Russia started the war against freedom as it is.

“This is only the beginning for Russia on the Ukrainian land. Russia is trying to defeat the freedom of all people in Europe. Of all the people in the world. It tries to show that only crude and cruel force matters,” he added.