We will not stop until we liberate the last metre of our land – Zelenskyy

OLENA ROSHCHINA — THURSDAY, 28 JULY 2022, 11:03

On Statehood Day in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainians would not give up and would not stop until they liberate the entire territory of Ukraine from the occupation of the Russian Federation.

Source: Zelenskyy’s video address

Quote from Zelenskyy: "The great people of a great country and a great state, that has existed on this land since ancient times, that many people have tried many times to enslave and destroy. And that has not allowed this to be done, by anyone, from ancient times – never.

The state where the history of Christianity in Eastern Europe began, when it was baptised 1034 years ago by Volodymyr, the Great Duke of Kyiv. The state where the history of indomitability began, which now spreads over all of Europe and the world beyond it. This is our state, this is our country, this is Ukraine.

The history of its statehood goes back thousands of years, but only this year we celebrate, for the first time, the Statehood Day of Ukraine."

Details: Zelenskyy stated that now Ukraine defends its own statehood with weapons, in war, so that it is clear to the rest of the world that:

"We are not a colony, not an enclave, not a protectorate, not a province, an eyalet or a crown land – not a part of foreign empires, not a constituent land, not a federal republic, not an autonomous region, not a province, but a free, independent, sovereign, indivisible and independent state." 

The Ukrainian state’s origins run back at least fifteen hundred years and it is the successor of Kyivan Rus and the legal successor of the Ukrainian People's Republic, the president emphasised.

Zelenskyy reminded listeners that throughout this history, Ukrainian’s have fought for this state.

According to the President, Ukrainians are never the first to resort to their weapons, but if attacked, they stand to the last.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "We were, are and will be, because our state has incredible sons and daughters who defend it (...).

For us, to live in captivity is not to live; to be dependent is not to be. Because a non-independent and un-free Ukraine is not Ukraine.

We do not know the word ‘slavery’. It is in our dictionaries, but not in our heads. We will give our last shirt, we will give everything we have, for what is in our heart.

That is why we will fight for our statehood to the last – the last breath, the last bullet, the last soldier, but not ours – the enemy's.

We will live to fight and fight to live. We will not give up until we drive the last occupier from our home. We will not stop until we liberate the last metre of our Ukrainian land. We won’t rest until we liberate our last village..."