READ: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks to Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed a joint assembly of Congress in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, marking his first go to outdoors of Ukraine for the reason that Russian invasion started in February. Learn his remarks as transcribed by CNN.

Expensive Individuals in all states, cities, and communities, all those that worth freedom and justice, who cheer us as strongly as we Ukrainians in our cities, in each household, I hope my phrases of respect and gratitude resonate in every American coronary heart.

Madam vp, I thanks in your efforts in serving to Ukraine. Madam speaker, you bravely visited Ukraine throughout the full-fledged warfare. Thanks very a lot. Nice honor. Thanks.

Very privileged to be right here. Expensive members of the Congress, representatives of each events who additionally visited Kyiv, esteemed congressmen and senators from each events who will go to Ukraine, I’m positive sooner or later, pricey representatives of diaspora – current on this chamber and unfold all through the nation – pricey journalists, it’s an important honor for me to be on the US Congress and converse to you and all Individuals.

In opposition to all odds and doom and gloom eventualities, Ukraine didn’t fall. Ukraine is alive and kicking.

And it provides me good motive to share with you our first, first joint victory. We defeated Russia within the battle for minds of the world.

We’ve no concern, nor ought to anybody on the earth have it. Ukraine gained this victory, and it provides us braveness, which conjures up your entire world.

Individuals gained this victory and that’s why you’ve succeeded in uniting the worldwide group to guard freedom and worldwide legislation.

Europeans gained this victory, and that’s why Europe is now stronger and extra unbiased than ever. The Russian tyranny has misplaced management over us.

And it’ll by no means affect our minds once more. But, we now have to do no matter it takes to make sure that Congress of the worldwide south additionally beneficial properties such victory.

I do know yet another, I feel, essential factor. The Russians will stand an opportunity to be free solely after they defeat the Kremlin, of their minds.

But, the battle continues, and we now have to defeat the Kremlin on the battlefield, sure. These battles not just for the territory for this or in different a part of Europe. The battle just isn’t just for life, freedom, and safety of Ukrainians or another nation which Russia makes an attempt to beat.

This battle will outline in what world our youngsters and grandchildren will dwell, after which their youngsters and grandchildren. It’s going to outline whether or not it is going to be a democracy of Ukrainians and for Individuals, for all.

This battle can’t be frozen or postponed. It can’t be ignored hoping that the ocean or one thing else will present a safety. From america to China, from Europe to Latin America and from Africa to Australia, the world is just too interconnected and interdependent to permit somebody to remain apart and on the similar time to really feel protected when such a battle continues.

Our two nations are allies on this battle. And subsequent 12 months will probably be a turning level. I do know it. The purpose when Ukrainian braveness and American resolve should assure the way forward for our frequent freedom, the liberty of people that stand for his or her values.

Girls and gents, Individuals, yesterday earlier than coming right here to Washington, DC, I used to be on the entrance line in our Bakhmut, in our stronghold within the east of Ukraine within the Donbas.

The Russian army and machiners have been taking Bakhmut nonstop since Could. They’ve been taking it day and night time, however Bakhmut stands.

Final 12 months, final 12 months, 70,000 folks lived there in Bakhmut, on this metropolis, and now only some civilians keep. Each inch of that land is soaked in blood. Roaring weapons sound each hour. Trenches within the Donbas modified arms a number of occasions a day in fierce fight, and even hand-fighting. However the Ukrainian Donbas stands.

Russians, Russians use every part, every part they’ve in opposition to Bakhmut and different of our lovely cities. The occupiers have a big benefit in artillery. They’ve a bonus in ammunition. They’ve way more missiles and planes than we ever had. And it’s true, however our protection forces stand.

And we, and all of us are pleased with them. The Russians’ tactic is primitive. They burn down and destroy every part they see. They despatched thugs to the entrance traces, they despatched convicts to the warfare. They threw every part in opposition to us, much like the opposite tyranny, which is within the Battle of the Bulge.

Threw every part it had in opposition to the free world, similar to the courageous American troopers, which held their traces and fought again Hitler’s forces throughout the Christmas of 1944, courageous Ukrainian troopers are doing the identical to Putin’s forces this Christmas.

Ukraine, Ukraine holds its traces and can by no means give up. So, so, right here the entrance line, the tyranny which has no lack of cruelty in opposition to the lives of free folks, and your assist is essential not simply to face in such struggle, however to get to the turning level to win on the battlefield.

We’ve artillery, sure. Thanks. we now have it. Is it sufficient? Actually, probably not. To make sure Bakhmut isn’t just a stronghold, that it holds again the Russian military, however for the Russian military to utterly pull out, extra cannons and shells are wanted.

It’s true. Similar to the Battle of Saratoga, the struggle for Bakhmut will change the trajectory of our warfare for independence and for freedom. In case your patriots cease the Russian terror in opposition to our cities, it should let Ukrainian patriots work to the complete to defend our freedom.

When Russia, when Russia can’t attain our cities by its artillery, it tries to destroy them with missile assaults. Greater than that, Russia discovered an ally on this, on this genocidal coverage: Iran. Iranian lethal drones despatched to Russia in lots of and lots of turned a risk to our crucial infrastructure. That’s how one terrorist has discovered the opposite. It’s only a matter of time when they may strike in opposition to your different allies if we don’t cease them now. We should do it.

I consider, I consider there ought to be no taboos between us in our alliance. Ukraine by no means requested the American troopers to struggle on our land as an alternative of us. I guarantee you that Ukrainian troopers can completely function American tanks and planes themselves.

Monetary help can be critically essential and I wish to thanks, thanks very a lot. Thanks for each monetary packages you’ve already supplied us with and those chances are you’ll be keen to determine on. Your cash just isn’t charity. It’s an funding within the international safety and democracy that we deal with in probably the most accountable means.

Russia, Russia may cease its aggression, actually, if it wished to, however you’ll be able to velocity up our victory. I do know it. And it’ll show to any potential aggressor that nobody can reach breaking nationwide borders, nobody committing atrocities and reigning over folks in opposition to their will, it could be naive to attend for steps in the direction of peace from Russia, which enjoys being a terrorist state.

Russians are nonetheless poisoned by the Kremlin. The restoration of worldwide authorized order is our joint process. We want peace, sure. Ukraine has already supplied proposals which I simply mentioned with President Biden, our peace components, 10 factors which ought to and have to be carried out for our joint safety, assured for many years forward and the summit which will be held.

I’m glad to share that President Biden supported our peace initiative right now. Every of you, women and gents, can help within the implementation to make sure that Individuals’ management stays stable, bicameral and bipartisan. Thanks.

You possibly can strengthen sanctions to make Russia really feel how ruinous its aggression really is. It’s in your energy, actually, to assist us carry to justice everybody who began this unprovoked and felony warfare. Let’s do it.

Let terrorists – let the terrorist state be held answerable for its terror and aggression and compensate all losses completed by this warfare. Let the world see that america are right here.

Girls and gents, women and gents, Individuals, in two days we’ll rejoice Christmas. Possibly candlelit. Not as a result of it’s extra romantic, no, however as a result of there is not going to be – there will probably be no electrical energy. Thousands and thousands gained’t have neither heating nor working water. All of those would be the results of Russian missile and drone assaults on our power infrastructure. However we don’t complain. We don’t decide and evaluate whose life is simpler. Your well-being is the product of your nationwide safety, the results of your battle for independence and your many victories. We, Ukrainians, may even undergo our warfare of independence and freedom with dignity and success.

We’ll rejoice Christmas, rejoice Christmas and even when there isn’t a electrical energy, the sunshine of our religion in ourselves is not going to be put out. If Russian – if Russian missiles assault us, we’ll do our greatest to guard ourselves. In the event that they assault us with Iranian drones and our folks should go to bomb shelters on Christmas Eve, Ukrainians will nonetheless sit down on the vacation desk and cheer up one another. And we don’t, don’t should know everybody’s want as we all know that every one of us, thousands and thousands of Ukrainians, want the identical: Victory. solely victory.

We already constructed sturdy Ukraine with sturdy folks, sturdy military, sturdy establishments along with you. We developed sturdy safety ensures for our nation and for complete Europe and the world along with you and likewise along with you, we’ll put in place everybody who will defy freedom. Putin. This would be the foundation to guard democracy in Europe and the world over.

Now, on this particular Christmas time, I need to thanks. All of you. I thank each American household, which cherishes the heat of its house and needs the identical heat to different folks. I thank President Biden and each events, on the Senate and the Home, in your invaluable help. I thank your cities and your residents who supported Ukraine this 12 months, who hosted our Ukrainians, our folks, who waved our nationwide flags, who acted to assist us, thank, thanks all, from everybody who’s now on the entrance line from everybody who’s evading victory.

Standing right here right now, I recall the phrases of the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which I feel so good for this second: “The American folks, of their righteous would possibly, will win by way of – to absolute victory.” The Ukrainian folks will win too. Completely.

I do know that every part is determined by us, on the Ukrainian armed forces, but a lot is determined by the world. A lot on the earth is determined by you.

After I was in Bakhmut yesterday, our heroes gave me the flag, the battle flag, the flag of those that defend Ukraine, Europe and the world at the price of their lives. They ask me to carry this flag to you, to the US Congress to members of the Home of Representatives and senators whose selections can save thousands and thousands of individuals. So, let this selections be taken. Let this flag stick with you, women and gents. This flag is an emblem of our victory on this warfare. We stand, we struggle and we’ll win as a result of we’re united – Ukraine, America and your entire free world.

(Zelensky presents Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi with battle flag signed by Ukrainian troops.)

Only one factor, if I can, the very last thing, thanks a lot, could God shield our courageous troops and residents. Could God without end bless america of America. Merry Christmas and completely happy, victorious New 12 months.