Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich: "Ukrainians do not intend to lie down in a coffin and wait for war"

Sergey Kron

In his speech, Deutsche Welle reports, Zelensky said that the global security system is not working today. “Ukraine wants peace, Europe wants peace, the world says it doesn't want war, and Russia says it doesn't want to attack. One of us is lying,” he said.

The security system, according to the President of Ukraine, fails. Because of selfishness, self-confidence, irresponsibility of states at the global level. As a result, the crimes of some and the indifference of others. The indifference that makes everyone an accomplice in crime.

“It is symbolic that I am talking about this right here. 15 years ago in Munich, Russia announced its intention to challenge global security. How did the world respond? appeasement. Result? At the very least, the annexation of Crimea and aggression against my state,” Zelensky said.

According to him, Ukrainians will not lie down in a coffin and wait for a war. “We are not going to step on anyone, but we are ready for anything. We cannot be passive. We cannot say every day that tomorrow is war. We will defend our land. With partner support or not. We are supplied with hundreds of modern weapons or 5,000 helmets. We appreciate any help, but everyone must understand that these are not charitable contributions that Ukraine should ask for or remind about. This is your contribution to the security of Europe and the world. Where is Ukraine for 8 years - a shield. And for 8 years it has been holding back one of the most powerful armies in the world,” Zelensky said.

“We are told that the doors to NATO are open, but so far no outsiders are allowed to enter. If not all members of the alliance don't want to see us, be honest. An open door is good, but we need open answers, not questions that have not been closed for years. Isn't the right to the truth part of our enhanced powers? The best time for it is the next NATO summit in Madrid”, - Zelensky said.

In addition, Zelensky said that he would initiate consultations within the framework of the Budapest Memorandum, an interstate document on security guarantees in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons . It was signed on December 5, 1994 by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Great Britain and the USA.

“If these consultations do not take place again, or if specific decisions are not made on the basis of their results on security guarantees for our state, Ukraine will have every right to believe that the Budapest Memorandum does not work, and all package decisions of 1994 are called into question”, - the President said. Ukraine.

Zelensky denies the shelling of Russian territory by Ukraine. "It's a lie!" - he said in response to relevant reports, adding that Ukraine "will not respond to such provocations".

“How can you live in a state when every day you are told that tomorrow there will be a war?” Zelensky asked. He also urged the West to provide Kiev - "cheap money", loans "without any conditions".

The head of Ukraine reproached the West for demanding reforms in return for funding:

“Give me unconditional money! Why, when each time Kiev is allocated certain amounts, then you need to make one, two, three, four, five, seven, eight, ten reforms? Look, there's still war. Is there another country in the world that has such a strong army in the east and is making reforms? All this is not easy!”

The Munich Security Conference is taking place against the backdrop of a sharply aggravated crisis, allegedly associated with the threat of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This topic is the key one at the current forum, where for the first time in many years there is no Russian delegation.