Please, please stop saying that Ukraine is a corrupt country, because from now, it's not true. We want to change this image.
Volodymyr ZelenskyRead
I will not agree to go to war in the Donbass. I know there are a lot of hotheads, especially those who hold rallies and say, 'Let's go fight and win it all back!' But at what price? What is the cost? It's another story of lives and land. And I won't do it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a commitment to peace and the refusal to engage in war, emphasizing the value of lives and territory.
In this quote, Volodymyr Zelensky reflects on the complex and serious implications of going to war, particularly in the context of the Donbass region. He acknowledges the emotional fervor of those eager for conflict, but counters it with a sobering consideration of the true costs involved—namely, human lives and the consequences of territorial disputes. His stance demonstrates a courageous commitment to seeking peaceful resolutions over military aggression.
Themes
WarPeaceCostLivesTerritoryConflict
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the value of peace versus the cost of war.
More from Volodymyr Zelensky
All quotes →Let's build a country of opportunities, where everybody is equal before the law and where the rules of the game are honest and transparent, and the same for everyone.
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When Ukrainians and Israelis speak to each other, each side respects the other.
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If there is no Ukrainian strong army, there will be no Ukraine, and that will be the case when everyone will understand... it's not the war in Ukraine, it's the war in Europe. We are defending our country, our land. We are not attacking anyone, because that is immoral.
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People don't really believe in words. Or rather, people believe in words only for a stretch of time. Then they start to look for action.
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I would never want Ukraine to be a piece on the map, on the chessboard of big global players, so that someone could toss us around, use us as cover, as part of some bargain.
Volodymyr ZelenskyRead
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