Either dignity or assistance” — Zelensky’s urgent message ahead of a decisive week

On the evening of November 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an urgent speech. He successfully validated the claims of pressure by the United States in it and urged the Ukrainians to come together.

The video speech was posted on his official Telegram.

According to Dialog.UA, he admitted that the nation is in the midst of one of the most challenging times in its history and might have to make a decision between losing its honor or losing a vital ally, evidently, America.

Without speculation, rumor, gossip, or anything more than that—just as it is... This is among the hardest times in our history. The Ukrainian leader stated that the pressure on Ukraine is the strongest at the moment.

The president stressed that the nation is in a grave dilemma: either to sign the 28 points offered by the United States or risk losing its aid and having a severely hard winter in the country.

He remembered the oath of loyalty to the people of Ukraine that he made in 2019 during his inauguration.

In my case, it is not a ceremony or a check-box but an oath... The president said that he would never betray it.

He assured that he would have a positive dialogue with the United States, but he added that negotiations would be done with the national interests in consideration.

We will also proceed to work peacefully with America and all partners. Positive attempts to reach a solution with our primary partner will be made.... "We will not provide the enemy with any reasons to claim that Ukraine is not interested in peace; that will not be the case," he said.

One of the main points of the speech was the idea of dignity and freedom as the terms that cannot be discussed when it comes to reaching any peace accord.

According to the president, these principles maintain the sovereignty of the country and the future of people and territories.

Zelensky also reminded the audience about the role of Ukraine as a kind of shield protecting Europe and emphasized the necessity of the support of European allies.

He said we are banking on our European friends who are fully aware (…) that Ukraine is the only thing standing between comfortable European life and what Putin is up to.

The president encouraged the political forces and the society to restrain and unite: to cease the internal struggles, forsake the political intrigues, and serve the country efficiently.

Zelensky also recalled the past attempts to issue ultimatums to Ukraine and assured that the country was saved thanks to the unity of the citizens and the military.

"Then we were not betraying Ukraine, and we will not betray it now," he said.

The president also expressed hope that peace would be respected and also promised a hard battle ahead at the end of the speech.

He did not encourage citizens to give in to efforts to destabilize society and promised the state would do all it could to prevent a disastrous situation in Ukraine and on the European continent.