Zelenskyy addresses Latvian Saeima

Take note – story published 1 year ago

On Thursday, May 26, during the sitting of Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the chamber. 

The President of Ukraine was speaking at the invitation of the Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece, who recently met the Ukrainian President in Kyiv. 

Zelenskyy offered thanks for the help Ukraine has received from the Latvian state and people. 

"You see our struggle for freedom as your personal struggle. And it really is. Because it is here in Ukraine that fates are decided, for all of us, for the people of Europe,” said the Ukrainian President.

"While other countries are expressing reservations, you have been among those who are acting, and you will continue to do so and help us as much as possible, both in the field of security and in humanitarian aid, and by showing your attitude towards our citizens seeking temporary refuge in Latvia. Ukraine will always remember your help," said Zelenskyy.

Appeasement was doomed to fail and would only serve to encourage further Russian agression, he said.

"There are people (...) who believe that not all nations matter. One nation could simply be forgotten to try to keep the peace. A temporary peace, the illusion of peace, a peace the cost of which will be the killing of tens of thousands of people.”

"And what will happen if something like this happens to countries that have less potential for protection than Ukraine? How will the world help such countries? Will they be handed over without dispute? This is not just some kind of thought, it is a reality, our reality," the President of Ukraine pointed out.

"If Russia goes to war against another country, God forbid, against Latvia, then all NATO members will have to decide whether to protect it. If Russia provokes a crisis on the border or inside a European country, all members of the European Union will have to decide whether or not to help. And what will they be able to decide if there is not respect for every nation? ” asked Zelensky.

The speech was be made remotely, and it was possible to follow it on the Saeima website and Facebook account.

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Zelenskyy has been directly addressing many legislatures around the world in his efforts to secure help for Ukraine's defense, further enhancing his reputation as an inspirational leader not only of his own country but of democracy worldwide.

As previously reported by LSM, on April 7, the deputies of the Saeima were addressed by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk , while on May 9, the Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Kondratiuk visited Latvia.

Speaking in Ukrainian with direct translation into Latvian, Zelenskyy won a standing ovation from Saeima deputies, and at the conclusion of his address, a clearly emotional Mūrniece promised that Latvia would continue to stand on the side of Ukraine and democracy in the face of Russian aggression. 

 

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