President Zelenskyy’s Most Powerful Speeches: 20 Quotes That Shaped Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zelenskyy has delivered rousing speeches that have captured the hearts and minds of government leaders and ordinary citizens worldwide.

Many of Zelenskyy’s speeches are written or co-authored by him, often with the help of Dmytro Litvin, his personal speechwriter, who was recently promoted to one of the president’s key advisors. Zelenskyy’s addresses, particularly to foreign governments, frequently carry an overtone of moral responsibility to support Ukraine. As Nomi Claire Lazar, a professor of public and international affairs at the University of Ottawa, told the BBC: "In each of the speeches, he's asking, 'What sort of person are you?' or 'What sort of nation are you?'"

His command of rhetoric has been pivotal in keeping global attention on Ukraine’s fight for freedom and ensuring continued support from the West. His delivery, right down to his wardrobe of army fatigues, is refreshing and even somewhat unconventional, putting the spotlight on foreign leaders and cutting through the political jargon that bureaucrats are accustomed to—but which Ukraine simply cannot afford.

We take a look back at some of Zelenskyy’s most defining rhetorical moments thus far: 

1. "I need ammunition, not a ride."

Perhaps Zelenskyy’s most famous quote came just two days after Russia’s full scale invasion on Febuary 26, 2022 when the U.S. government offered him evacuation from Kyiv after reports emerged that he was Russia’s top target.

2. “We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this.”

This quote was spoken by Zelenskyy in a video address to the Ukrainian people on Febuary 25, 2022 in response to false reports that he had fled the country.

3. "The future of the world is being decided right now, on the battlefield in Ukraine."

In a virtual address to the G20 Summit on November 15, 2022 , Zelenskyy underscored the importance of Ukraine’s resistance as a pivotal moment for the future of global security and democracy, as many worry that Russia has its sights set on more than just Ukraine.

4. "Tear down this wall."

In his address to the German Bundestag on March 17, 2022, Zelenskyy echoed former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s famous Cold War cry to tear down the Berlin Wall. Zelenskyy’s intention was to urge Germany to end its economic and political hesitance toward confronting Russia. In the speech, he compares these ties to a new “wall” dividing Europe.

5. "Liberté, égalité, fraternité. Each of these words is full of significance for you, the French people. And today, these words are fully resounding in Ukraine."

In an address to the French Parliament on March 23, 2022, Zelenskyy used the country’s own motto to draw a powerful parallel between Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression with France’s core beliefs.

6. "I have a dream. These words are known to each of you today. I can say, I have a need: I need to protect our sky. I need your decision, your help."

In a virtual address to the US Congress on March 16, 2022, Zelenskyy evokes the words of famous civil rights activist Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a Dream,” relating it instead to Ukraine’s need to protect its skies from Russian rockets.

7. "We shall fight in the woods, in the fields, on the beaches, in the cities and villages, in the streets, we shall fight in the hills."

Echoing Winston Churchill in a speech given during World War II, this quote was from Zelenskyy’s address to the UK Parliament on March 8, 2022.

8. "Today, you are not separating us from Europe; you are separating yourselves from the world."

This was said by Zelenskyy in a televised address on February 24, 2022, just hours after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His words

9. "We have nothing to lose but our own freedom."

In an address to the European Parliament on March 1, 2022, shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy rallied for international support, underscoring that Ukraine was literally fighting for its existence.

10. "This is no different from other terrorists. ISIS and the Russian army have a common goal: to turn people's lives into ruin."

Zelenskyy said in an address to the United Nations Security Council on April 5, 2022. Many have called for Russia to be declared a terrorist state due to the violence it has inflicted upon Ukraine, giving rise to the popular hashtag #RussiaIsATerroristState.

11. "The world is watching. The UN is watching. And every day, the Security Council meets to talk about peace, but there is no peace."

This speech came in the wake of the Bucha massacre, where evidence of atrocities against Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces became evident. Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s frustration at the UN's inability to take decisive action to stop Russia in an address to the UN Security Council on April 5, 2022.

12. "When you attack us, you will see our faces. Not our backs, but our faces."

Though Zelenskyy said this in an inauguration speech on May 20, 2019, it has since resurged with the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion. It’s viewed as one of his most powerful quotes, testifying to Ukrainian bravery and their unwillingness to surrender.

13. "Ukraine is part of Europe. And Europe cannot be whole without Ukraine."

This quote from Zelenskyy comes from an address to EU Parliament on March 1, 2022 , showing how Ukraine and Europe are intrinsically linked, not only geographically, but through their shared values of democracy, freedom, and human rights.

14. "We will rebuild every house, every street, every city. We tell Russia: learn the words 'reparations' and 'contributions.' You will repay everything you did against Ukraine."

These words came from a video address by Zelenskyy on March 3, 2022, as he reassured Ukrainians of a future victory in the face of mounting violence.

15. "Indifference kills. Calculations can be wrong. Mediation can be between states, but not between good and evil."

Zelenskyy criticized Israel’s attempt to mediate between Russia and Ukraine in an address to the Israeli Knesset on March 20, 2022, suggesting that neutrality was inappropriate when one side represented aggression and the other was defending its existence. He stressed that the war was a clear moral battle between good and evil.

16. "Life will win over death, and the light will win over darkness."

An almost biblical message of hope and defiance was delivered in Zelenskyy’s video address to the European Parliament after Ukraine’s EU membership application on March 1, 2022.

17. "In Britain, the King is an air force pilot—and in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is a king."

This was said by President Zelenskyy during his speech at Westminster Hall in London on February 8, 2023 in reference to the King’s early military training as a Royal Air Force pilot.

18. "We are all Ukrainian soldiers. We have withstood one of the greatest armies in the world."

In another video address on March 18, 2022, Zelenskyy used this line to rally the nation and appeal to the international community to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

19. "Putin has stolen much already, but he will never steal the world’s future. I’m sure."

On September 23, 2024, Zelenskyy gave this speech at the United Nations’ ‘Summit of the Future’ in New York, calling on the organization to uphold the UN charter, punish Russia, and introduce his Peace Formula.

20. "It’s now clear what the end is for Putin. It’s Kursk. The Catastrophe of his war."

In his evening address on August 12, 2023, Zelenskyy reflected on the trajectory of Russia under Putin’s leadership, drawing a comparison between the Kursk submarine disaster 24 years ago, which marked the symbolic beginning of Putin’s rule, and the current situation in Russia’s Kursk region amidst the ongoing war.