‘One of the toughest moments in our history’: Zelensky addresses Ukrainians as Trump’s ‘peace plan’ looms

The following is a summary of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to the nation on November 21 — Ukraine’s Day of Dignity and Freedom. You can read the full speech in Ukrainian here.

Right now, we’re living through one of the toughest moments in our history. Ukraine is facing an extremely difficult choice: either lose our dignity or risk losing a key partner. Either accept a hard set of 28 conditions, or endure a very harsh winter. We’re being asked to put our faith in someone [Russia] who has already attacked us twice — and they’ll be waiting for our answer. We will work calmly but swiftly with the United States and our other partners — and we will not give the enemy any reason to claim that Ukraine does not want peace. I will fight to ensure that any peace plan includes two essential points: the dignity and the freedom of Ukrainians. We will do everything to make sure the war ends — but not at the cost of Ukraine, Europe, or global stability.

For nearly four years, we’ve held back one of the strongest armies in the world. Our people want this war to end. We are made of steel, but even the strongest metal can break. On the first day of the invasion, the enemy did not see our backs. That is what dignity looks like. That is what freedom is. The thing Russia fears most is Ukrainian unity. And today, we need that unity more than ever to achieve a just peace. People, citizens, politicians — we need to come together, stop the infighting and the political games. It will be easier for me to fight for a just peace knowing that the people of Ukraine stand behind me.

Next week will not be easy. There will be a lot of pressure meant to divide us. The enemy will do everything it can to stop us from succeeding. We cannot allow that. We must remain united within Ukraine for the sake of our peace, our dignity, our freedom. I believe — and I know — that I am not alone.