Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Delivers the Greatest Speech of Our Era – Opinion

In a Wednesday televised speech, Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine President) mentioned a Russian missile strike the day before that was aimed at the transmission tower next to the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center. It killed five people and damaged the center.

Centuries ago, Shakespeare wrote, “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” Since the Russian war on Ukraine began, Zelensky has repeatedly demonstrated greatness in leadership. You are In Wednesday’s speechHe even surpassed himself. You can see excerpts below. [translation taken from the video’s captions.]

We have enjoyed greater unity during this war than in the past thirty years. We were initially equally afraid, then we experienced equal pain, but now, we don’t care. We are not happy unless we win. Only the truth. Other than peace. Other than the tranquility that we seek. For when we’re worried, except for our lives and the wellbeing of others. Other than Ukraine. We truly became one during this time. We have learned to be patient with each other. They began to love each other. Each other is our support. We care about each other.

All Kharkiv residents were present yesterday morning at Freedom Square. The enemy then attacked residential homes in Borodyanka and destroyed our entire group. All of us were bombed last night in Kyiv. And we all died again in Babyn Yar — in a missile strike.

Although the whole world promises constantly “never again,” for any normal person who knows history, Babyn Yar is a special place of Kyiv. An important part of the history. It is a special area of Europe. It is a place for prayer. It is a place to remember the hundreds of thousands who were killed at the hands of the Nazis. This is the site of former Kyiv cemeteries. It should be a strategic target. Holocaust victims are being killed again.

Zelensky then explained how disrespecting Babyn Yar is not a new thing for Russia.

The bones were used to build a TV centre and a sports center during the Soviet era. Outbuildings. There was a park built. In order to forget the real history of Babyn Yar. Why was it attacked? It is beyond human comprehension. A missile strike like this shows Russia’s inability to understand Kyiv. They don’t know anything about the capital. Our history is what they don’t know. They have an order. Our country must be erased. We must all be erased.

Zelensky also noted that this wasn’t the first indication of disrespect Russia showed for Judaism in this conflict.

Uman was attacked with bombs on the first day. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Jews visit this place to pray. Then — Babyn Yar, where hundreds of thousands of Jews were executed.

I am now addressing all the Jews of the world — don’t you see what is happening? This is why millions upon millions of Jews worldwide must speak up. Nazism cannot be cultivated in the silence. Scream about civilian deaths. Scream about the deaths of Ukrainians. They bombed our cities last night as well as tonight. Bombs. Missiles. Artillery. Machine guns. Attempted targeting of peaceful civilians. Again. Retargeting residential areas. Again. Mariupol. Kharkiv. Kyiv. Zhytomyr. Other cities and towns in Ukraine. This is beyond human explanation. All things are the work of God.

Zelensky used precision sarcasm at the time.

Which other military bases are a threat to Russia? What other “NATO bases”? Saint Sophia Cathedral? Larva? St. Andrew’s Church? Whatever they dream of there — damn them! God is here!

After detailing the European and worldwide response to Russia’s attack, Zelensky brought the war down to its human cost.

Consider this: Nearly six thousand Russians were killed. In six days of war, the Russian military was destroyed. That does not include the loss of enemy soldiers last night. Six thousand. How do you get Ukraine? Ukraine is the best! It is not possible.

Zelensky ended his speech by offering encouragement to his audience.

You will soon be able sleep, my dears. It will come after the war. The victory. As we require. We have always valued it. Which we’ve never lost.

Please take good care of all your beloved ones. Your brothers-in arms should be taken care of. I admire you! You are admired by the whole of humanity. Hollywood actors and politicians all admire you. You, Ukrainians are today a symbol for invincibility. It is a symbol of how anyone can be the greatest person on Earth at any time.

Ukraine: Glory

Glory, indeed. Compare this speech to the feckless meanderings we endured last night in Joe Biden’s SOTU, and it becomes immediately apparent there is no comparison. Volodymyr Zelensky, in spite of the worst of circumstances, is still leading and encouraging his people. Joe Biden? It’s not.