'Ukraine can win, Putin can lose,' Zelenskyy says at Munich Security Conference

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a resolute speech at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17, asserting Ukraine's unwavering stance against Russian aggression.

His speech, marked by a series of emphatic statements, highlighted Ukraine's resilience and challenged several myths surrounding the ongoing conflict.

"Are you ready to leave behind everything you value in your life in the world of yesterday? Ukrainians will not do it," zelenskyyy declared, setting a tone of defiance against the backdrop of heightened global tensions.

He warned of catastrophic consequences if the world fails to act against Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions.

"If we do not act now, Putin will manage to make the next years catastrophic for other nations as well. (The U.S.)The intelligence community is aware of this," he said.

Zelenskyy also discussed the perceived invincibility of Russian military might. "Ukraine has already demolished a myth with which Russia tried to cloud reality and which the world, unfortunately, believed: the myth that Russia could capture another country in a few days or weeks whenever it wants. Ukrainians have been holding for 724 days. Would you have believed 725 days ago that this was possible?" he said, which attracted the whole room's applause.

Addressing Europe's role, Zelenskyy noted: "There was a myth that Europe is too weak to defend itself. Instead, Europe has become a global force overcoming dependencies on Russia."

He emphasized the strategic independence achieved by European nations in the face of Russian influence.

Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine's maritime successes, stressing their capability to bypass Russian control. "We did it without Putin," he said.

Over 23 million tonnes of cargo have been reported through the Black Sea and the Ukrainian export corridor. Since the beginning of this year, there is already a regular shipment of goods to China, Spain, Egypt, Türkiye, Italy, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Libya and others," he said, pointing to Ukraine's resilience in maintaining trade routes.

The president also addressed the effectiveness of Western defense systems against Russian missiles.

"Some claimed that there is no effective defense against Russian missiles, and we know for sure that with Patriots and some other Western air defense systems, any Russian missile can be shut down. And if there are enough air defense systems in Ukraine, we will be able to bring home millions of Ukrainians, millions of our people, millions of our refugees." he confidently claimed.

Grateful for global support, Zelenskyy hoped for the return of displaced Ukrainians, saying, "Thank you for your attitude in all your countries to our people. But I hope they will come back. We will do everything for this, and of course, our economy will be able to regain independence from external support."

On the battlefield, Zelenskyy knew Ukraine's capability to counter Russian forces.

"Ukrainians have proven that we can force Russia to retreat and that we are capable of restoring the rules, and with this, will leave absolutely nothing of the key Russian myth: the myth that Ukraine supposedly cannot win this war. We can get our land back, and Putin can lose, and this has already happened more than once on the battlefield," he stated, reaffirming Ukraine's determination to reclaim their territory.

Referring to the strategic withdrawal from Avdiivka, Zelenskyy clarified, "In order to avoid being surrounded, it was decided to withdraw to other lines. This does not mean that people retreated some kilometres and Russia captured something, it did not capture anything."

Zelenskyy also discussed the challenges posed by a deficit in long-range weaponry, remarking, "Keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in a deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war. The self-weakening of democracy over time undermines our joint results."

"To avoid being surrounded, it was decided to withdraw to other lines. This does not mean that people retreated some kilometers and Russia captured something; it did not capture anything. The ability to save our people is our most important task," he added.

The recent withdrawal from Avdiivka, as confirmed by Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, was executed to prevent encirclement by Russian forces and to preserve the lives and health of servicemen.

This strategic move aligns with President Zelenskyy's remarks at the Munich Security Conference, where he addressed the tactical challenges and adaptations necessary in Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia.

Zelenskyy's speech emphasized the country's resilience and the critical need for support in the face of Russian aggression. The situation in Avdiivka, marking a significant shift in the conflict's frontline, signals the urgent and complex realities Ukraine faces.

Source: Newsroom