Zelenskyy on Day of Dignity and Freedom: 'Stalemate is impossible, we must be free'

The head of state emphasizes that on this holiday, established in honor of the beginning of two revolutions - the "Orange" revolution and the Revolution of Dignity - 10 years ago, Ukrainians began a "new page of struggle" and defined their European future.

"10 years ago, Ukrainians launched their first counteroffensive. Against lawlessness, attempts to deprive us of our European future. Against our subjugation. 10 years ago, people united not only against something but above all for themselves. Everyone for everyone," Zelenskyy says.

The president emphasizes that then, in fact, "the first victory in today's war took place."

"The victory of non-difference. The victory of courage. The victory of the Revolution of Dignity. The victory of people's resistance, civil society, the feat of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, and all those who fought for freedom in the capital and other regions," the message reads.

Zelenskyy notes that the Ukrainian people have already overcome a long stretch of the European integration path, and if 20 years ago it was a "romantic dream", and 10 years ago it was an ambitious goal, then "today it is a reality in which it is no longer possible to stop our progress and completion of all mandatory stages."

"Therefore, our candidate status and further accession negotiations should certainly result in Ukraine's full membership in the EU. And we are doing all this despite the war. When our people are defending themselves and Europe right now," he says.

Zelenskyy also emphasizes that in this struggle one cannot give in to terror and seek compromises in an attempt to reach a "draw" - otherwise there will be a loss.

"When the civilized world begins to seek compromises with terrorists and make concessions to tyrants. Then we all definitely lose. Ukraine. Europe. The whole world. We lose, naively thinking that there can be a draw with them. A draw is impossible," the head of state says.

The President also draws attention to the need for Ukrainians to remain strong and not give up in the defense of their freedom.

"We are strong. We have to be strong. Because people believe in the strong only, and only the strong create the future. Only the strong can be united. United to become free. Free to be worthy. For the sake of new times. When the central squares of our cities will receive new and forever unchanged names. In honor of the heroes. In honor of the liberators. Of Mariupol, Berdyansk, Melitopol. In honor of the liberation of Donbas and Crimea. In honor of the reunification of Ukraine within its borders. When in history books, years and centuries from now, the period of independence since 1991 will be written about as a continuous one," says Zelenskyy.