Now I want to address everyone in our country, in our Europe, and in the world whose heart holds a sense of justice, who values justice, and who feels devastated whenever justice is destroyed.
Today we recall the events that took place 10 years ago in the Ukrainian Crimea. When our peninsula was stolen by Russia. And when, along with the Russian army of occupation, our Crimea was invaded by humiliation and abuse of people, repression and fear. This cruel war, which is now being waged against Ukraine, was spawned by Russian revanchism precisely when it felt that the world could turn a blind eye to such crimes, such annexations, such abuse of people whose homes are simply taken away.
Wars truly end with justice when the evil that gave rise to them is quelled. And that is why a sense of justice and a pursuit of peace must go hand in hand. This requires, in particular, not forgetting about Crimea. Fighting for Crimea. Resisting the evil that Russia brought to Crimea and then tried to spread throughout Ukraine and wants to extend to the lands of other nations.
We must step up real counteraction to Russian evil. At all levels. All over the world. We must fight for the people in Crimea and in all other occupied parts of Ukraine. We must fight for the full restoration of international law in relation to Crimea, and therefore, any other land. We must fight for the fundamental right of the Crimean Tatar people, just like any other people, to live in their own home.
Winning on each of these points means quelling Russian revanchism, that is, actually ending the war.
I am grateful to everyone who does not forget about Crimea, who helps our efforts regarding Crimea. Who helps our warriors. Who fights in Crimea against the occupiers. Who does not give up their souls to Russian evil. Who helps to free people who have been repressed by the Russian regime, who supports these people and preserves their faith – faith in justice, in its power, in Ukraine. The return of all our captives, the return of all those deported from Ukraine, the return of Crimean political prisoners is our absolute priority. And I am grateful to all the countries that help us with this.
A lot has changed since February 26, 2014, and everyone is aware of the course of these enormous changes. We can end this war on our Ukrainian terms. We can return our land and people from the occupation. We can bring Russia to justice for what it has done. But for this to happen, we must fight.
May victory be the reward for all those who fight for Ukraine and justice.
Glory to Ukraine!