The strength that unity brings to Ukraine, both internally and with the European Union and NATO, will secure the future of our state. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during a joint interaction with Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, while engaging with cadets and the teaching staff at the Military Academy and the Naval Institute of the national university Odesa Maritime Academy.
As the Head of State emphasized, Ukraine's independence has been achieved through great strength and significant human sacrifices.
"Therefore, when we talk about how we envision Ukraine in the future, we must understand how it was obtained, with what losses and pain. And this should not be forgotten," he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it is the united Ukraine that did not allow to be occupied and is currently winning the war against the aggressor.
"I believe, Ukraine's strength and its weakness lies in this. Weakness because it was divided. Weakness because it was possible to occupy our Crimea and Donbas at the beginning of the war. Both the authorities and the people were weak because they thought it was somewhere far in the east or in Crimea and didn't concern us. No, we are all one country, and that is the strength today. The world is so proud of Ukrainians and Ukraine because we are all united. I believe that Ukraine's future is in this strength, in this unity," the President said.
According to him, this unity also includes Ukraine's unity with the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance states.
"It's also a big family and an honorable, worthy place for Ukraine. Our state cannot be alone – it's difficult... We are Europeans, and we have proven it. In the EU and in NATO... NATO was a bit more complicated, but I am confident that after the war, after victory, everything will be different. The future lies in this strength. The future of an independent country... I am sure that our future lies in the unity of Ukraine," the Head of State concluded.
