Editor’s Note: The following is the English-language translation of a March 12 address to the nation by President Volodymyr Zelensky, explaining recent decisions by the National Security and Defense Council. The full text is from the president’s official website.
Fellow citizens of Ukraine! Dear nation!
Yesterday, a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine took place under my chairmanship. The fourth over the last month, and I can assure you it’s not the last.
First of all, I would like to thank all the members of the National Security and Defense Council present yesterday for their important work, active position, and readiness to defend the state interests of Ukraine.
It is no secret that the latest decisions of the National Security and Defense Council have caused considerable resonance. Public approval and, of course, the jindignation of those who find their names and businesses in the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council. Today I will summarize the preliminary results, set the record straight and explain in simple language to you – our citizens of Ukraine, what exactly is happening.
I would briefly describe this process in three words: Ukraine fights back.
Fights all those who have been dealing blows to it for many years, taking advantage of its weakness, lack of law, order, and most importantly – justice.
Justice, which for many years has not been even in short supply for ordinary people. It was something mythical, as if from legends about the fern flower. While you and I believed that justice existed, and tried unsuccessfully to find it, some appropriated state resources, subsoil, strategic enterprises, pipelines, and even, as it turned out, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. In a word – everything in sight.
Restoring justice in Ukraine was one of my key promises. People say you have to wait three years for the promised.
We started a little earlier.
First of all, we stopped attempts to divide Ukraine with propaganda and disinformation. On Feb. 2, 2021, the activities of those who considered it normal to do business in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and finance disinformation battalions that attacked Ukrainians with volleys of lies and manipulation were blocked.
Of course, everyone is wondering why this was not done by the previous leadership of the country during all the years of the war? Apparently, the question is rhetorical. Perhaps they acted according to the logic “it’s apples and oranges.”.
Further. On Feb. 19, assets, property, licenses, and permits of businesses associated with Mr. [Viktor] Medvedchuk were blocked.
It was also instructed to return the Prykarpatzakhidtrans oil pipeline to state ownership. And, no less important, to find out under what circumstances in 2015, during the hetmanate of everyone knows who, a state oil pipeline almost one and a half thousand kilometers long turned out to be in private ownership.
Also, a fair and lawful reaction from Ukraine should be received by those who believed that not the state, but private hands may possess a controlling stake in strategic defense enterprises of Ukraine, in particular Motor Sich, as well as land and subsoil belonging to the people of Ukraine.
How did this even happen?
Again, a rhetorical question. But the answers will be found by law enforcement agencies together with the State Service for Geology and Subsoil. Citizens need to know how and under what conditions a number of people in Ukraine received certain resources.
Those who did it legally have nothing to fear. But in order to make this clear, the most detailed audit will be conducted, the results of which will be presented to the public. I am convinced that these answers should not be rhetorical, but specific, comprehensive and reasoned – both for citizens and for possible future lawsuits.
Regarding the sanctions of the United States of America against the former owners of PrivatBank. We support this decision and we are working to return the money to Ukraine. To return justice to Ukraine. Its main principle is that we clearly see the difference between the concepts of “big business” and “oligarchic class.”
But the names do not make any difference here: Medvedchuk, [Ihor] Kolomoisky, [Petro] Poroshenko, [Rinat] Akhmetov, [Victor] Pinchuk, [Dmytro] Firtash or anyone else. One thing is important – are you ready to work legally and transparently or do you want to continue to create monopolies, control the media, influence deputies and other civil servants?
The first is welcome.
The second ends.
Also, yesterday we finally did what should have appeared in 2014. The state Strategy of de-occupation and reintegration of Crimea and Sevastopol has been approved. To those who counted on something, I can say: forget that Ukraine will forget about Crimea.
At the same time, when we talk about de-occupation, it is logical to understand who created conditions for occupation and how? And we are talking not only about 2014, but also about the adoption of the so-called Kharkiv agreements.
All this is by no means a complete list of steps taken by the state recently. And not the final list of measures that will be taken by the state in the near future. I emphasize – taken by our state, at our discretion, in accordance with our duty, and not because someone called us. Two things are enough for me to protect the interests of Ukraine. The first was on January 25, 1978. The day I was born in this country, on our Ukrainian land. The second was on May 20, 2019, when I swore to defend our Ukraine with all my actions. I do not need additional motivation, in particular from our partners. Support – yes. And we will always be grateful for it.
But first of all, we have to protect ourselves, no one will do it for us. And Ukraine can make its own decisions to protect itself and restore justice.
Can. Wants to. And will do so. And for those who still doubt it…
Until the next meetings of the National Security and Defense Council.
Glory to Ukraine!
