100 speeches in 100 days of war: Zelensky rallies Ukraine
The HinduAs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tells it, when Russia invaded 100 days ago, no one expected his country to survive. He often begins with an exuberant greeting to Ukrainians as “the free people of a brave country” or “the invincible people of our great country.” He invariably ends with a defiant “Glory to Ukraine.” He tells them of the world leaders he has spoken with during the day and his efforts to get those leaders to send more and better weapons, to inflict ever more punishing sanctions on Russia. That the country did not fall within days as Russia expected, he said on April 14, was because millions of Ukrainians “made the most important decision of their life – to fight.” He also has tried to reach a Russian audience, as on April 1 when he switched from Ukrainian into Russian to urge Russians to keep their sons away from the war. At home.” In his video address Friday marking the 100 days, Mr. Zelensky said many words and numbers are associated with the war, but “there are three words for which we have been fighting for a hundred days after eight years: peace,' victory,' Ukraine.' Glory to Ukraine!” In justifying the invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is saving Ukraine from the “drug addicts and neo-Nazis” of Mr. Zelensky's government.