[as translated from the Ukrainian language by the Ukrainian Govt]

Friend Boris!¹

Dear members of the Churchill Society!

Dear members of the Ukrainian Warrior Games team, I know that you are also there!

Dear guests!

It is an extraordinary honor for me to receive such a leadership award today. And, receiving it, it is very appropriate to recall one of the most famous words of Winston Churchill, which he said on May 8, 1945, after the end of the war in Europe: "My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It's a victory of the great British nation as a whole."

And now I can quite rightly say that this award is not only for me and it reflects not only my efforts.

It would not be possible without all of us.

it would not be possible without one hundred and sixty Ukrainian soldiers who were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine for the period from February 24.

It would not be possible without more than twenty-four thousand Ukrainian men and women who have been awarded our state awards for bravery in the battles against the Russian terrorist invasion.

This award would not be possible if the entire Ukrainian people had not risen up to defend freedom from the attack of tyranny, as Boris said now,¹ a tyranny that is trying to return us to the worst that happened in the 20th century and that was then defeated thanks to the factor of Churchill in particular.

But not only -- not only this is reflected now. Something else should be said as well.

Ukrainians and European history will always remember those who did not hesitate to come to the aid of our people and the very idea of freedom.

Addressing Londoners celebrating the victory, Winston Churchill recalled that Britain had stood alone for a whole year against the greatest military power of the time. And it did not quit the struggle, did not obey. And it created an example for all nations fighting against tyranny. An example of the fact that victory is possible if you remember what honor is and do not deviate from your principles.

When we celebrate our victory, which we surely will, we will be able to say, thankfully, a little bit different words than those said by Sir Churchill.

Because Ukraine was not left alone after February 24. With us were those who helped us, who remembered at the worst time what honor is, and who "had no thought of quitting the struggle."²

I'm talking about you now, Boris. This award is yours, too. This showed our joint leadership -- Ukrainians, British and everyone who will never give up freedom to some tyrants, no matter what weapon they use against us.

The price of freedom is extremely high. But still, it is incomparably higher for those who gave it up and are trying to return it than for those who protect it with all their might.

We are defending. We are fighting. Just like during the terrible trials of the 20th century.

Just as then, the factor of personal leadership is now crucial. Leadership on the battlefield. Leadership in helping the active army. Leadership in international relations. And although the stakes in this war are different, they are no less high than 80 years ago.

What are we fighting for now?

Not just for the land, although for it too, of course. Not just for human rights or the right of one nation, the Ukrainians, to live independently, although for them too, of course. Not just for freedom in Europe or everywhere on the borders of Russia, although it will be guaranteed as a consequence of our victory.

We are fighting together to ensure that war is never again seen by any aggressor as a means of achieving aggressive goals.

And perhaps for the first time in the history of mankind we are now able to show everyone in the world and for ages that democracies, united, can stop any tyranny, even if at first it seems that it has unlimited resources for aggression.

But this can become a reality only if Russia loses on the battlefield in Ukraine.

That is why it is necessary to continue the supply of modern and effective weapons to our state in sufficient quantities to finally break the offensive potential of Russian tyranny. Sanctions against Russia must be strengthened and applied against all those who commit or support terror. And it is necessary to involve more nations in our coalition for the defense of freedom -- especially those against whom Russia in the 21st century decided to use one of the most terrible types of weapons -- hunger, artificial hunger.

The democracies of the world are capable of stopping any tyranny. We are capable of stopping any evil that threatens our freedom. Only the joint leadership of the entire free world can be enough for this.

And patience should be enough. Patience on the way to victory. No one knows today how much time and effort it will take to reach it.

However, the victory is worth the effort. And it will become our shared history -- so outstanding that you and I will later be quoted in the same way as we are now quoting Sir Churchill.

Thank you for your attention!

Thank you for the award -- the award of the people of Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

---

¹ British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

² Extended quotation from Churchill's VE Day Address: "The lights went out and the bombs came down. But every man, woman and child in the country had no thought of quitting the struggle. London can take it. So we came back after long months from the jaws of death, out of the mouth of hell, while all the world wondered. When shall the reputation and faith of this generation of English men and women fail? I say that in the long years to come not only will the people of this island but of the world, wherever the bird of freedom chirps in human hearts, look back to what we’ve done and they will say “do not despair, do not yield to violence and tyranny, march straightforward and die if need be-unconquered.” Now we have emerged from one deadly struggle-a terrible foe has been cast on the ground and awaits our judgment and our mercy." [Source: https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1941-1945-war-leader/to-v-e-crowds/]

Original Text Source: president.gov.ua/en

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Page Created: 8/12/22

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