Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the Ukrainian folks on Monday for defending their nation and by extension, all of Europe as a result of he stated he believed the fierce resistance was one thing Russian President Vladimir Putin did not count on.

In a video message, Zelensky stated the Ukrainian military's success, in addition to the "will" of the Ukrainian folks and assist from the worldwide neighborhood, is the "method to peace." He known as Russian forces "drained" and "demoralized," one thing he credited to the Ukrainian folks's determination to mount a battle in opposition to the invading forces as a substitute of simply surrendering.

"They got here to our land to search for one thing that has by no means been right here: cowardice, consent to slavery," Zelensky stated, referencing Putin's forces.

The battle between Ukraine and Russia is into its twelfth day of preventing and Russian forces made some key advances, together with seizing a nuclear energy plant and capturing the seaport metropolis of Kherson. Nonetheless, many have critiqued Putin's invasion for being far much less profitable than anticipated, though Ukraine continues to be hammered with Russian bombs.

ukraine russia cowards putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a video message on Monday that the Russian army did not count on a fierce resistance from the Ukrainian folks. Zelensky appears to be like on at a press convention for chosen media at his official residence the Maryinsky Palace on March 3 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Laurent Van der Stockt for Le Monde/Getty Photos

The onslaught prompted Ukrainian officers to plead with pleasant international locations to shut the airspace over the nation, one thing officers have rejected on the grounds that it will represent the USA getting into the battle.

"What number of extra deaths and losses are wanted to safe the skies over Ukraine?" Zelensky stated on Monday. "We're ready for a choice [on] securing the sky, both with the facility you could have, or give us fighter jets and air protection techniques that may present us with the energy that we'd like."

Whereas many Western international locations have despatched weapons and cash to Ukraine to assist their efforts, a lot of the main target has been on the humanitarian effort occurring in neighboring international locations. The battle with Russia has the potential to create the most important humanitarian disaster in a long time and an estimated 1.7 million Ukrainians have fled the nation for the reason that begin of the assault, based on the United Nations.

America has positioned troops in neighboring international locations to help with the inflow of refugees, however President Joe Biden implied in his State of the Union handle that the U.S. will not enter the battle until a NATO member state is attacked.

Zelensky warned on Monday that if the world failed to assist Ukraine defend itself, the remainder of Europe's security will probably be threatened.

Movies, pictures and tales of Ukrainians who stayed within the nation have proven sturdy resistance to the Russian invasion. Zelensky supplied weapons to anybody who needed one and even teams of unarmed folks have tried to cease army autos from advancing.

Because the battle rages on and Putin reveals no indicators of stopping, Zelensky urged Ukrainians not to surrender the battle. In an impassioned speech on Sunday night time, he known as for Ukrainians to "exit and drive this evil out of our cities."