BY
Ukrainian
president Volodymyr Zelensky has
claimed that 16,000 foreign volunteers have arrived to assist with their fight
against Russia.
In a March 3 video address
one week into the conflict, Zelensky reiterated how Ukraine is prepared to
continue to stand up against Russia's
attacks and has now "started welcoming foreign
volunteers" who are coming to the country to join the war.
Zelensky added Ukraine has also been receiving weapons every day from its international allies to assist with the conflict.
"The first of 16,000 are coming to defend
the liberty and life of us and of everyone. I'm sure it will be
successful," Zelensky said, via Associated Press.
The comments arrived
days after Ukraine announced it was setting up an "International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine" for
foreign volunteers who are willing to help the country in its war with Russia.
"Together we defeated Hitler, and we will
defeat [Vladimir] Putin too," Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Ukraine, tweeted on February 27 while confirming the plans.
Elsewhere during what
was yet another emotional speech, Zelensky said Russia's military targeting Ukraine's cities with missiles and
bombs is "acknowledgment that they couldn't achieve
anything significant" with fighting on the ground.
"The enemy doesn't have success at any
strategic directions," he said. "They are disappointed and lost. Kyiv
has lived through this night and another missile bombing hit."
Zelensky said Ukraine's efforts in fighting
against Russia have only become stronger and that they will continue to stand
up to its neighbor.
"The first hours and days of this great
war were very difficult, but we were alone, which means we were very strong and
survived," Zelensky said.
"We will continue
to do this and we will continue to stand," he added:
"They were oppressed. They are doomed."
Zelensky also promised to "rebuild every house, every
street, every city" when the conflict ends and that Russia will "pay
back the full price for everything" it has destroyed during the invasion.
The Ukrainian president also
vowed that Ukraine will survive the war, as it already lived through other
disasters and tragedies such as both world wars, the Chernobyl nuclear
explosion, Russia's annexation of
Crimea and the Holodomor famine,
Reuters reported.
"We don't have the biggest territory...we don't have
nuclear arms, we don't provide oil and gas to international markets. But we do
have our people. We do have our land. This is what we are fighting for,"
he said.
In a message to Putin, Zelensky also urged the Russian president
to "go home, to your home, protect your Russian-speaking people."
He added: "Not all over the world—but in your own home.
There are many of them there, some 150 million. As for here—Glory to
Ukraine!"
https://www.newsweek.com/zelensky-16000-foreign-fighters-war-russia-1684473
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