On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Finnish Parliament via a live video broadcast that was screened on Parliament’s scoreboards, which are normally used to display the results of parliamentary voting.
Among the audience in the Plenary Hall sat MPs, ministers, ambassadors and President Sauli Niinistö and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was on a state visit in Finland. The event was by invitation only, so there was no public sitting in the gallery.
Zelensky described in detail his view on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, from dead civilians by missiles and people buried in a mass grave in Bucha, to ordinary cars of Ukrainian citizens being crushed by tanks.
“I’m sure you realize that if the Russian army is ordered to invade your land, they will do the same to your country. I do not wish you this. They will do what happened in Bucha to your cities. To the cities of any country that the leadership of the Russian Federation decides is allegedly part of their empire, not the land of another nation,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky reminded the listeners that “you have already seen in your history the cruelty and absurdity of the invasion of Russia. Let’s be honest: the threat remains. Everything must be done to prevent this from happening again.” He went on to say that Russia’s war in Ukraine is now deciding the fate of “all those who have a common border with Russia.”
“Like you 83 years ago, Ukraine has the courage to defend itself against the enemy whose forces far outnumber them. There are just a lot of them, in quantitative terms,” Zelensky said. “But just as your courage saved your country from Stalin’s invasion, our courage resists this invasion.”
Zelensky thanked Finland for “not delaying when this invasion by the Russian Federation began” and “for coming to our aid immediately.” “But I ask you to show even greater leadership, both at the level of the European Union and in bilateral relations with European countries, to support our struggle for freedom. For our common freedom.”
Zelensky went on by saying:
“When this war continues, when tyranny loses the war against Ukraine, it will be one of the greatest contributions to Europe’s security in decades. Consequently, one of the greatest contributions to the security of your state. That is why we need the weapons that your EU partners have. That is why we need truly effective, powerful sanctions against Russia. Permanent. Such a sanction cocktail, which will be remembered as Molotov cocktails. Insist on it!”
Zelensky thanked those Finnish companies that have stopped working in the Russian market.
“Let it remember the spirit of Helsinki and restore the Helsinki Accords in full, and only then will it be possible to discuss the economy, if necessary,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky continued with his appraisals:
“The world knows about the leadership of your country, your people in the field of education. You have really built an educational system that allows you to protect personal freedom, make a person educated and teach respect for other people, the environment and the world. Other countries should learn this, too!”
After the speech, which lasted about 15 minutes, the people in the Plenary Hall stood up and applauded for over half a minute.
Later President Niinistö Tweeted this:
“Together with German Federal President, we listened to the powerful speech that President Zelensky gave to the Finnish Parliament today. We were both deeply touched by his resolve and strength.”
