Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a powerful statement today in Vilnius, emphasizing the long-term struggle for freedom against Russian aggression and framing the fight as one that spans generations. He made clear that for Ukraine and its European allies, the enemy is singular and persistent.
“We have one enemy,” Zelenskyy said, placing Russia at the center of centuries of imperial aggression while highlighting the resilience of nations and peoples who refuse to submit. He connected the current conflict in Ukraine to historical uprisings in the region, including the January Uprising, arguing that the lessons of the past remain critical for today’s fight.
Generational continuity was a key theme of Zelenskyy’s remarks. “Generations before us fought so that we could exist. Our people are fighting so that our children and our grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren, can exist – and live in peace,” he said. “So that what matters is not one person sitting on a throne in Russia, but every one of our nations and every human life. This is the European rule: people matter. Nations matter. Cultures matter. Russia does not matter — because anyone who stands against peoples has always lost historically.”
Vilnius. Rasos Cemetery.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 25, 2026
We honored the memory of those who were killed during the January Uprising of 1863-1864 – an uprising of the Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian peoples against the Russian Empire and oppression.
Generations before us fought so that we could… pic.twitter.com/uhWWddQxI7
Zelenskyy stressed that this conflict is not only about territory or immediate security, but about safeguarding freedom, culture, and life itself. He framed the war in Ukraine as part of a larger European choice between freedom and dependence, urging European nations to act decisively and in unity.
He also highlighted the ongoing threats emanating from Belarus, describing the country as effectively functioning under Russian control and serving as a platform for drone attacks and other military operations against Ukraine. This, he said, underscores the stakes of the conflict and the urgency for Europe to remain vigilant.
Throughout his speech, Zelenskyy praised the unprecedented international support Ukraine has received since Russia’s full-scale invasion, naming Poland, Lithuania, the Baltic states, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other allies as central to defending freedom in Europe. Yet he warned that partial support or delayed action is insufficient, insisting that Europe must fully embrace the principle that the lives and rights of people, nations, and cultures matter above all.
The statement reinforces Zelenskyy’s consistent message: that the fight against Russia is not just a war of the present but a struggle that spans generations, defending the right of nations and peoples to exist on their own terms, free from imperial domination.
This echoes earlier posts from Zelenskyy emphasizing that Ukraine itself is not an obstacle to peace, but that Russian aggression must be confronted decisively to ensure the safety and sovereignty of European nations.
Ukraine has never been and will never be a stumbling block to peace. When Ukrainians are left without power for 20–30 hours because of Russia, and when Russian strikes are aimed at breaking our energy system and our people, it is Russia that must be put under pressure. pic.twitter.com/TguJK3fHok
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 15, 2026
