Zelensky pleads for peace with Russia in televised address

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded to avoid all-out war with Russia in an address from Kyiv after midnight Thursday, The New York Times reported.  

“The Ukrainian people want peace,” Zelensky said. “The government in Ukraine wants peace and is doing everything it can to build it.”

Zelensky made an appeal directly to the Russian people, saying there was no grievance with Moscow while countering how his country’s image may be portrayed by Russian media.

“Any spark,” Zelensky added, “could burn everything down. You are told that this flame will liberate the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.”

Zelensky also disputed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Ukraine should still be part of Russia.

“Neighbors always enrich each other culturally,” Zelensky said. “However, that doesn’t make them a single whole. It doesn’t dissolve us into you. We are different, but that is not a reason to be enemies. We want to determine, build our future ourselves, peacefully, calmly and honestly.”

Putin on Monday recognized the independence of two separatist areas in the eastern part of Ukraine. U.S. officials have said Putin’s move signaled the start of an invasion.

Zelensky added he tried to call Putin but got no response, the Times noted.

“You are told we are Nazis,” Zelensky, who has a Jewish background, said. “But can a people support Nazis that gave more than eight million lives for the victory over Nazism? How can I be a Nazi? Tell my grandpa, who went through the whole war in the infantry of the Soviet Army and died as a colonel in independent Ukraine.”