Speeches by Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a number of speeches in multiple formats, including on social media and to foreign legislatures.

[6] On 25 February, the second day of the invasion, concerns were initially raised about his whereabouts after he missed a scheduled phone call with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

[13] Beginning in March 2022, Zelenskyy made a series of virtual and in person speeches to the legislatures of other nations regarding the invasion.

[109] In the interview he called on the President of the United States Joe Biden to address the situation,[110] and commented that it was yet to be seen whether talks were a waste of time.

[112][113] Two days before he had said in an interview with ABC News that he would no longer seek out NATO membership, that he would consider a "compromise" in related to Donetsk and Luhansk,[114] and also addressed the people of America directly.

The interviewers were Ivan Kolpakov of Meduza; Tikhon Dzyadko of TV Rain; Mikhail Zygar; 2021 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Dmitry Muratov of Novaya Gazeta (indirectly); and Vladimir Solovyov of Kommersant.

[120] In Autumn 2022, it was announced that Zelenskyy would be publishing a book titled A Message From Ukraine, containing a collection of 16 of his wartime speeches, with proceeds going to United24.

[121] The book was published November 29, 2022 by Penguin Random House[122] and The Guardian notes that: "In this short and compelling collection, Zelenskiy is the first social media orator to enter the pantheon of war speakers.

[130][131][132][133] Moira Donegan of The Guardian has stated that Zelenskyy "has made himself into a symbol of the Ukrainian people, whose surprising courage, determination, and defiance in the face of the Russian aggression have called the west's moral bluff.

"[137] British journalist David Patrikarakos described Zelenskyy as "the literal man on the street," saying that he was sending a message that "I'm your president, I'm not hiding, I'm not going anywhere.

"[138] Timothy Naftali of New York University has stated that the speeches are "a reminder that there is a life and death struggle going on — and it's forcing politicians to in real time to consider what are the acceptable risks.

[141][142] Patrick Wintour of The Guardian has stated that Zelenskyy "has been constantly on the phone to western leaders, using his Twitter feed to cajole, encourage, scold and praise his allies.