Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 29th (local time) defined Russia's invasion as a "war against freedom and democracy" and stated that there must be no compromise with evil.
President Zelensky said this during the "Global Challenges" session of the "2nd Summit for Democracy," held via video conference led by the United States. He emphasized that only Russia's defeat can end the war. He stated that Russia has long been at war with the world's democratic countries through spreading disinformation, election interference, espionage, cybercrime, and fomenting energy and food crises.
Additionally, President Zelensky said, "Democracy must be able to act. The spirit of democracy is compromise, but not in the face of evil," arguing that dictators and tyrants must be held accountable for their crimes. He stressed the need to dispel the illusion that freedom can be gained by compromising with evil, saying, "the enemies of democracy must be defeated, and only that can be the true foundation of security for democracy." He also requested support, stating, "Democracy needs victory this year, right now."
In an interview with the Associated Press released the day before, President Zelensky warned that "a Russian victory could be dangerous," cautioning that if Ukraine fails to win the prolonged battles in key eastern cities, Russia could build international support. Through this interview, he also reaffirmed his readiness to engage in dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping and expressed his intention to invite him to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, at the "Global Challenges" session of the 2nd Summit for Democracy, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that democracy, by joining forces, can respond to the common challenges the world faces. He cited the solidarity of democratic countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a representative example. He emphasized, "While the world's authoritarian states weaken, democratic countries have grown stronger."
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