Zelensky Thanks Czech Republic for Supporting Ukraine During Presidency of EU Council

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Czech Republic and Prime Minister Petr Fiala for supporting Ukraine on its path to membership in the European Union during the presidency of the Council of the EU.

“Grateful to friendly Czechia and Prime Minister Petr Fiala for supporting Ukraine on the way to EU membership during the presidency of the Council of the EU,” Zelensky wrote on his Twitter account.

The President added that Ukrainians appreciate the preservation of EU unity and unchanging solidarity with Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. “Together we will win!” Zelensky wrote.

The Czech Republic handed over the presidency of the EU Council to Sweden on January 1.

Zelensky recounts a year that ‘struck our hearts’ in his final address of 2022

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine delivered a rousing New Year’s Eve address on Saturday night, recalling a year that he said truly “began on Feb. 24” with fear over Russia’s invasion but ended with his country hopeful for victory.

“We have overcome the panic,” he said. “We did not run away but united. We have overcome doubts, despair and fear.”

“This year has struck our hearts,” he said, according to a translated transcript posted on his official website. “We’ve cried out all the tears. All the prayers have been yelled. 311 days. We have something to say about every minute.”

The speech was just one of the hundreds Mr. Zelensky has given this year in a relentless campaign not only to steel his country to fight Russia’s army but to galvanize support for Ukraine abroad.

While the history of most wars is written by the victor after the fact, Mr. Zelensky has created a story line of the war against Russia in real time, a running narrative telling Ukrainians in nightly video addresses how they should view the battles, justify their hardships and believe in the country’s ultimate success.

As the New Year approached, Mr. Zelensky recounted moments of despair and triumph alike, and heralded the resolve of his fellow Ukrainians. The first missiles in February, he said, “destroyed our labyrinth of illusions” but had also shown Ukrainians “what we are capable of.”

“This is the year when Ukraine changed the world, and the world discovered Ukraine,” he said. “We were told to surrender. We chose a counterattack! We were told to make concessions and compromises. We are joining the European Union and NATO.”