President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about the meeting of G7 leaders and a visit by First Lady of the United States Jill Biden.

"Ukrainians!

Our defenders!

Today is a very important day. For us. For our people. For our freedom. Right here, in the Mariinsky Palace, today I held talks with a friend of Ukraine — Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.

I am grateful to Justin for his visit to our country. Just now, on this day — a powerful gesture of support and faith in the future of our people.

We held bilateral talks — between Ukrainian and Canadian delegations. Agreed to expand economic and defense cooperation. We have an extraordinary important decision from Canada — to lift all trade barriers for one year. Thank you, Canada. This agreement was reached during talks with Mr. Trudeau and will serve the interests of both the Ukrainian and Canadian people.

Among other things, Canada has a strong potential in demining work. We expect this potential to be applied in Ukraine — where Russian occupiers have left thousands of mines, booby traps, and shells.

In the presence of the Prime Minister, I honored our sappers today, including one small but very famous mine dog named Patron. The dog that helps clear our land of occupation remnants. And who also teaches children about mine safety. Due to Russian oppressors, this is now one of the most urgent tasks — teaching children how to recognize explosive objects and avoid them. This is what "freedom" from a safe life Russia has brought to Ukrainian children.

Ukraine became a participant for the first time in the meeting of G7 leaders — the largest world democracies. Outlined our vision of what needs to be done to win freedom and ensure Ukraine's security.

Called for strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia and creating conditions for Ukraine so that the war ends with the liberation of our land and people as quickly as possible. This includes an embargo on Russian oil, oil products, and refined petroleum products.

Proposed to leading countries — our friends — to participate in rebuilding Ukraine after the war.

Agreed together on a G7 statement regarding the war, global threats created by Russia and our respect for shared historical heritage, common values, and the importance of freedom. The statement is maximally in the interest of Ukraine and will serve as the basis for our further cooperation.

And most importantly, what I felt today — a greater readiness from the world to help us. And that we have already achieved an historic result because it's clear to all free people in the world: Ukraine is on the side of good in this war. Russia, however, is losing because evil always loses.

Grateful to First Lady of the United States Jill Biden for her visit to Ukraine, specifically Uzhhorod today. For security reasons, we did not announce the visit and meeting with the First Lady of Ukraine in advance or invite journalists. But I know that Mrs. Biden received maximum information about what Ukrainians need right now. And I am grateful to her for sincere support for our people.

Held talks in Kyiv with Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković. Croatia supports our country's fight for independence principled and strongly. I am grateful to Croatia for everything we have already received. And hope that cooperation will only strengthen further.

Also met in Kyiv with the President of Norway's Storting. The conversation was very emotional. Such that you feel they are concerned about us, our fate, as if it were their own. And really trying to help. Grateful for this.

Spoke also with the President of Germany's Bundestag. Mainly about further defense support from Germany in our fight against tyranny. About how German leadership in the EU can help us.

Today, Bono and U2 visited Ukraine as well. Grateful to him for supporting our people and drawing even more attention to the need to help our nation.

Well, I am convinced that today's day in Ukraine showed that we are already — a full-fledged part of free world and united Europe. This is an obvious contrast against the backdrop of Moscow's loneliness in evil and hatred, which everyone will see tomorrow.

The Russian army would not be itself if it did not kill now — on the eve of days that are unconditionally important for any European.

As a result of Russia's air strike on Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, nearly 60 people were killed. Civilians who simply hid in school from shelling. This was a targeted attack directly at the school. Another crime by occupiers.

Another missile strike on Odesa Oblast, again hitting a residential building. Again shelling in Sumy Oblast. Brutal shelling in Donbas and Kharkiv region. As if it were not May 8th. As if tomorrow were not the 9th, when "peace" is supposed to be the main word for all normal people.

Russia has forgotten everything that was important for the victors in World War II. But Ukraine and the entire free world will remind them. So that no one forgets again later. To once again give real weight to the truly important words "never again," which are repeated around the free world every year on the day of remembrance of the victims of World War II.

I am grateful to all our defenders who hold the defense and save Ukraine from the modern descendants of that old evil.

Eternal glory to all our heroes! Eternal glory to all our fighters!

Grateful to all friends of Ukraine and freedom!

Glory to Ukraine!"