President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, denouncing the total cowardice of Russian policy and detailing new diplomatic efforts to achieve peace.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

The bravest people of the best country in the world!

Another week of our struggle for freedom and statehood is coming to an end.

Another week when Ukraine lives despite all Russia's efforts to destroy us.

We defend ourselves. We respond to attacks. We develop our ties with partners. We receive aid. We ensure maximum global attention to our needs. We influence the global debate. We propose and push for new sanctions against Russia. We do everything to hold accountable every invader who came under the Russian flag and killed, tortured, and destroyed our people.

And what is Russia doing? What are its officials, propagandists, and ordinary people repeating?

They only justify and deny. They try to shift responsibility. They lie. And they have lost touch with reality so much that they blame us even for the obvious — obvious to everyone in the world — actions of Russian troops.

They say about the killings in Bucha, that it's not them but us. Although it is clear to all that people were killed while the Russian army controlled this city.

They say about the missile strike on Kramatorsk, that it’s not them but us again. Though their propagandists announced this strike. Though these missiles flew from territory under their control. And for every destroyed Ukrainian town and burned village they claim the same — it's also not them but us.

Russian military officials have already reached a point where, after more than six weeks of war, they still claim that they haven't hit any civilian targets!

And do you know why? Because it's cowardice. Total. Of everyone. From top to bottom.

They are afraid to admit that Russian policy towards Ukraine over decades has been wrong and only destroyed everything Russia had in relations with Ukraine since the previous times.

They are afraid to admit that for decades they made wrong bets and wasted colossal resources supporting full-blown scoundrels, whom they thought would be future heroes of Ukrainian-Russian friendship. And these scoundrels were only skilled at one thing — extracting money from Russia into their pockets.

To avoid admitting mistakes, they made new ones. They deprived themselves of any political tools and, unwilling to give up unrealistic ambitions, started this war.

Moreover, as with everything else, they blamed us for starting it.

They annexed Crimea — but we are supposedly at fault.

They destroyed normal life in Donbas — but we are supposedly at fault.

They shot down the Malaysian 'Boeing' — but we are supposedly at fault.

For eight years they killed people, children on our land — but we are supposedly at fault.

They destroyed the most powerful industrial region of Eastern Europe — but we are supposedly at fault.

They ruined the lives of millions of people — but we are supposedly at fault.

They started a full-scale war against us — but we are supposedly at fault.

They have already fired over two thousand missiles, countless numbers of air bombs and artillery shells, mines at Ukraine — but we are supposedly at fault.

They tortured and killed on our land — but we are supposedly at fault.

They deported hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, Ukrainian women, and our children — still we are supposedly at fault.

All this stems from cowardice. When cowardice grows, it turns into a catastrophe. When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality, learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores them, these monsters decide that the world should adapt to them. Ukraine will stop all of this.

Russian cowardice won't help anything. The day will come when they'll have to admit everything. Admit the truth. For this — all our forces and every minute. Defense, diplomacy, economy, information resistance, legal accountability — we have action plans in all areas. Every state official knows their tasks and must fulfill them at 100 percent.

The next week will be no less important than this one or the previous ones. It will be as tense and even more responsible. Russia will be even more afraid. Afraid of losing. Afraid to admit the truth.

Russian troops will move to even larger-scale actions on the eastern part of our country. They may use against us even more missiles, more air bombs. But we are preparing for these their actions. We will respond. We will ensure Ukraine with more weapons. We will be more active internationally. We will be even more active informationally.

I will continue to address parliaments and peoples of the world. We will host our partners, leaders of other countries in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. We will attract even more funds and resources for Ukraine's help. Of course, we will justify stronger sanctions against the Russian Federation. For accountability, for justice. No matter how much they fear admitting their mistakes — tragic, terrible mistakes — they will have to. Because our courage and truth unequivocally prevail. And will win.

Today is the twelfth anniversary of the Smolensk air disaster that took the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and representatives of Poland's elite. On this day, we stand in solidarity with our Polish friends and allies who firmly oppose Russian aggression.

I spoke today with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about holding accountable all those responsible for war crimes. About strengthening sanctions against Russia and forcing Russia to seek peace. I am pleased that Germany's position has been changing in favor of Ukraine lately. I consider this absolutely logical, as the support course is backed by most Germans. And I am grateful for it. But I expect everything we agreed on will be implemented. And this is very important.

A few minutes ago, preparing to record this address, I signed a decree awarding state honors to our heroes. Eighteen defenders of Ukraine. Five servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, three communications officers of the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine, ten police officers.

Thank you to all our defenders! To all our female defenders!

Thank you to everyone who is restoring life on liberated territory of our country.

And thank you to everyone who ensures us victory in the information resistance. All journalists, editors, the 'United News' marathon, all our websites, media workers who do not let Russian propaganda win.

Truth will prevail! Ukraine will win! Definitely!

Glory to Ukraine!"