Zelensky’s warm repetition of “together with you” to the United States Congress stands in striking contrast with his famous “without you” speech

https://twitter.com/benjaminwittes/status/1606083278431297536

 

In his speech yesterday evening a joint session of Congress, President Volodymyr Zelensky said this about the American people:

We already built strong Ukraine, with strong people, strong army, strong institutions together with you. We developed strong security guarantees for our country and for entire Europe and the world, together with you. And also together with you, we’ll put in place everyone who will defy freedom. Put-in.

Zelensky’s warm repetition of “together with you” to the United States Congress stands in striking contrast with his famous “without you” speech, which was directed at Russia back in September:

Do you think we are still one people? Do you still think you can scare us, break us, force us to make concessions? Do you really not understand? Don’t you understand who we are? What are we fighting for, what is all this for?

Without gas or without you? – The answer is without you. Without electricity or without you? – Without you. Without water or without you? – Without you. Without food or without you? – Without you.

For us, cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not as dangerous and deadly as friendship and brotherhood with you. But history shows everyone and everything in its place. And we will have gas, electricity, water and food, and it will be without you!

I posted the passages side by side on Facebook this morning and received the following interesting reaction from a Ukrainian friend named Sofia: “Yes. And this is exactly how Ukrainians feel as well. In fact, his speech ‘without you’ was the most powerful and warmly received speech since his inauguration.” When I asked whether the contrast was an intentional allusion to the previous speech or a coincidence, Sofia answered:

It’s an interesting question. Likely it wasn't a coincidence. And if it made you think about “without you” speech, it served it's purpose brilliantly.

From another side, maybe it wasn’t intentional. Zelenskyy is a great leader precisely because he listens and reflects on what Ukrainians want. And Ukrainians have expressed their choice in 2014 during the Revolution of Dignity and many more times after that. Both speeches are praised among people because they both truly reflect desire of the Ukrainian nation.

I confess, I am uncomplicatedly proud to be part of a nation to which Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a “together with you” speech.