Extraordinary Speech of President Čaputová Acceptance of Russia's Expansionist Policy Will Not Achieve Peace

VIDEO President Čaputová's extraordinary speech on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine Dear fellow citizens, exactly one year ago, Russia unleashed a war on our eastern neighbor, the likes of which Europe has not experienced for more than 70 years We see it not only on TV screens, we also recognize it in our real life.

We see it in the faces of thousands of Ukrainian men and women who, fearing for their lives, have left their homes and are seeking refuge here and in other European countries By its scope and character, this aggression is completely outside the level of European civilization of the 21st century.

No pretext, no excuse from the Kremlin can justify the suffering to which our eastern neighbor has been subjected every day for a year Mass graves, torture and people dragged from their homeland are the daily reality of the parts of Ukraine where Russian soldiers have entered.

The effects of the war affected all European countries Many of us quite naturally feel concern and fear.

Therefore, first of all, I want to thank you, dear fellow citizens, for the compassion and solidarity you have shown in this difficult time with those who are fleeing war Together with non-governmental organizations, churches and the private sector, you showed the human face of Slovakia.

The face of Slovakia, which cares about helping the neighbor, the weaker and the suffering Because it is, first of all, help to people in misfortune, our neighbors, with whom we will coexist here, regardless of the political outfits on one or the other side of the border.

We did not want this war, and the West and Ukraine itself tried to prevent it until the last moment Our efforts, our steps must follow a single goal, the establishment of a just peace.

I'm not just saying this as a head of state, but also as a citizen of our country and a mother of two children However, it is responsible to tell the whole truth and not to mislead.

Peace can come immediately if the Russian army withdraws from Ukraine However, Putin has been proving for 365 days that he wants the exact opposite.

Peace will not be achieved by accepting Russia's expansionist policy Rules and international agreements must apply, because otherwise we would recognize that brute force applies and then we have no guarantee that Russia or other aggressors will not attack other countries, denying them the right to independent existence.

Responsible politicians must not turn a blind eye to this Our Czech and Polish neighbors or the Baltic states see it, they see it in Romania, Spain or Belgium.

The Finns and Swedes are also well aware of the risks, and after the attack on Ukraine, they ended their long-term neutrality and applied to join the North Atlantic Alliance to increase their own security Dear fellow citizens, experiencing fear, including fear of war, is natural.

It's not a shame However, let's not succumb to it.

A clever manipulator can recognize what we fear and will use it to his advantage Cynically, with the full knowledge that it brings many people anxiety, doubts, grief, hopelessness.

Unburdened by the responsibility for the security of Slovakia and our citizens It is not true that our soldiers will go to fight in Ukraine.

All the steps that the international community has taken over the past year have a common goal: to support our neighbor enough to resist the Russian invasion and to prevent the war from spreading further We have been very clear from the beginning that as long as Russian aggression continues, no North Atlantic Alliance country will send its troops to Ukraine.

Neither will Slovakia Politicians who say otherwise either don't understand how our alliances work, or knowingly lie.

It is also not true that a mobilization is being prepared in Slovakia It is a transparent lie already used in the presidential campaign in the neighboring Czech Republic.

Dear citizens, we are living in difficult times, we are experiencing crises that we thought were a thing of the past I am convinced that we can handle them if we continue to maintain calmness and balance, follow the truth and not succumb to fear, lies and manipulations.

Over the past thirty years, we have repeatedly proven that we are a state that is ready to protect our own interests if we continue to keep calm and balance, we will follow the truth and not succumb to fear, lies and manipulations.

Over the past thirty years, we have repeatedly proven that we are a state that is ready to protect our own interests if we continue to keep calm and balance, we will follow the truth and not succumb to fear, lies and manipulations.

Over the past thirty years, we have repeatedly proven that we are a state that is ready to protect our own interests .