Top Volodymyr Zelenskyy quotes: How Ukrainian president inspired the world with his bravery

Once a comedian, the 44-year-old Zelenskyy is being hailed as a hero who has bravely refused to bow down

PUBLISHED FEB 26, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 58th Munich Security Conference (MSC) on February 19, 2022 (Ronald Wittek - Pool/Getty Images)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is arguably the most famous man in the whole world right now. Once a comedian, the 44-year-old Ukrainian president is being hailed as a hero who has bravely refused to bow down to Russia, even as his homeland is being torn apart in the unprovoked attack and his life is in danger.

Zelenskyy is reportedly being compared to the late former Hollywood actor as well as former US President Ronald Reagan, who in 1987 passionately said, “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate… Tear down this wall” after the Cold War eventually ended. Around four decades later, Zelenskyy’s comments, like “Free people! Free country!” and “We Ukrainians are a peaceful nation. But if we remain silent today, we will be gone tomorrow!” are resonating with people across the globe.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's journey from top movie star to a president fighting for Ukraine

In the past few days, he has made several remarks amid the crisis. Here are a few of his best inspirational quotes:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr at the 2022 Munich Security Conference on February 19, 2022 in Munich, Germany. The conference, which brings together security experts, politicians and people of influence from across the globe, took place when Russian troops had started amassing on the Russian, Belarusian and Crimean borders to Ukraine (Photo by Matt Dunham - Pool / Getty Images)

'I need ammunition, not a ride'

One of his most recent quotes is “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.” The Ukrainian uttered these powerful words when he was asked to evacuate Kyiv with the support of the US government. But he immediately declined the offer and reportedly decided to stay and fight with the people of his country.

Local residents are boarding an evacuation train driving to the west of Ukraine on February 26, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Explosions and gunfire were reported around Kyiv on the second night of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has killed scores and prompted widespread condemnation from US and European leaders. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

In an earlier television address, he also revealed that he’s Russia’s top target. He said, “I know that a lot of misinformation and rumors are being spread now. In particular, it is claimed that I have left Kyiv. I remain in the capital, I am staying with my people. My family is not a traitor, but a citizen of Ukraine. According to our information, the enemy marked me as the number one target. My family is the number two goal. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the Head of State.”

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has followed a Westward-looking foreign policy (Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty Images)

Russians will ‘see our faces, not our backs’

Zelenskyy reportedly tried to talk to Vladimir Putin directly to avoid the war but he claimed to be met with “silence”. He also said that both nations do not need a war, “not a Cold War, not a hot war. Not a hybrid one,” before issuing a courageous warning, “But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces. Not our backs, but our faces.”

Ukrainians demonstrate in Whitehall outside of Downing Street the residence of the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a third successive day on February 26, 2022. Russia's attack on Ukraine this week has incited a wave of protests across Europe and beyond, and a raft of sanctions aimed at Russian politicians and institutions. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

'We’re defending Ukraine alone'

Slamming Western countries for not helping Ukraine, Zelenskyy blatantly said, “Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.”

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2021 in New York City (Eduardo Munoz - Pool/Getty Images)

He also remarked: “We’re defending our country alone. The most powerful forces in the world are watching this from a distance,” before saying the new sanctions could not stop Russia from its barbarism. He added: “Did yesterday’s sanctions impress Russia? We hear in the sky above us and on our land that it’s not enough.”

'The war is a big disaster'

This comment from Zelenskyy came hours before the Russian attack. He said, “The war is a big disaster, and this disaster has a high price. With every meaning of this word. People lose money, reputation, quality of life, they lose freedom. But the main thing is that people lose their loved ones, they lose themselves.”

'The Ukraine on your news and Ukraine in real life are two completely different countries'

This remark by Zelenskyy was also made prior to the start of the war. He had stated: “The Ukraine on your news and Ukraine in real life are two completely different countries — and the main difference between them is: Ours is real. You are told we are Nazis. But could a people who lost more than 8 million lives in the battle against Nazism support Nazism?” The president had added: “How can I be a Nazi? Explain it to my grandfather, who went through the entire war in the infantry of the Soviet army, and died a colonel in an independent Ukraine. You are being told we hate Russian culture? How can someone hate culture? Any culture? Neighbors always enrich one another culturally, but that does not make them one, does not dissolve us in you. We are different. But it is not a reason to be enemies. We want to determine our history by ourselves. In peace, calm and honesty.”

Children play with balloons in the town tent set up by a local Slovak Red Cross for the refugees to take break after crossing the border to Slovakia on February 26, 2022 in Ubla, Slovakia. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR some 100,000 Ukrainians have been displaced since Russia invaded Ukraine. On February 24, 2022 Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels. (Zuzana Gogova/Getty Images)

'We will win'

As the attack against Ukraine is getting intense, Zelenskyy addressed the nation while boosting the people’s morale. He said, “Our military, our national guard, our national police, our territory defense, special service, nationals of Ukraine, please carry on. We will win. Glory to Ukraine. We are successfully holding back the enemy’s attacks. We know we are defending our land and the future of our children. Kyiv and the key areas are controlled by our army. The occupiers wanted to set up their puppet in our capital. They didn’t succeed. On our streets, there was a proper fight going on.”