Zelensky: This is a war of independence, and we must win it

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the current war is a war for independence, in which the Ukrainians must win.

"It's been a month already. We held out six times longer than the enemy planned and what did the Russian command report to the Russian president. They were sure that Ukraine is not a state. They were sure that we are not a people. They deceived themselves. But we don't care about them. This is their state suicide," he said in a video message on the night of March 24. This day marks a month since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"And we," Zelensky said, "are only defending our lives, our freedom, our own state, our children. And that means our future. This is a war for independence. And we must win."

He promised to rebuild "every city that heroically resists."

"For every crime, we will bring the occupiers to justice. Zhytomyr and Sumy, Kyiv and Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol, Volnovakha and Mykolaiv, Okhtyrka and Hostomel, Kherson and Odesa, Izium and Donetsk, Luhansk, Chornobaivka...," Zelensky said.

"All our people will live in a free Ukraine after our victory, which will come the faster, the more we are together. Unity! On the battlefield and in political positions, at rallies and summits, in work and in communication with people. In all our actions, we must encourage Russia to seek peace. With all our actions, we must bring the victory of freedom closer," Zelensky said.