President Zelensky’s Message In Kharkiv Was Sensible, But His Words Depressed Rather Than Recognized And Inspired Many In Kharkiv. Here Is A Suggestion For An Alternative Message
President Zelensky’s Message In Kharkiv Was Sensible, But His Words Depressed Rather Than Recognized And Inspired Many In Kharkiv
Here Is A Suggestion For An Alternative Message
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine (2019- ), is a gifted orator. The words he selects and how he uses those words have, and continue to influence and inspire those who support Ukraine and those who do not support Ukraine.
Which makes his word selections delivered on 1 March 2024 in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine which is less than twenty miles from the border with the Russian Federation, surprising.
President Zelensky was visiting Kharkiv with Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (2010- ). Prime Minister Rutte is a leading candidate to replace Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General (2014- ) of the thirty-one (and soon-to-be thirty-two member) Brussels, Belgium-based North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 2014 whose term expires on 1 October 2024.
President Zelensky is correct that Kharkiv can be a dangerous place- as this space appreciates firsthand on multiple occasions in Kharkiv.
However, Kharkiv has continued a metamorphosis since 24 February 2022 when the first projectiles delivered by the armed forces of the Russian Federation impacted the city, suburbs, and surrounding areas, killing many. Those deliveries continued throughout 2023 and thus far into 2024.
Men, women, and children have remained in Kharkiv during the last two years, and now beginning a third year of the expanded Russian Federation-Ukraine War.
Businesses which were closed have reopened. New businesses have arrived. Restaurants are again often full of customers. Retail stores are offering the same products available throughout the Brussels, Belgium-based twenty-seven country member European Union (EU) and the United States. The number of vehicles on roads has steadily increased- as has the models of those vehicles- Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Porsche, Range Rover, among others. The US$125 million (with a loan from Warsaw, Poland-based BGK Bank), 106,000 square meter (1,140,974 square feet) multi-story, 150-store Nikolsky Mall was damaged by a projectile, rebuilt, and reopened. It has a flagship Silpo supermarket on the lower level. Any given evening, hordes of young people flock to the location- as they would in any European country or city and town in the United States.
LINK TO RELATED ANALYSIS: 2/25/24- Postcard From Kharkiv, Ukraine. Surviving The First Year. Enduring The Second Year. Preparing For The Third Year. Hopefully, Final Year.
This is not to suggest that all-is-well in Kharkiv. There are daily air raid sirens impacting the city, suburbs, and surrounding areas. When those sounds are heard, management of the Nikolsky Mall evacuates customers and employees from the structure. Rather than leave the structure and go somewhere else, many who were in the structure will wait outside of the main entrance until permitted to return.
President Zelensky said: “Regarding the return of the residents of Kharkiv: as you can observe, I do not believe Kharkiv is adequately secure at this juncture for me to recommend that people return. This decision rests with the citizens of Kharkiv themselves.”
Suggestion for what President Zelensky might have said: “I remain in awe of the resiliency shown by the residents of Kharkiv. You have endured a horrible two years- and now a third year of war. Today, your government has yet to create a shield which would protect every man, every woman, and every child. We continue to work toward this goal. Visiting Kharkiv today I see people returning, people arriving for the first time, businesses re-opening, new businesses opening, more vehicles on the roads. I only ask you to be vigilant, careful, and recognize the daily uncertainties. If you feel you can be safe, then be here. If your business can operate, maintain, and create vitally important jobs, then be here. The confidence you show to one another, to your fellow Ukrainians, and to those throughout the world inspires.”
Kyiv Independent
Kyiv, Ukraine
1 March 2024
Kharkiv is not yet safe enough for residents to return to the city, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on March 1.
"As for the return of Kharkiv residents: you see, I don't think Kharkiv is so protected at the moment that I can advise people to return," Zelensky stated. "This is the choice of Kharkiv residents."
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is in the east of the country, just about 30 kilometers from the Russian border. Due to its proximity to the border with Russia, Kharkiv Oblast and the regional capital have faced near-daily attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion. Part of the region was also occupied in early February 2022 before its liberation in early September. Last month, a Russian drone struck a gas station in Kharkiv, creating a large fire that engulfed 15 residential homes and killed at least seven people, including three children.
President Zelensky said today that Ukraine's military must not only strengthen air defense in the region but also work to push Russian troops further away from the cities to bring security back to Kharkiv. "Otherwise, it will be very difficult to fully defend Kharkiv, even if we reinforce it with appropriate modern air defense systems. We are looking for opportunities to strengthen Kharkiv's air defense in any case. This is our task today." More than 20,000 buildings have been destroyed in Kharkiv since Feb. 24, 2022, according to Ukrainian government figures. Zelensky remarked, “Regarding the return of the residents of Kharkiv: as you can observe, I do not believe Kharkiv is adequately secure at this juncture for me to recommend that people return. This decision rests with the citizens of Kharkiv themselves.”
Another Translation of Quote: “Without moving Russian troops away from these urban areas, no matter how much we fortify our air defense with modern systems, it will be immensely challenging to completely secure Kharkiv. Nevertheless, we are actively seeking ways to enhance the air defense capabilities for Kharkiv. Fulfilling this task is of prime importance today,” said Zelensky.