Thread by @zoyashef

New Zelenskyy video. It's really strong. First, he addresses the "free people of a free Ukraine," in Ukrainian. Says it has ben another difficult day, but adds that we are "approaching peace for Ukraine." 1/17

Says Russian soldiers and officers know they can't win. "They flee the battlefield, abandon their equipment. We take the trophies and use them to protect Ukraine." Says Russia is now "one of the suppliers of equipment for our army." 2/

Zelenskyy now switches to Russian, and addresses Russian soldiers, "those who have already entered our land, and those who are preparing to be sent to fight us. Russian conscripts, listen to me especially carefully. Russian officers, you already understood everything." 3/

"From Ukraine, you will take nothing. You will take lives; there are so many of you. But your life will also be taken. What do you need to die for? ... I know you want to live." 4/

"We hear in your intercepted phone calls what you really think about this war, about this shame, and about your state. Your conversations with one another, your calls back home - we hear everything. We draw conclusions. We know who you are," Zelenskyy says. 5/

"So I am giving you a choice. A chance, on behalf of Ukrainians. A chance to live. If you surrender to our forces, we will treat you the way people ought to be treated ... The way you were not treated in your army. The way your army doesn't treat ours. Make your choice." 6/

Switches to Ukrainian, gives update on captured/destroyed equipment. Switches back to Russian. "I am grateful for those Russians who aren't stopping to tell the truth. Those who are fighting disinformation and are telling the truth," Zelenskyy says. 7/

Grateful to Russians who are "telling the real facts to their friends, close ones, loved ones. And personally to the lady who walked into the studio of Channel 1 with a poster against the war. Those who aren't afraid to protest." 8/

[He is referring to Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor working for Russia’s state-run Channel One, who ran onto set live on air, held up poster that said “Don’t believe the propaganda. They’re lying to you here" and shouted: "Stop the war. No to war." 9/

https://twitter.com/franakviacorka/status/1503445302119968769?s=21

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Zelenskyy continues in Russian, speaking to Russians: "For now, your country has not yet fully closed off from the rest of the world and turned into a very large North Korea. You must fight. You must not lose your chance." 10/

Switches to Ukrainian. Talks about EU's 4th sanctions package, "the fourth and I'm sure not the last." Says everyone who is responsible for helping Russia's war will be hit. "The whole world sees what is happening" in Ukraine. 11/

Zelenskyy says he has spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of Poland Duda, PM of Luxembourg Bettel. 12/

Now this is crucial bit. Zelenskyy says: "The conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Bennett is also important. As part of a negotiation effort to end this war as soon as possible. With a fair peace." 13/

[Bennett has been speaking with both sides, and there has been criticism of Israel for not doing more to help Ukraine. This is a nod to that - Zelenskyy is signalling that Bennett has been working behind the scenes on peace talks - but also that any peace deal must be fair.] 14/

Zelenskyy continues. Says his negotiating team has told him peace talks with Russia have been going "pretty well," but he shrugs and sounds skeptical. Adds: "But let's see. They continue tomorrow." 15/

Then gives update on new rules to help SMEs and businesses with tax reforms. For small business, says there's a voluntary tax. "Whoever can, pay. If you can't, no questions asked." Finally, speaks about medals and awards for Ukrainian troops, including 59 posthumously. 16

Watch (now with English subs): t.me/V_Zelenskiy_of… 17/17