Today at 20:24
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed participants of the Bucha Summit 2026, delivering a powerful message on the importance of justice, accountability for Russian war crimes, and the role of the international community in preventing further aggression.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have just watched, in my view, a very important video – full of difficult, horrifying, and meaningful footage. It is not only recorded evidence of the atrocities committed by Putin and his army in Ukraine, nor merely a portrait of Russia today, nor a warning for Europe. It is an assessment for the civilized world, international institutions, and the law – for all who speak of defending shared values.”
Zelenskyy emphasized that what is missing from the visual record of Russia’s aggression is the prosecution of war criminals and the certainty that perpetrators will face justice:
“What is missing are the images of war criminals standing trial, of each killer being read their verdict, of all the inhuman people receiving inevitable punishment for what they have done. We must ensure these things are not left only in our statements, imaginations, or the tears and emotions of our people. Otherwise, the concept of ‘justice’ will be devalued. Only by defending truth and restoring justice can the world have a chance at a peaceful future.”
The President stressed that the memory of Bucha – and other atrocities across Ukraine – demands action, not just sympathy:
“The memory of Bucha requires decisions. It requires action. We need the swift launch of a Special Tribunal, an International Compensation Commission for Ukraine, the return of children kidnapped by Russia, and the impossibility of forgetting or forgiving the aggressor. Impunity must not replace punishment. The inevitability of consequences must apply to all Russian criminals, wherever they are, so that those responsible for the horrors in Bucha and across Ukraine face verdicts, not Schengen visas or political refuge.”
Zelenskyy warned that Russia continues its war while benefiting from two key factors: oil revenues funding the killing and impunity signaling it can continue aggression. He called on the world to respond with sanctions and legal mechanisms to stop Russian operations:
“Peace will come when Putin is deprived of both these things. Ukraine is acting through its own capabilities and diplomatic strikes, and the world can and must act through sanctions. Every European country needs legal mechanisms to stop Russia – to halt tankers, seize Russian oil, prevent Kremlin operations across the continent. Sympathy alone is not enough; the memory of Bucha demands results.”
Highlighting the scale of Russia’s aggression, Zelenskyy recalled the suffering of multiple Ukrainian cities under occupation and terror:
“Bucha endured 33 days of occupation – terror, torture, total evil – with over 600 killed. Russia called it staged. It always whitewashes its crimes, blaming the victim and claiming high purposes. Unlike the Nazis, whose crimes were punished after World War II, today partial easing of sanctions does not suffice.”
The President concluded by calling for unity, decisive action, and restoration of core human values:
“We must restore the strength of human life, freedom, truth, and especially justice. Only this will ensure a worthy and lasting peace in Ukraine – and therefore in Europe, in our shared home. Thank you for your support, for this summit, and for being here today.”
