Honorable Mr. President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski,

Honorable Mr. President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi,

Honorable Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Bojan Marichic,

Honorable Minister of Defense, Mrs. Slavjanka Petrovska,

Honorable State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Filip Tosevski,

Your Excellencies,

Dear guests and participants!

I would like to thank you for supporting Ukraine, and also for finding the time to join us at this Conference, which is dedicated to the heroic year of resistance of Ukrainians, organized with the assistance of CIVIL.

Today marks a year since Ukraine began resisting the brutal russian aggression, which changed the world order.

In the aftermath of two terrible wars in the 20th century, countries tried to, and in fact they did, rebuild the global security architecture. A number of international organizations of a universal character were created, hundreds of documents regulating security, peace and human rights were developed and signed.

At four o'clock in the morning on February 24^th, 2022, the world changed not only for Ukrainians - the world order in general changed. For Ukrainians, the world order has changed in the most brutal way - with russian missiles and Iranian drones, war crimes and crimes against humanity which were and are still being committed by the russian occupiers.

The security architecture in Europe began to change significantly since February 2014, when the russian federation temporarily occupied the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and some areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The international reaction, including the reaction of international organizations, to the unlawful and illegal policy of russia should have been more decisive.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the kremlin's desire to destroy the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian statehood has intensified, inclusively because the plan for a quick occupation of Kyiv in 3 to 7 days was not implemented.

The only reason for this unprovoked aggression was the russian state's and its top leadership's neo-imperial ambitions. russia's president made a fatal mistake.

In reality, Ukraine has not only stopped the invasion but has also been able to free nearly half of its newly occupied territories through successful counter-offensives.

The component that the russian federation, as a terrorist state, did not take into account is the Ukrainian resistance, which has a history of many generations.

The Revolution of Dignity became a dramatic and one of the decisive points on our historical scale. The Maidan in Kyiv in November 2013 gathered thousands of people in response to the decision of the then Yanukovych government to suspend the process of preparation for the conclusion of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. Protests spread across Ukraine. On February 20^th, 2014, snipers opened fire on people from the roofs of buildings around the Maidan in Kyiv. The Heavenly Hundred are those who were killed that day, their photos, which remind us of the need for resistance, can be seen in the center of Kyiv, on Instytutska Street.

However, the kremlin did not take into account neither the attitude of Ukrainians towards the European choice, for which such a high price was paid, nor the memory of generations of Ukrainians who went through stalinist repressions and holodomors-genocides.

The resistance can only increase.

The courage of Ukrainian soldiers today is a phenomenon. We have a smaller army and fewer weapons. Ukrainian defenders have the strength of spirit that forced many in the world to rethink the common values as a whole.

Can anyone just break into someone else's sovereign territory - shoot a family, rape a child, rob, deport, kidnap!? The answer is obvious. Europe has united in opposing the war crimes of the russian federation and the crimes against humanity committed by the russians on Ukraine’s territory. Ukraine receives substantial military and financial aid from EU and NATO countries.

The courage of the Ukrainians must now be supported by tanks, long-range weapons and fighter jets. Ukrainians give their lives not only defending their sovereign territory, Ukrainians defend the values by which the democratic civilized world lives.

Uncertainty and procrastination only increase Ukrainian victims. Delays only increase the possibility of the aggressor state - the russian federation to kill the civilian population of Ukraine, destroy Ukrainian cities, torture, deport Ukrainians and kidnap Ukrainian children.

The spirit of Ukrainian citizens and the support of the EU and NATO countries allowed Ukraine to maintain the work of all branches of government.

More support now means faster victory and peace.

Ukraine received the status of a candidate for EU membership and signed an application for accelerated accession to NATO.

Ukraine, which is fighting on the battlefield, also offers the development of security formats. Implementation  of the 10-point Peace Formula presented by President Zelenskyy will bring comprehensive, just and lasting peace to Ukraine and security to the whole world.

Many countries have already supported the Peace Formula, choosing for themselves the role of leader in the implementation of one or another step of the Peace Formula. Ukraine is waiting for a wider joining of other countries not only in the role of leaders, but also through coalition support for the steps of the Peace Formula.

Ukraine seeks to punish the leadership of the russian federation for the decision on armed aggression against Ukraine. This war is not only about Ukraine.

russia's brutal attack destroyed global security. Every Russian war criminal must be punished. The establishment of the Special Tribunal will enable russia's political and military leadership to be prosecuted for the gravest crime, the crime of aggression. Ukraine works actively with partners to establish the Tribunal.

And sanctions. The sanctions regime should not be only maintained but also strengthened. Strengthening sanctions is needed to ensure that russia is not able to manufacture and maintain high-tech weapons most notably missiles attacking civilians and civilian critical infrastructure.

We highly appreciate any kind of help, each voice within the UN GA, any hand that helps our people. How do we win this brutal war? Only by uniting. Only together.

Thank you for your support and attention, and now I would like to present to your attention a small video about the full-scale war russia has waged against Ukraine.