1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:05,349 --> 00:00:07,900 Well , good afternoon . And thanks for 3 00:00:07,909 --> 00:00:10,659 welcoming me back to Kev and to this 4 00:00:10,670 --> 00:00:14,609 proud Academy director Maleko . 5 00:00:16,030 --> 00:00:18,086 I'm very grateful for those generous 6 00:00:18,086 --> 00:00:21,889 words . And speaking of outstanding 7 00:00:21,899 --> 00:00:25,030 diplomats , all Americans should be 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,829 proud of our tireless and fearless 9 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,879 ambassador Bridget brink , ambassador . 10 00:00:30,889 --> 00:00:33,056 Thanks for doing the tremendous work . 11 00:00:38,869 --> 00:00:41,049 Let me also thank my good friend , 12 00:00:41,310 --> 00:00:45,159 Minister Umarov Bruce . Thanks for that 13 00:00:45,169 --> 00:00:47,639 very kind introduction and for your 14 00:00:47,650 --> 00:00:49,959 tremendous service to your country . 15 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:53,720 Ladies and gentlemen , it's a great 16 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,000 honor to be here with you today . I'd 17 00:00:56,009 --> 00:00:58,909 like to like to talk today about 18 00:00:58,919 --> 00:01:02,310 Ukraine's just war of self defense and 19 00:01:02,319 --> 00:01:05,199 the road ahead . I'd like to start by 20 00:01:05,209 --> 00:01:08,400 echoing the words of President Kennedy 21 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,860 in his historic 1963 speech in Berlin . 22 00:01:15,730 --> 00:01:17,739 There are some who say 23 00:01:19,559 --> 00:01:21,726 that they don't understand or say that 24 00:01:21,726 --> 00:01:23,892 they don't understand what is at stake 25 00:01:23,892 --> 00:01:25,559 between the free world and an 26 00:01:25,559 --> 00:01:29,489 aggressive tyrant like Putin . And I 27 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:33,470 say to them , let them come to Kiev . 28 00:01:35,339 --> 00:01:37,610 There are some who say that both sides 29 00:01:37,620 --> 00:01:39,510 are to blame for Putin's war of 30 00:01:39,519 --> 00:01:43,440 aggression . Let them come to Kev . 31 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:47,689 There are some who blur the lines 32 00:01:47,689 --> 00:01:49,419 between aggressor and victim . 33 00:01:52,050 --> 00:01:55,879 Let them come to key and there are some 34 00:01:55,889 --> 00:01:59,269 who deny that the Kremlin targets 35 00:01:59,279 --> 00:02:03,260 Ukrainian civilians . Let them 36 00:02:03,269 --> 00:02:06,910 come to Kev . There are some who 37 00:02:06,919 --> 00:02:10,009 say that Ukraine isn't a real nation , 38 00:02:12,729 --> 00:02:14,229 let them come to Kev . 39 00:02:16,589 --> 00:02:19,669 And finally , there are some who claim 40 00:02:19,679 --> 00:02:23,059 that Ukraine lacks the courage to 41 00:02:23,070 --> 00:02:26,369 prevail . Let them come to Keith . 42 00:02:29,990 --> 00:02:32,410 Ladies and gentlemen , let us never 43 00:02:32,419 --> 00:02:36,360 forget how this war began for years . 44 00:02:36,369 --> 00:02:39,679 Putin had harassed and assaulted the 45 00:02:39,690 --> 00:02:42,199 independent nation state of Ukraine . 46 00:02:43,179 --> 00:02:47,110 And on February 24th , 2022 47 00:02:48,339 --> 00:02:50,506 Putin crossed the line into an all out 48 00:02:50,506 --> 00:02:54,389 invasion and the Kremlin started the 49 00:02:54,399 --> 00:02:56,619 largest war in Europe since world war 50 00:02:56,630 --> 00:03:00,339 two . Now Putin's war of 51 00:03:00,350 --> 00:03:03,910 choice poses fundamental questions to 52 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,029 every government in every person 53 00:03:07,940 --> 00:03:11,720 who seeks a decent and secure 54 00:03:11,729 --> 00:03:15,169 world . And so I asked 55 00:03:15,179 --> 00:03:18,690 today , do rules matter , 56 00:03:21,050 --> 00:03:24,110 do rights matter ? Does 57 00:03:24,119 --> 00:03:25,669 sovereignty matter ? 58 00:03:28,029 --> 00:03:31,740 I believe that they do . President 59 00:03:31,750 --> 00:03:35,520 Biden believes that they do and 60 00:03:35,529 --> 00:03:39,139 every free citizen of Ukraine believes 61 00:03:39,149 --> 00:03:39,889 that they do 62 00:03:43,070 --> 00:03:45,070 when the largest military in Europe 63 00:03:45,070 --> 00:03:48,240 becomes a force of aggression , the 64 00:03:48,250 --> 00:03:50,229 whole continent feels the shock . 65 00:03:52,050 --> 00:03:54,100 When a permanent member of the UN 66 00:03:54,110 --> 00:03:57,740 Security Council tries to deny 67 00:03:57,750 --> 00:04:00,210 self rule to more than 40 million 68 00:04:00,220 --> 00:04:03,710 people , the whole world feels the blow . 69 00:04:05,460 --> 00:04:08,820 And when a dictator puts his imperial 70 00:04:08,830 --> 00:04:11,970 fantasies ahead of the rights of a free 71 00:04:11,979 --> 00:04:15,460 people , the whole international 72 00:04:15,470 --> 00:04:18,570 system feels the outrage . 73 00:04:20,378 --> 00:04:22,489 And so that's why nations of goodwill 74 00:04:22,489 --> 00:04:25,158 from every corner of the planet have 75 00:04:25,169 --> 00:04:28,709 seen and have risen to 76 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,929 Ukraine's defenses and that's why the 77 00:04:31,940 --> 00:04:33,773 United States and our allies and 78 00:04:33,773 --> 00:04:37,250 partners have proudly become the 79 00:04:37,260 --> 00:04:39,929 arsenal of Ukrainian democracy . 80 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,500 America's values call , call us to 81 00:04:45,510 --> 00:04:48,399 stand by a peaceful democracy fighting 82 00:04:48,410 --> 00:04:52,350 for its life . And America's 83 00:04:52,359 --> 00:04:56,230 security demands that we stand 84 00:04:56,239 --> 00:04:59,660 up to Putin's aggression . America's 85 00:04:59,670 --> 00:05:03,579 security demands that 86 00:05:03,589 --> 00:05:05,589 we stand up to Putin's aggression . 87 00:05:07,739 --> 00:05:10,200 Ukraine matters to us security for four 88 00:05:10,209 --> 00:05:13,630 blunt reasons . Putin's 89 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,929 war threatens European 90 00:05:16,940 --> 00:05:20,209 security . Putin's war 91 00:05:20,220 --> 00:05:22,390 challenges , our NATO allies , 92 00:05:23,799 --> 00:05:27,269 Putin's war attacks , our shared 93 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,899 values and Putin's war 94 00:05:31,750 --> 00:05:35,649 is a frontal assault on the rules based 95 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:37,771 international order that keeps us all 96 00:05:37,771 --> 00:05:41,470 safe . No , 97 00:05:42,540 --> 00:05:46,179 this invasion hasn't gone the way that 98 00:05:46,190 --> 00:05:49,519 the Kremlin plan after 99 00:05:49,529 --> 00:05:53,329 970 days of war , 100 00:05:54,679 --> 00:05:58,119 Putin has not achieved one single 101 00:05:58,950 --> 00:06:02,869 strategic objective , not one . 102 00:06:04,500 --> 00:06:07,929 President Zaleski didn't flee . K 103 00:06:08,130 --> 00:06:12,089 didn't fall and Ukraine didn't 104 00:06:12,100 --> 00:06:15,329 fold instead . 105 00:06:16,500 --> 00:06:19,250 Russia has paid a staggering price for 106 00:06:19,260 --> 00:06:20,790 Putin's imperial folly . 107 00:06:23,859 --> 00:06:26,019 Russian forces have suffered hundreds 108 00:06:26,029 --> 00:06:27,910 of thousands of casualties since 109 00:06:28,010 --> 00:06:31,700 February 2022 . And 110 00:06:31,709 --> 00:06:34,929 according to the Center for Strategic 111 00:06:34,940 --> 00:06:38,799 and International Studies , Russian 112 00:06:38,809 --> 00:06:41,320 losses in just the first year of 113 00:06:41,329 --> 00:06:44,820 Putin's war were more than Moscow's 114 00:06:44,829 --> 00:06:47,040 losses in all of his conflicts since 115 00:06:47,049 --> 00:06:49,779 World war I I combined 116 00:06:52,850 --> 00:06:55,017 and Russia has had to dig so deep into 117 00:06:55,017 --> 00:06:58,589 Soviet stockpiles that it is attacking 118 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,329 Ukraine with tanks from the time of 119 00:07:01,339 --> 00:07:02,369 World War two . 120 00:07:05,049 --> 00:07:08,790 Russia has squandered more than $200 121 00:07:08,799 --> 00:07:11,190 billion to sustain its invasion . 122 00:07:13,109 --> 00:07:16,290 And Russia has given up untold billions 123 00:07:16,309 --> 00:07:19,459 of dollars more in previously 124 00:07:19,470 --> 00:07:21,429 anticipated economic growth . 125 00:07:24,369 --> 00:07:27,809 Now , Ukraine has suffered terribly at 126 00:07:27,820 --> 00:07:31,170 Putin's hands since February 127 00:07:31,179 --> 00:07:35,179 2022 . According to the UN . Russian 128 00:07:35,190 --> 00:07:38,989 forces have killed more than 11,000 129 00:07:39,019 --> 00:07:41,869 Ukrainian civilians in verified 130 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:45,700 civilian casualty incidents . And that 131 00:07:45,709 --> 00:07:48,739 includes more than 600 Children . 132 00:07:51,779 --> 00:07:54,380 The UN says that Putin's forces have 133 00:07:54,390 --> 00:07:58,369 bombed more than 250 Ukrainian schools 134 00:07:58,380 --> 00:08:01,899 and hospitals and they've wrecked 135 00:08:01,910 --> 00:08:04,299 treasured sites of Ukrainian history 136 00:08:04,959 --> 00:08:07,309 culture in memory , 137 00:08:09,739 --> 00:08:12,089 but the Kremlin's malice has not broken 138 00:08:12,100 --> 00:08:15,679 Ukraine's spirit . Ukraine stands 139 00:08:15,690 --> 00:08:17,679 unbowed and strengthened . 140 00:08:20,769 --> 00:08:24,010 You know , your fight began with 141 00:08:24,019 --> 00:08:28,010 soldiers setting tank ambushes on the 142 00:08:28,019 --> 00:08:31,480 streets of Kiev and with 143 00:08:31,489 --> 00:08:35,130 ordinary citizens making Molotov 144 00:08:35,140 --> 00:08:37,330 cocktails to defend their homes . 145 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,016 And it continues today with a battle 146 00:08:41,016 --> 00:08:44,559 tested Ukrainian military and security 147 00:08:44,568 --> 00:08:48,039 forces and a roaring Ukrainian 148 00:08:48,049 --> 00:08:49,859 defense industrial base 149 00:08:53,179 --> 00:08:55,419 and Ukrainian factories are now pumping 150 00:08:55,429 --> 00:08:57,690 out some of the best uavs in the world 151 00:08:59,549 --> 00:09:02,250 and experienced Ukrainian air defenders 152 00:09:02,260 --> 00:09:04,371 are protecting their forces and their 153 00:09:04,371 --> 00:09:07,840 families . And your 154 00:09:07,849 --> 00:09:10,520 soldiers have shown incredible skill . 155 00:09:12,739 --> 00:09:15,219 Your front line defenders have shown 156 00:09:15,539 --> 00:09:17,200 heroic resolve 157 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:22,700 and your citizens have shown stunning 158 00:09:22,710 --> 00:09:23,559 courage . 159 00:09:26,130 --> 00:09:28,510 Ukraine's resistance is powered by the 160 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,960 emergency workers who rushed to the 161 00:09:30,969 --> 00:09:34,609 scene and by the energy workers who 162 00:09:34,619 --> 00:09:36,349 raced to fix the damage of the 163 00:09:36,359 --> 00:09:40,359 Kremlin's attacks and by the doctors 164 00:09:40,369 --> 00:09:42,536 who risked their own lives to save the 165 00:09:42,536 --> 00:09:46,299 wounded and by the nurses who provide 166 00:09:46,309 --> 00:09:49,250 comfort in hours of anguish 167 00:09:51,179 --> 00:09:54,559 and by the clergy who tend to suffering 168 00:09:54,570 --> 00:09:58,419 souls , by the teachers who 169 00:09:58,590 --> 00:10:01,030 keep Ukraine's school schools open 170 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,940 and by the parents and grandparents who 171 00:10:04,950 --> 00:10:07,320 fight every day to keep their Children 172 00:10:07,330 --> 00:10:10,900 safe and give them a future of 173 00:10:10,909 --> 00:10:14,700 peace . And so 174 00:10:14,710 --> 00:10:17,869 your admirers around the world are 175 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,270 studying the Ukraine way of resistance 176 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,719 and we strongly encourage the reforms 177 00:10:24,729 --> 00:10:27,099 that Ukraine has launched to help real 178 00:10:27,109 --> 00:10:29,053 help realize its people's hopes of 179 00:10:29,053 --> 00:10:31,165 joining the European Union . And NATO 180 00:10:34,309 --> 00:10:36,142 Ukraine's defenders have brought 181 00:10:36,142 --> 00:10:39,500 inspiration to the world and glory to 182 00:10:39,510 --> 00:10:41,390 Ukraine , Slavo Ukrainian . 183 00:10:48,809 --> 00:10:51,450 Yet this struggle imposes obligations 184 00:10:51,460 --> 00:10:55,140 on us all . As 185 00:10:55,150 --> 00:10:57,799 President Biden told the Un General 186 00:10:57,809 --> 00:11:01,700 Assembly in September , our 187 00:11:01,710 --> 00:11:05,619 test is to make sure that the forces 188 00:11:05,630 --> 00:11:09,049 holding us together are stronger than 189 00:11:09,059 --> 00:11:11,650 the forces that are pulling us apart 190 00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:17,609 and make no mistake . The 191 00:11:17,619 --> 00:11:20,090 outcome of Ukraine's fight for freedom 192 00:11:21,260 --> 00:11:24,729 will help set the trajectory for global 193 00:11:24,739 --> 00:11:27,099 security in the 21st century . 194 00:11:29,150 --> 00:11:31,489 Europe's future is on the line . 195 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,289 Nato's strengths is on the line 196 00:11:39,299 --> 00:11:41,159 in America's security 197 00:11:43,539 --> 00:11:47,450 is on the line . So the United 198 00:11:47,460 --> 00:11:49,293 States government has moved with 199 00:11:49,293 --> 00:11:51,760 urgency and purpose 200 00:11:53,119 --> 00:11:55,159 and we've seen a huge progress that 201 00:11:55,169 --> 00:11:57,520 principled diplomacy can produce the 202 00:11:57,530 --> 00:12:00,090 kind of diplomacy taught right here in 203 00:12:00,099 --> 00:12:03,919 this academy . Since April 204 00:12:03,929 --> 00:12:06,969 2022 I have been convening the Ukraine 205 00:12:06,979 --> 00:12:10,140 defense contact group , coalition of 206 00:12:10,150 --> 00:12:12,380 some 50 countries from around the world 207 00:12:12,599 --> 00:12:14,799 determined to help Ukraine fight 208 00:12:14,809 --> 00:12:18,409 Putin's aggression . The contact group 209 00:12:18,419 --> 00:12:21,159 has met some 24 times now 210 00:12:22,789 --> 00:12:25,109 and I know that Minister Umarov and my 211 00:12:25,119 --> 00:12:27,175 other Ukrainian friends refer to the 212 00:12:27,175 --> 00:12:29,950 contact group as the Ramstein format 213 00:12:30,849 --> 00:12:32,682 after Ramstein airbase where the 214 00:12:32,682 --> 00:12:34,900 contact group was forced . 215 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,340 And each time that I'm back at Ramstein , 216 00:12:42,809 --> 00:12:45,830 I find it moving to look around that 217 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,760 long table and to see in 218 00:12:49,770 --> 00:12:52,479 human form , the global indignation 219 00:12:52,489 --> 00:12:56,229 over Putin's crimes . And to 220 00:12:56,239 --> 00:12:58,940 see the determined defense leaders from 221 00:12:58,950 --> 00:13:01,090 around the world , from Argentina to 222 00:13:01,099 --> 00:13:04,229 Australia and from , from Tunisia to 223 00:13:04,239 --> 00:13:07,219 Turkey . And it has worked 224 00:13:09,929 --> 00:13:11,818 America's allies and partners are 225 00:13:11,818 --> 00:13:14,229 sharing the burden of our shared 226 00:13:14,239 --> 00:13:18,140 security and that's the power of 227 00:13:18,150 --> 00:13:22,080 Ramstein , you know , as a 228 00:13:22,090 --> 00:13:26,059 percentage of GDP a dozen 229 00:13:26,270 --> 00:13:29,340 us allies and partners now provide more 230 00:13:29,349 --> 00:13:31,571 security assistance to Ukraine than the 231 00:13:31,571 --> 00:13:35,359 United States does . And members of 232 00:13:35,650 --> 00:13:37,706 the contact group have provided more 233 00:13:37,706 --> 00:13:39,919 than $1 billion in direct security 234 00:13:39,929 --> 00:13:43,359 assistance to Ukraine . And I'm proud 235 00:13:43,369 --> 00:13:47,099 to remind you that the United 236 00:13:47,109 --> 00:13:49,099 States is doing our part as well . 237 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,750 My country has committed more than $58 238 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,704 billion in security assistance for 239 00:13:57,704 --> 00:14:01,400 Ukraine . Since February 2022 we've 240 00:14:01,409 --> 00:14:05,090 delivered two patriot batteries and 241 00:14:05,099 --> 00:14:07,210 dozens of other air defense systems . 242 00:14:08,150 --> 00:14:11,309 We provided 24 high Mars rocket systems 243 00:14:12,059 --> 00:14:14,170 and thousands of armored vehicles and 244 00:14:14,170 --> 00:14:16,900 drones and millions of rounds of 245 00:14:16,909 --> 00:14:19,187 artillery and other critical munitions . 246 00:14:21,830 --> 00:14:25,780 Now , that is a very real financial 247 00:14:25,789 --> 00:14:29,530 commitment , but for anyone who 248 00:14:29,539 --> 00:14:31,483 thinks that American leadership is 249 00:14:31,483 --> 00:14:35,169 expensive , well , consider the price 250 00:14:35,179 --> 00:14:36,450 of American retreat 251 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,719 in the face of aggression . The price 252 00:14:42,729 --> 00:14:46,650 of principle is always dart by the cost 253 00:14:46,659 --> 00:14:47,750 of capitulation , 254 00:14:50,789 --> 00:14:54,559 our allies and partners know that . And 255 00:14:54,570 --> 00:14:57,219 I've I've been proud to watch the pro 256 00:14:57,309 --> 00:15:00,969 Ukrainian coalition dig deep . So just 257 00:15:00,979 --> 00:15:03,869 consider Germany host . The Ramstein 258 00:15:04,099 --> 00:15:07,880 air base . Germany alone has provided 259 00:15:08,599 --> 00:15:11,549 or committed to military assistance for 260 00:15:11,559 --> 00:15:14,640 Ukraine valued at close to $31 billion . 261 00:15:16,559 --> 00:15:18,670 And through the contact group and its 262 00:15:18,670 --> 00:15:20,700 capability coalitions , Ukraine's 263 00:15:20,710 --> 00:15:22,820 friends are now forging an 264 00:15:22,830 --> 00:15:26,799 unprecedented co ordinated 13 country 265 00:15:26,809 --> 00:15:29,380 drive to increase industrial production 266 00:15:29,909 --> 00:15:31,576 to meet Ukraine's battlefield 267 00:15:31,576 --> 00:15:35,239 requirements and to build up the force 268 00:15:35,450 --> 00:15:38,309 to deter and repel Russian aggression 269 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:42,229 in the future . And 270 00:15:42,239 --> 00:15:44,609 so not since World war two , 271 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,359 as America sys systematically rallied 272 00:15:49,369 --> 00:15:51,369 so many countries to provide such a 273 00:15:51,369 --> 00:15:54,030 range of industrial and military 274 00:15:54,039 --> 00:15:56,849 assistance for a partner in need . 275 00:16:00,650 --> 00:16:03,590 Now there is no silver bullet , 276 00:16:05,489 --> 00:16:09,039 no single capability will turn the 277 00:16:09,049 --> 00:16:12,650 tide . No one system will end 278 00:16:12,659 --> 00:16:16,429 Putin's assault . What matters is the 279 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,390 way that Ukraine fights back ? What 280 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,640 matters is the combined effects of your 281 00:16:21,650 --> 00:16:24,690 military capabilities and what matters 282 00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:27,309 is staying focused on what works . 283 00:16:30,380 --> 00:16:32,630 Now , I believe that President Biden 284 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,729 and Vice Vice President Harris will 285 00:16:34,830 --> 00:16:38,030 have a pro proud place in history for 286 00:16:38,039 --> 00:16:40,320 rallying the world to defend Ukraine . 287 00:16:42,229 --> 00:16:45,200 And so will the allies and partners who 288 00:16:45,210 --> 00:16:47,789 seek a free Ukraine in a safer world ? 289 00:16:49,489 --> 00:16:53,359 But the proudest place of all will 290 00:16:53,369 --> 00:16:55,159 go to the Ukrainian people 291 00:16:57,169 --> 00:17:00,780 from President Zelinski on down , your 292 00:17:00,789 --> 00:17:03,049 leaders chose to fight back . 293 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,344 And the people of Ukraine have met 294 00:17:07,344 --> 00:17:09,979 Russia's aggression and atrocities with 295 00:17:09,989 --> 00:17:12,250 magnificent defiance . 296 00:17:15,390 --> 00:17:18,439 The spirit of Ukraine has inspired the 297 00:17:18,449 --> 00:17:22,420 world and it has reminded us 298 00:17:22,430 --> 00:17:24,609 all to never take our freedom for 299 00:17:24,619 --> 00:17:25,619 granted . 300 00:17:28,660 --> 00:17:32,250 And so we refuse to blame Ukraine for 301 00:17:32,260 --> 00:17:35,890 the Kremlin's aggression . We 302 00:17:35,900 --> 00:17:38,790 refuse to offer excuses for Putin's 303 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:42,130 atrocities and we refuse to 304 00:17:42,140 --> 00:17:45,290 pretend that appeasement will stop an 305 00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:48,969 invasion . We fully understand the 306 00:17:48,979 --> 00:17:52,530 moral chasm between aggressor and 307 00:17:52,540 --> 00:17:56,010 defender and we will not be gulled by 308 00:17:56,020 --> 00:17:58,500 the frauds and the falsehoods of the 309 00:17:58,510 --> 00:18:01,380 Kremlin's apologists . 310 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,140 And we will continue to defend the 311 00:18:07,150 --> 00:18:09,039 Ukrainians people , the Ukrainian 312 00:18:09,039 --> 00:18:12,000 people's right to live in a , in a sec , 313 00:18:12,010 --> 00:18:14,000 in security and in freedom . 314 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,119 The Kremlin has forced us into an age 315 00:18:21,130 --> 00:18:23,739 where Europe's largest military 316 00:18:24,989 --> 00:18:28,010 invades Europe's second largest country 317 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,849 and we dare not believe as the novelist 318 00:18:34,859 --> 00:18:38,619 George Elliot once wrote that the giant 319 00:18:38,630 --> 00:18:41,709 forces that used to shake the earth are 320 00:18:41,719 --> 00:18:43,052 forever laid to sleep . 321 00:18:46,869 --> 00:18:49,189 America's goals remain clear , 322 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,520 achievable and principled . 323 00:18:53,810 --> 00:18:57,130 We seek a free and sovereign Ukraine 324 00:18:57,140 --> 00:18:59,780 that can defend itself from Russian 325 00:19:00,060 --> 00:19:02,979 aggression today and deter Russian 326 00:19:02,989 --> 00:19:06,800 aggression in the future . We 327 00:19:06,810 --> 00:19:10,550 seek a more secure Europe in a 328 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:12,739 reinforced commitment from nations of 329 00:19:12,750 --> 00:19:15,150 goodwill worldwide to an open 330 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,489 international system of rules rights 331 00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:18,869 and responsibilities . 332 00:19:23,969 --> 00:19:26,310 I know that the Kremlin's war 333 00:19:27,949 --> 00:19:30,500 is a nightmare from which the Ukrainian 334 00:19:30,510 --> 00:19:32,130 people are trying to await . 335 00:19:35,530 --> 00:19:37,419 But we should all understand that 336 00:19:37,419 --> 00:19:39,209 Putin's assault is a warning . 337 00:19:41,729 --> 00:19:44,630 It is a sneak preview of a world built 338 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:46,459 by tyrants and thugs . 339 00:19:48,660 --> 00:19:51,630 A chaotic violent world carved into 340 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,150 spheres of influence . A world where 341 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,969 bullies trample their smaller neighbors 342 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,859 and in a world where aggressors force 343 00:20:00,869 --> 00:20:02,729 free people to live in fear . 344 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,510 So we face a hinge in history . 345 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,770 We can continue to insist that cross 346 00:20:14,910 --> 00:20:17,469 border invasion is the cardinal sin of 347 00:20:17,479 --> 00:20:21,199 world politics and we can 348 00:20:21,209 --> 00:20:24,040 continue to stand firm against Putin's 349 00:20:24,050 --> 00:20:27,439 aggression or 350 00:20:28,420 --> 00:20:32,300 we can let Putin have his way and we 351 00:20:32,310 --> 00:20:33,921 can condemn our Children and 352 00:20:33,921 --> 00:20:36,800 grandchildren to live in a far bloodier 353 00:20:36,810 --> 00:20:38,310 and more dangerous world . 354 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,599 So we must continue to face squarely 355 00:20:44,609 --> 00:20:47,969 face the specter of an aggressive 356 00:20:47,979 --> 00:20:51,569 Russia backed by other autocrats from 357 00:20:51,579 --> 00:20:53,030 North Korea and Iran . 358 00:20:56,430 --> 00:20:59,170 If Ukraine falls under Putin's boot , 359 00:21:01,479 --> 00:21:04,010 all of Europe will fall under Putin's 360 00:21:04,020 --> 00:21:04,540 shadow . 361 00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:11,069 Putin is not just hammering at the 362 00:21:11,079 --> 00:21:13,319 norms of the international system built 363 00:21:13,329 --> 00:21:16,410 at such a terrible cost by the allies 364 00:21:16,420 --> 00:21:19,680 after World War two , he is shoving us 365 00:21:19,689 --> 00:21:22,430 all toward a world where right , where , 366 00:21:22,439 --> 00:21:26,150 where might makes right ? And we're 367 00:21:27,319 --> 00:21:31,229 empire Trump's sovereignty and he is 368 00:21:31,239 --> 00:21:34,109 determined to show that his brand of 369 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,890 autocracy can outlast the world's 370 00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:40,430 democracies . You 371 00:21:40,439 --> 00:21:42,750 see , Putin does not just think that 372 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:46,619 his will is stronger , he thinks that 373 00:21:46,630 --> 00:21:48,849 his system is better , 374 00:21:50,510 --> 00:21:52,530 but he could not be more wrong . 375 00:21:54,849 --> 00:21:57,550 You know , few forces are more powerful 376 00:21:57,939 --> 00:21:59,989 than a democracy fighting for its 377 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,770 freedom . As I have 378 00:22:03,780 --> 00:22:07,569 said , peace is not self 379 00:22:07,579 --> 00:22:11,270 executing order 380 00:22:11,489 --> 00:22:13,729 does not preserve itself 381 00:22:15,569 --> 00:22:18,439 and the principles of freedom and 382 00:22:18,449 --> 00:22:21,900 sovereignty and human rights do not 383 00:22:21,910 --> 00:22:23,430 uphold themselves . 384 00:22:26,109 --> 00:22:28,650 Yes , there is a price to be paid for 385 00:22:28,660 --> 00:22:32,339 human freedom . But it is dwarfed 386 00:22:32,780 --> 00:22:34,947 by the price that we would all pay for 387 00:22:34,947 --> 00:22:37,069 letting aggression go unchecked . 388 00:22:40,310 --> 00:22:42,479 So President Biden has chosen the path 389 00:22:42,489 --> 00:22:44,599 of mutual responsibility and common 390 00:22:44,609 --> 00:22:48,469 security and we have chosen to 391 00:22:48,479 --> 00:22:50,750 share the responsibility of ensuring 392 00:22:51,459 --> 00:22:54,170 that Ukraine remains sovereign and free 393 00:22:56,339 --> 00:23:00,310 and make no mistake . The United States 394 00:23:00,319 --> 00:23:04,160 does not seek war with Russia . And 395 00:23:04,170 --> 00:23:06,890 even as Putin makes profoundly reckless 396 00:23:06,900 --> 00:23:09,349 and dangerous threats about nuclear war , 397 00:23:10,569 --> 00:23:13,390 we will continue to behave with the 398 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,550 responsibility that the world rightly 399 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:17,550 demands of a nuclear armed state . 400 00:23:19,939 --> 00:23:22,030 So the United States will uphold our 401 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,689 sworn NATO obligations . United States 402 00:23:25,699 --> 00:23:27,890 will defend every inch of NATO 403 00:23:27,900 --> 00:23:30,510 territory and the United States will 404 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,829 get Ukraine what it needs to fight for 405 00:23:32,839 --> 00:23:34,530 its survival and security . 406 00:23:48,599 --> 00:23:50,821 Ladies and gentlemen , let's be clear , 407 00:23:51,890 --> 00:23:54,150 Ukraine does not belong to Putin . 408 00:23:56,079 --> 00:23:58,689 Ukraine belongs to the Ukrainian people 409 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,900 and Moscow will never prevail in 410 00:24:02,910 --> 00:24:03,469 Ukraine . 411 00:24:07,030 --> 00:24:09,141 You know , Putin thought that Ukraine 412 00:24:09,141 --> 00:24:11,680 would surrender . He was wrong . 413 00:24:13,140 --> 00:24:15,550 Putin thought that our democracies 414 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,910 would cave . He was wrong 415 00:24:20,339 --> 00:24:22,839 and Putin thought that the free world 416 00:24:23,369 --> 00:24:27,270 would cower , he was wrong 417 00:24:28,619 --> 00:24:32,430 and Putin thinks that he will win . He 418 00:24:32,439 --> 00:24:36,189 is wrong . And as I said in Halifax , 419 00:24:36,199 --> 00:24:39,780 almost two years ago , free people 420 00:24:40,260 --> 00:24:43,410 will always refuse to replace an open 421 00:24:43,420 --> 00:24:46,760 order of rules and rights with one 422 00:24:46,770 --> 00:24:49,270 dictated by force and fear . 423 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:55,180 Now , Ukraine faces complex challenges 424 00:24:55,189 --> 00:24:58,699 in the days to come . And as then Vice 425 00:24:58,709 --> 00:25:01,219 President Biden said at this academy in 426 00:25:01,229 --> 00:25:04,859 2014 , democracy is not a 427 00:25:04,869 --> 00:25:05,680 destination . 428 00:25:08,319 --> 00:25:10,810 Democracy is a road travel 429 00:25:12,260 --> 00:25:15,040 and it's a hard road to travel . 430 00:25:18,109 --> 00:25:21,459 But you have shown the world 431 00:25:22,849 --> 00:25:24,880 the moral power of a free people 432 00:25:24,890 --> 00:25:26,834 fighting to defend their country . 433 00:25:28,780 --> 00:25:31,969 That force can bend the arc of history . 434 00:25:34,849 --> 00:25:36,550 Ladies and gentlemen , never 435 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,989 underestimate the strategic advantage 436 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,880 of a just cause , never underestimate 437 00:25:43,890 --> 00:25:47,660 the resolve of free citizens and 438 00:25:47,670 --> 00:25:50,119 never underestimate the power of a 439 00:25:50,130 --> 00:25:53,619 democracy summoned to defend itself . 440 00:25:56,969 --> 00:25:59,339 Ukraine has chosen the course of 441 00:25:59,349 --> 00:26:03,030 courage and so have we 442 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,530 my friends ? You walk a hard road 443 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,699 but you do not walk it alone . Thank 444 00:26:12,709 --> 00:26:15,150 you , God bless you and may God bless 445 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,099 all who fight to defend freedom .