# Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sciences Po – “A just peace is not just about square kilometers.” **Date de l'événement :** 13/03/2026 * Publié le 13/03/2026 ### Date 13/03/2026 ## Chapô **On March 13, 2026, during his visit to France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was welcomed at Sciences Po for an exceptional conference. Responding to questions from Arancha González Laya, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences Po), and from students, he reflected on the issues of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, the humanitarian and military challenges facing his country, as well as the importance of European and international support.** **You can also find [our dossier dedicated to the war in Ukraine](https://conference.sciencespo.fr/p/guerreukraine).** **Vidéo :** [Vidéo 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1C6OIw6VkY) ## Corps du texte **Arancha González Laya (Dean of PSIA):** Mr. President, you were with us when the war was on its 67th day. We are now on the 1,478th day. What has changed? And in what way has this war changed Ukraine and changed you as president? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** Thank you. It is an honor for me to be here. First, I would like to thank you for these warm words toward our state and our fellow citizens. I am convinced that the initial applause was intended for the Ukrainians, who are deeply grateful to France. I thank the president, the citizens, and the French people for their support, which is extremely important. I was recently told that this is the sixteenth time I have come to France, twelve of them since the start of the war. At the beginning of the war, I addressed you online. Since then, we have been able to organize the defense of our independence and the freedom of individuals. At its core, this war is a war for life. If I have been able to come here twelve times and if our country has held on, it is because our people have held on. Over the years, we have built remarkable relations between Ukrainians and French people, at an unprecedented level. I believe our shared values and dialogue have greatly contributed to this. **“The war has undoubtedly changed us.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** I would like to thank you for the constant support of the French state since the beginning of the war. It is not over, but we have managed to preserve our independence. This is already a great victory for the world, as it is an example: that of a country that was not abandoned and was able to resist. The war has undoubtedly changed us. I am not talking about external changes, but a deeper transformation. It has forced Ukrainians to focus on the essentials: fundamental values. The price of freedom, democracy, and human rights is not just words: it is measured in human lives. Ukraine stands out today because of the high price it has paid for these values. That is why Ukrainians have a particularly deep understanding of them. We already understood them before the war, but no one felt them with such intensity and pain as today. **Arancha González Laya:** Mr. President, you very often speak of the need for this war to end with a just peace. What does a just peace mean to you? How do we end this war? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** In a long war that Russia does not want to end, no one can expect justice from it. A just peace is not just about square kilometers. The struggle is not only about territories: it is our land, but above all the land of the people. We are fighting for the individuals who live there, in their homes and apartments, with their families, loved ones, memories, and entire lives. When your home is taken from you, everything is taken from you. A part of your identity is removed: your language, your loved ones, your family, your choice to live where you are. Perhaps young people do not yet fully feel it, but it is essential to have the right to return to the grave of loved ones, to be able to stay or leave freely, and to maintain that bond with those who have passed away. **“A just peace is not just about square kilometers.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** At its core, it is about fundamental rights and human life. That is what we are fighting for: a just peace that guarantees everyone the right to live according to their choice. Regarding territories, neither side currently has sufficient strength to impose its will entirely. Fortunately, Russia no longer has the capacity to occupy us completely. On our side, we have defended ourselves, but we do not yet have the means to completely drive Russian forces out of our territory. The war must therefore end in a way that allows justice to triumph one day. This means not only restoring territorial integrity but also punishing criminals. Without accountability for the crimes committed, there can be no just peace. However, justice is difficult to achieve when there are so many victims. This war has caused many deaths and disappearances, which is sometimes even more painful because families cannot even say goodbye to their loved ones. Even when a ceasefire comes, justice does not arrive immediately. Punishing crimes can take years, even decades. History reminds us how Nazi crimes were pursued worldwide long after the war ended. Thus, a just peace is a long process. But it is necessary to achieve a ceasefire, normalize life, rebuild, and move toward a diplomatic settlement. As long as the Russian regime remains in place, efforts must continue to reach a diplomatic solution to this war. **Arancha González Laya:** Mr. President, in recent weeks we have seen another major regional conflict erupt in the Middle East. What does this mean for the war in Ukraine? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** There is never anything good in a war. It causes victims, spreads conflicts from one country to another, and generates immense suffering. The war in the Middle East therefore brings no joy to Ukrainians. It brings nothing positive and causes civilian victims, regardless of their religion, origin, or nationality. What matters is human life. War is always a tragedy. This situation also has consequences for Ukraine. The world’s attention is shifting to the Middle East, which is problematic for us. Ukraine must continue to defend itself and needs drones, missiles, and in particular munitions for Patriot systems. These resources are limited and must now be shared, reducing our ability to protect Ukrainian skies and civilians. The shift in attention does not only concern the media but also states. Their capacity for support is limited, and this aid is now divided among several conflicts, meaning less support for Ukraine. **“Today’s war knows no more distance.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** This situation also benefits Russia, as rising hydrocarbon prices allow it to increase its revenues, especially when certain sanctions are eased. This produces nothing positive and poses a danger not only to Ukraine but to other countries as well. War no longer knows distance. Drones, which we have been talking about for years, can now cover 3,000 to 5,000 kilometers, and probably 10,000 to 12,000 kilometers in the near future. Today, Ukraine faces massive attacks: up to 350 to 500 drones per night. Despite several defense lines, it is impossible to intercept them all. These strikes target civilian infrastructure: schools, universities, churches, energy and water networks. Sometimes residents have electricity for only a few hours a day; we went through an entire winter like this. I am not complaining: I am simply pointing out that war no longer has distance. No continent is now completely safe, and this threat is approaching on the scale of a few years, or even a few months. In this context, nuclear states like Russia represent a particular danger. A drone is just a carrier: what it carries can be extremely destructive, including potentially a nuclear weapon. ### Galerie d'image ![0035_20260313_MOREL__MG_1787_Web_Zelensky_n5azu.jpg](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/memory-conference.firebasestorage.app/o/prod%2FBfyDFv5o0CJpQ8yzeNu0%2FprojectsMedias%2FdTPxZkY1LFgLEatPctYp%2Fthumbs%2F0035_20260313_MOREL__MG_1787_Web_Zelensky_n5azu_1600x900.png?alt=media&token=312ebdc2-2661-48be-aa6c-9ec4816d0828) ![0031_20260313_MOREL__MG_1612_Web_Zelensky_to0v9.jpg](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/memory-conference.firebasestorage.app/o/prod%2FBfyDFv5o0CJpQ8yzeNu0%2FprojectsMedias%2FdTPxZkY1LFgLEatPctYp%2Fthumbs%2F0031_20260313_MOREL__MG_1612_Web_Zelensky_to0v9_1600x900.png?alt=media&token=b425de28-e8a5-4ea9-be38-689098329740) ![0013_20260313_MOREL__MG_1397_Web_Zelensky_gqlu0.jpg](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/memory-conference.firebasestorage.app/o/prod%2FBfyDFv5o0CJpQ8yzeNu0%2FprojectsMedias%2FdTPxZkY1LFgLEatPctYp%2Fthumbs%2F0013_20260313_MOREL__MG_1397_Web_Zelensky_gqlu0_1600x900.png?alt=media&token=33e88a6e-d267-4462-8131-715fc5ae022e) ![0039_20260313_MOREL__MG_1725_Web_Zelensky_u5l87.jpg](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/memory-conference.firebasestorage.app/o/prod%2FBfyDFv5o0CJpQ8yzeNu0%2FprojectsMedias%2FdTPxZkY1LFgLEatPctYp%2Fthumbs%2F0039_20260313_MOREL__MG_1725_Web_Zelensky_u5l87_1600x900.png?alt=media&token=b64239a1-33cb-4131-b7ee-e908982e2277) ![0049_20260313_MOREL__MG_2014_Web_Zelensky_bqmmm.jpg](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/memory-conference.firebasestorage.app/o/prod%2FBfyDFv5o0CJpQ8yzeNu0%2FprojectsMedias%2FdTPxZkY1LFgLEatPctYp%2Fthumbs%2F0049_20260313_MOREL__MG_2014_Web_Zelensky_bqmmm_1600x900.png?alt=media&token=227e818c-792b-4e5c-8c5f-b333d54a5994) ![0027_20260313_MOREL__MG_1702_Web_Zelensky_e31vg.jpg](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/memory-conference.firebasestorage.app/o/prod%2FBfyDFv5o0CJpQ8yzeNu0%2FprojectsMedias%2FdTPxZkY1LFgLEatPctYp%2Fthumbs%2F0027_20260313_MOREL__MG_1702_Web_Zelensky_e31vg_1600x900.png?alt=media&token=dc1b3ed2-08d1-48ec-a530-3a14815554c3) ## **Students' Questions** **Question 1:** The war in Iran highlights the strategic importance of drones, similar to those used by Russia. Do you plan to use Ukraine’s expertise in this area to obtain greater and more sustainable military support, particularly from the United States? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** This is a very serious question. When the war began in Ukraine, I remember the first strikes, the children crying, families in the streets. We were alone. I always strive to be honest: in those moments, the strongest emotion is the feeling of solitude. Our priority was not to negotiate exchanges or gain advantages, but to hold on as a nation and help our population survive. Today, this experience still guides our actions. To understand what this war means, one must remember the first day: the true face of Russia and Putin. **“When the war began, we were alone.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** Civilians in other countries facing attacks today feel similar emotions. Some Gulf states have not always supported us in international votes, but in the face of these threats, they have asked for our help, particularly in military expertise. Ukraine has particular experience with Iranian Shahed drones, used massively against our territory. We have therefore decided to send teams to share this expertise; the first are already in the Middle East. Yes, this cooperation has been discussed in our exchanges with the United States. But our help is not aimed at gaining political advantages: it stems from the solidarity born of what we experienced from the very first day of the war. **Question 2:** How are you preparing for possible political changes in Europe in the coming years, particularly with the approaching elections in France in 2027 and in Germany in 2029? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** It is your choice. What I can say is that we have built close relations with Emmanuel Macron. For a long time, relations between France and Ukraine were not as close; the war and the challenges it posed have greatly contributed to this rapprochement. Today, the European Union is showing particular strength in the face of this war. Some European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, have played an important role in maintaining unity. Without this solidarity, it would have been much more difficult to face the strikes and humanitarian challenges. I am also very grateful to France for welcoming many Ukrainians, including students, at the beginning of the conflict’s escalation. We have worked like a big family. But elections will take place, and in a democracy, citizens decide. Of course, we will work well with any president the French elect. Even if the view of Ukraine may vary, we will do everything to preserve what has been built together. It is easy to destroy, but much harder to build. I therefore hope that, with the support of French society, our cooperation will remain solid. As for Germany in 2029, it may be more my successor’s question. **Question 3:** Since the beginning of your term, policies and reforms aimed at bringing Ukraine closer to the European Union have been a major issue. How can these reforms be implemented today in the context of war? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** This is a difficult question, because adopting these reforms is already complex, and implementing them even more so. The European Union accompanies us in this process. The European Commission clearly indicates the reforms to adopt and implement; without this, Ukraine cannot join the European Union. **“Our parliamentarians sometimes vote between two drone strikes.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** In a peaceful context, these reforms would already be difficult. Carrying them out in wartime is even harder. Yet we have adopted all the measures requested by the European Commission, and I am very proud of that. Our parliamentarians sometimes vote between two drone strikes. Despite these conditions, we continue to adopt the necessary laws. For Ukraine, the European Union now represents much more than a simple prospect of accession. It is a strategic and geopolitical choice: to belong to Europe and not to Russia. One of the reasons for Putin’s aggression is precisely to prevent this European choice. But Ukraine is a sovereign and European country, and our nation has decided to follow this path. These reforms are steps toward Europe and part of our struggle to preserve our independence. Europe has become an essential component of this independence. **Question 4:** As head of state, how do you manage to maintain the functioning of your institutions and administration when the majority of your energy and resources are mobilized by the war effort? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** The priority has been the Ministry of Defense. During the first two years, the bulk of the budget was devoted to the army. We had neither the means nor even the possibility to think about rebuilding roads or infrastructure. Fortunately, many partners and friends have supported us through humanitarian projects related to security: building shelters for schools or nurseries, protecting essential infrastructure. The war has forced us to think about thousands of things that would not arise in normal times. Energy has become a vital issue. It is not just about production, but about whether people will have electricity. In winter, when temperatures drop to -28°C and energy infrastructure is targeted by missiles, we must anticipate and strengthen the system’s resilience. The war has profoundly transformed our way of conceiving hospitals, energy, and public services. Some hospitals are now built underground to ensure their safety. **“Energy has become a vital issue.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** In Kharkiv, a major university city near the Russian border, about 1.3 million people live under strikes. To allow children to continue learning, the first schools were installed in the metro: each station became a classroom. It was a creative but essential solution. Children can thus continue to study and see each other, while parents can work and pay their taxes, contributing to the national budget, particularly for the army. Weapons provided by our partners have been crucial support, but they did not cover all our needs. Soldiers’ salaries have always been funded by our own budget; we have never used international aid for this purpose. The first months were particularly difficult. With my government, we stayed in Kyiv despite the risks. However, to ensure state continuity in case of attack, part of the government was moved to the west of the country, near European borders, and some essential systems, particularly banking, were temporarily secured abroad. Today, all institutions are functioning again in the capital. Country management is more stable, even though we remain in wartime. The situation is now better organized than at the beginning of the conflict. **Question 5:** At the beginning of the invasion, you spoke to Russians, addressing them directly, trying to challenge them, denounce Russian propaganda, and provide alternative information. What could you say to them today, four years later? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** Today, there is not much interest in addressing Russians, because the situation does not depend on one person alone. The real question is whether they are ready to open their eyes, to understand what country they live in and what choice they have made. Putin was their choice. Regardless of whether he obtained 70, 80, or 50% of the votes: for years, they voted for him and accepted a system based on disinformation. Many voluntarily close their eyes and ears to this reality. It is not a question of courage or strength, but of personal choice: choosing to be free or not. History shows us that some people were freer in prison than many Russians today in their own country. **“Today, there is no longer much interest in addressing the Russian people.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** I long wanted to address them, because I had worked with Russians and knew many. I never imagined they would react this way. Some I knew well suddenly became afraid to speak on the phone. But today, they seem to accept this way of living. It is their choice. The real question is whether they are ready to change their lives and those of their children, whether they truly want to be free. If they are ready to hear and listen, then dialogue will be possible. But for now, they are not. **Question 6:** From when can we say that Ukrainians felt deeply European and decided to emancipate themselves from the Russian world? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** Ukrainians are Ukrainians; they are not Russians. They have always felt European. Ukraine has traveled a long road for its independence, sometimes losing it, but always continuing to fight for it. In history, a country’s fate often depends on the number of people ready to take up arms to defend their freedom. If all of Ukraine had always fought for its independence, history might have been different. But in every country there are also divisions, betrayals, or divergent interests that can lead to isolation. Despite these trials, Ukraine has endured through the centuries and today continues to fight for its independence. For the first time in a very long time, perhaps centuries, it has every chance to durably preserve this independence. Because Ukraine’s independence rests on a fundamental reality: Ukraine is a European country. **Question 7:** Since 2022, 2,800 schools have been damaged or destroyed. Many young people have been deported by Russia. What are the prospects for these Ukrainian children? How can Europe help them? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** The issue of deported children is one of the most serious challenges of this war. According to data collected by Ukraine and its partners, about 19,500 children have been forcibly deported from occupied territories to Russia. This figure is probably incomplete, as it is difficult to know how many children were transferred after the occupation of certain regions. Of the 19,500 identified children, about 2,000 have been brought back to Ukraine. This figure remains low given the scale of the problem, but many services and several countries are actively working to locate these children. Some efforts involve contacts with schools or orphanages where parentless children are located. **“The issue of deported children is one of the most serious of this war.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy** The situation is even more complex in cases of adoption. Some children have been displaced, adopted, their identity and citizenship modified. Finding them then becomes extremely difficult. Unlike prisoners of war, children cannot be subject to an exchange. For prisoners, a mechanism exists: each side can exchange its detainees. For children, no comparable procedure exists. The main challenge is therefore to locate them, then bring them back. It is a humanitarian mission to which many countries can contribute. Some are already doing so. Another challenge concerns children growing up in occupied territories. Russian authorities expose them to propaganda and, once older, some are sent to fight against Ukraine. It is a deeply tragic situation. France, for example, can help particularly through intelligence. Before bringing a child back, they must first be found. We transmit lists of names to our partners, who search to identify where these children might be. Despite all the difficulties, about 2,000 children have already returned to Ukraine. This shows that these efforts can bear fruit, even if the road remains long. **Arancha González Laya:** Mr. President, we are reaching the end of our meeting and I would like to give you the opportunity to leave your message. What would that message be? **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** First, thank you very much for this meeting. My message is: trust the Ukrainians, support the Ukrainians. We are fighting for the freedom of all of Europe, not just Ukraine. Obviously, we are fighting first for our homeland, but also for Europe. And I think Ukraine today asks for your support, your emotions. Come to Ukraine more often; it is also an important signal. **Licence :** `#CC-BY-ND (Attribution, Pas de modification)` ### Thématique `#Europe` `#Géopolitique` **Langue :** `#Anglais` --- ### Navigation pour IA - [Index de tous les contenus](https://conference.sciencespo.fr/llms.txt) - [Plan du site (Sitemap)](https://conference.sciencespo.fr/sitemap.xml) - [Retour à l'accueil](https://conference.sciencespo.fr/)