Volodymyr Zelensky made an impassioned plea at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards urging viewers to support Ukraine in any way possible as Russia continues to commit war crimes in the Eastern European nation.
“Fill the silence with your music! Fill it today. To tell our story. Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV. Support us in any way you can. Any — but not silence,” he said in a pre-recorded video.
People around the world have been impressed by Zelensky’s fearless leadership over the past several weeks, but for anyone who paying attention to him prior to all this, his incredible strength, stamina, and resolve are nothing new.
In October 2019, he held a record-breaking 14-hour press conference, during which he spoke to 300 journalists about a wide range of topics, including that controversial call with Donald Trump that got the ex-president impeached (the first time).
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At one point during the press conference, a homophobic heckler interrupted to scream: “Why haven’t you given answers to bishops and all of us that you’ll stop the [George] Soros program Committee of 300 spreading perversity of homosexuality?”
The man, wearing a crucifix around his neck, demanded to know, “Will you prevent the legalization of prostitution and abortions?”
For context: the Committee of 300 was a popular conspiracy theory at the time which claimed a clandestine group was controlling global commerce, banking, politics, and media, among other things.
Zelensky patiently waited for him to finish his psychotic rant before politely denying to have anything to with the Committee of 300 or advocating for or against the legalization of prostitution.
“I’m not engaged in the legalization of prostitution which doesn’t exist in the country,” he said. “Legalization of anything in the country can only be implemented through Ukrainian law if changes to the legislation are approved. This means by the hands of the Ukrainian parliament and by approval of laws.”
As for queer people, Zelensky did not mince words when he said, “Regarding LGBT: I don’t want to say anything negative because we all live in an open society where each one can choose the language they speak, their ethnicity and [sexual] orientation.”
“Leave those finally at peace, for God’s sake!”
Watch.
That viral video of Ukraine’s President @ZelenskyyUa powerfully shutting down a homophobic heckler — now with more context by @Hromadske. A rare public exhibit of passion in defending progressive values by a European leader these days ????????pic.twitter.com/v2uiEq5Ae4
— maksym.eristavi ?????? (@MaximEristavi) October 13, 2019
While you’re here, watch Zelensky’s speech at the 64th Grammy Awards.
??Ukrainian artists, Zelensky address audience at the Grammys.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the audience in a pre-recorded video, wherein he said:“We are fighting Russia, which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music.” pic.twitter.com/DrUzTNqsDO
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 4, 2022
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Jim
Vladimir Gundyayev, aka Patriarch Kirill is one of Putin’s supporters and has personally benefitted greatly from this relationship.
The Russian-Orthodox St Nicholas church in Amsterdam, Netherlands has declared that it is no longer possible to function within the Moscow patriarchate because of the attitude that Kirill has to the Russian invasion. The Russian-Orthodox Church in Lithuania has declared that they don’t share the political views and perception of Kirill and therefore are seeking independence from Moscow.
If there is a Russian Orthodox Church in your city urge them to do the same.
gjg64
I think you’ll find the Greek Orthodox church as well as the Orthodox Patriarchate have all spoken out against the war, but haven’t been as tough against Patriarch Breguet Watch as they could be.
Fahd
Thanks for highlighting how different Zelensky is from the more despotic Eastern European leaders – I remember Putin stating in his interview with Oliver Stone for the Showtime specials on Putin that the Russians now had substituted the Orthodox Church ideology for the Communist ideology the used before. Gee, that’s all you have to do ? switch up the control mechanism (opiate of the masses)?
BuzzBuzzard
As we all (should) know: Silence = Death.
Jaquelope
And silence=approval or confirmation.
humble charlie
Vladimir Poopin is a religious holy man. How can anything he says be hateful or a like?
CityguyUSA
I guess I’m the only one that understands the US pulled of a coup and Zelenski is one of ours. But part of his responsibility of becoming put in charge of the Ukraine was to deal with the on-going killing of Russians in the country. But he didn’t do that.
Putin on the other hand had been warning for years that he’d had enough of NATO coming up to his doorstep and that GHW Bush made an agreement that NATO wouldn’t exceed a buffer zone of being within Russia’s country and once again the US failed to adhere to an agreement they made with Russia.
When Putin saw that Ukraine was being militarized I think he Putin saw that as the last straw even though Biden won’t allow Ukraine in NATO it really is a NATO country it just won’t have any of the rights that other NATO nations do. Except to be a US proxy to encircle Russia but leaning towards western ideas.
Putin has almost begged to be allowed in to the EU but the US is so desperate to keep Russia as a boogeyman with nuclear weapons they can’t seem to get that bringing countries into the corrupt American Way is still better than spending trillions on wars.
LeBlevsez
Yeah! Ever since all the non-Russia former SSRs, Mongolia, China and all various ocean-bound merpeople nations joined NATO, it seems poor Putin has no choice but to commit war crimes, what with the being encircled and all.
Why do I get the feeling that CityguyUSA is a nom de soviettroll?
Kangol2
You’d better spew that Russian propaganda! You’ve swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
First, George HW Bush’s “agreement” was not binding. Moreover, most of the Baltic states (save Finland), like the former Soviet-dominated Central European countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, etc.) actively sought to become NATO countries; the US didn’t have to push them to do so. As conservative as Poland’s governments over the last 20 years have been they still do not want to be dominated by Russia. That’s why when Don the Con blurted out that strange comment about Montenegro a few years ago it was clear he was basically vomiting up Putin’s propaganda.
Oh, and just a reminder: Volodomyr Zelenskyy won his election in a fair and free vote, as did his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko. He wasn’t installed via a coup.
trojanboy
I love him. A hero for the ages. They do exist. And this is not populist. The further east you go in Europe it is hard to stand up for LGBT. He means it. What a great man.
Leash
I wish he wouldn’t have stated that everyone could “choose” their sexual orientation, but this might be just a translation mishap. Either way, nothing but respect for that man.
hansniemeijer
Yes, Volodomir (not Vladimir, because that is Russian) is a great person. Let’s hope that the horrible war will end soon.
DavidIntl
That is indeed powerful, given the context, and impressive. A rare moment when Queerty brings something of real value to our attention.