Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech in the Rada took place December, 1.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine cannot stop the war and return the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas without direct dialogue with the Kremlin.

The head of state said this during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada on December, 1.

Zelenskyy mentioned he was not afraid of a direct conversation with Putin, with the Russians.

“We know which European countries support us. We know which of the European countries are pretending to support us ... Our army is the best in the world and will protect us. But for eight years we have been afraid to admit to ourselves: we cannot stop the war without direct negotiations with the Russian Federation," Zelenskyy stressed.

Following his usual emotional rhetoric Zelenskyy added: “So, either let's do it, or let's not pretend that we really want to return all our territories.” And assured that Ukraine "will always fight for its lands and will win in this fight."

He called for politicians and businessmen to "do it together" - "despite the color of these politicians and the caliber of these businessmen."

"It's up to us," Zelenskyy summed up.