On the record · Updated October 1, 2026
Ukraine's president
48 things Volodymyr Zelensky said, verbatim, from March 28, 2026 to September 7, 2026, each linked to where it ran. Grouped by the story each one belongs to.
More on the record
As printed
“counting on support for air defense and the energy sector, as well as substantial volumes of American LNG and the ability to use them”
on Ukraine's request for US air defense, energy support and LNG this winter
Antiwar.com Witkoff and Kushner Visit Kyiv for First Time After Meeting Putin in Moscow ›
As printed
“a dignified, reliable, and lasting peace”
Washington Examiner Trump envoys hail ‘encouraging’ talks in Kyiv to end Russia-Ukraine war ›
As printed
“part of efforts to reduce the Russian aggressor’s military capabilities.”
As printed
“Our Palianytsia jet-powered drones, Neptune missiles, and unmanned naval systems successfully struck the designated targets,”
As printed
“influencing the aggressor state in order to compel it to end the war.”
As printed
“Putin’s plan is not particularly complicated. He wants to create the impression that Russians supposedly support the war — every party still permitted to run is, one way or another, against peace,”
on Russia limiting opposition parties to create a false image of war support
As printed
“Russia’s war will be felt more and more at their own home—in Russia,”
on the war increasingly affecting life inside Russia
As printed
“And then, after the so-called elections, he plans an additional rapid mobilization of several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year, plus just as many more next year. This will be on top of the recruitment they are trying to carry out through contract enlistment.”
on Russia's plans for a fresh mass mobilization after staged elections
Washington Examiner Calling himself ‘the most consequential president,’ Trump says he has ‘a lot of threats’ ›
As printed
“Putin wants war so badly that he has now resorted to yet another political manipulation with his sham elections, to the point that he was afraid to allow even a single party that said at least something about the need for peace on the ballot,”
Washington Examiner Calling himself ‘the most consequential president,’ Trump says he has ‘a lot of threats’ ›
As printed
“absolutely no change in the UK’s approach”
As printed
“This Russian terror once again proves that protection against the Russian missile threat is the most important task when it comes to saving the lives of our people,”
Washington Examiner ‘Heavy wave of strikes’ could be first of a two-week campaign to finish off Iran’s missile arsenal ›
As printed
“We must undercut Russia’s gamble on ballistic terror,”
As printed
“Of course, the cause of this attack is Russian missiles, nothing but Russian terror,”
As printed
“The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help. We also spoke about diplomacy—it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.”
on discussing Patriot interceptor production licenses with Trump at the White House
World Socialist Web Site Trump meets with Zelensky and Netanyahu in the White House on Russia and Iran war crises ›
As printed
“I really opposed sending my taxpayer dollars to Ukraine because I really believed that you had an army, the Azov Battalion, full of Nazis,”
As printed
“The drone deal is very important—I want to build a large factory in Britain, sharing new technologies with our partners,”
World Socialist Web Site Burnham hosts Zelensky, promises deeper UK involvement in war with Russia ›
As printed
“Every interceptor missile right now is literally helping save lives if it is here, in Ukrainian systems, not in our partners’ warehouses,”
on Ukraine's need for air defense interceptors amid record civilian casualties
As printed
“However, we have said a thousand times that under these wartime conditions, with such an enemy, it is absolutely unacceptable to hold any weapons exhibitions with large crowds of people, especially near residential buildings.”
on a drone strike that killed 12 at a holiday camp in Russian-held Ukraine
Antiwar.com Ukrainian Drone Attack on Holiday Camp in Russian-Held Ukraine Kills 12: Governor ›
As printed
“There were many consultations yesterday and today. Of course, I hear what people are saying,”
World Socialist Web Site Protests shake Zelensky government after dismissal of Ukrainian defense minister ›
As printed
“to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment.”
As printed
“A huge Wildberries warehouse covering 188,000 square meters is blazing brightly,”
on a Ukrainian drone strike hitting a Russian warehouse
CNN Eight killed in Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian warehouses ›
As printed
“Two major logistics facilities were hit – in the Moscow and Tambov regions, more than 500 and nearly 700 kilometers from the front line,”
on Ukrainian drone strikes hitting Russian logistics facilities far from the front
CNN Eight killed in Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian warehouses ›
As printed
“He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed. We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations. We met twice in just the past week,”
News From Antiwar.com Sen. Graham Met Zelensky, Visited Ukrainian Drone Factory, Before Death ›
As printed
“and this is the beginning, maybe. Just the beginning. And you know the country has a lot of future, such great land, such great assets, such great people… we’ve made a lot of progress in the past couple of weeks”
on progress after the US agreed to help Ukraine build Patriot missiles under license
Breitbart News Trump: America Will Teach Ukraine to Make Its Own Patriot Missiles Under Licence ›
As printed
“Russia, for the first time, is faced with the reality of war.”
World Socialist Web Site NATO warmongers meet in Ankara, Turkey ›
As printed
“insufficient supply of interceptor missiles”
As printed
“It is just another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story,”
As printed
“This is typical of Putin: right after America’s Independence Day and before the NATO Summit in Ankara,”
As printed
“It is critically important that the world – first and foremost the United States and our European partners – come out of the NATO Summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of our air defense,”
CNN Deadly Russian strikes hammer Kyiv on eve of Trump trip to critical NATO summit ›
As printed
“Our president has outlined the reality of the situation on the battlefield, where the Russian Armed Forces are advancing confidently,”
As printed
“There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America's resolve is decisive”
CNN Putin and Trump held ‘businesslike’ 90-minute July 4 call, Moscow says ›
As printed
“Unfortunately, there is a shortage of anti-ballistic systems, a shortage of Patriots, and we need our partners – first and foremost the United States of America and our European partners – to be more active in providing assistance in this regard.”
CNN Russia unleashes a massive assault on Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 30 ›
As printed
“The attack was specifically designed by the Russians to cause maximum damage,”
CNN Russia unleashes a massive assault on Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 30 ›
As printed
“The victims are only Ukrainians. All we ask from our partners is that they do what they agreed to.”
on families hiding underground during Russia's worst assault on Kyiv in years
The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts Families Forced To Hide Underground As Russia Launches Worst Assault On Kyiv In Years ›
As printed
“most of them ordinary residential buildings,”
on Russian strikes hitting residential buildings during a major attack on Kyiv
CNN Major Russian attack on Kyiv kills more than a dozen people, mayor says ›
As printed
“We continue our operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war,”
on Ukraine's strikes weakening Russia's war effort
The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts Putin Makes Rare Admission About Ukraine’s Strikes ›
As printed
“Today, I sent the Order back to the President of Poland. I believe the future will confirm the respect Ukrainians deserve.”
on Zelensky returning Poland's highest honor amid a dispute over a nationalist wartime unit
CNN Zelensky returns Poland’s highest honor amid escalating row over nationalist wartime unit ›
As printed
“was meant for the Ukrainian People and our army,”
CNN Zelensky returns Poland’s highest honor amid escalating row over nationalist wartime unit ›
As printed
“The entire Seven supports Ukraine unanimously today,”
The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts Trump Says Iran Will Soon Be In ‘Rearview Mirror,’ Wants Sanctions Back On Russian Oil ›
As printed
“This is how Russia shows the world its intention to continue the war,”
As printed
“targets within the defence-industrial complex in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.”
As printed
“All Ukrainians have one wish for President Trump: that we may finally achieve peace, and achieve this success together with the US and all our partners,”
on hopes for peace after a Russian attack set fire to Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra monastery
CNN Ukraine’s historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery set on fire following major Russian attack ›
As printed
“It is very important that there be a response from the G7 countries… and that this response be decisive and substantive: more pressure on the aggressor and more support for Ukraine’s air defense,”
on G7 pressure on Russia after a major attack set Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra monastery ablaze
CNN Ukraine’s historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery set on fire following major Russian attack ›
As printed
“If every Ukrainian housewife can really produce drones, then every Ukrainian housewife could also be the CEO of Rheinmetall.”
on Ukrainian women producing drone parts at home rivaling defense firm Rheinmetall
As printed
“It’s Ukrainian housewives. They have 3-D printers in the kitchen, and they produce parts for drones. This is not innovation.”
on Ukrainian housewives 3-D printing drone parts at home
As printed
“For all normal states, it is important to ensure stability and protect lives amid today’s threats. Ukraine has relevant expertise in this area,”
As printed
“We agreed to cooperate in the field of security and defence. Our teams will finalise the details,”
As printed
“Protection must be sufficient everywhere. That is why we are open to joint work that, in a strategic perspective, will certainly strengthen our peoples and the protection of life in our countries,”
Breitbart News Zelensky Visits UAE, Qatar for Air Security Talks With Gulf ›
Further reading
Paid link. If you buy a book through this link, Bookshop.org pays us a small commission and sends a share of the sale to independent bookstores.
Biography
Simon Shuster · 2024
Time correspondent Simon Shuster spent extended time with Zelensky and his circle in Kyiv, reporting on his path from comedian to wartime president after the 2022 invasion.
People, on the record
The daily brief connects each person’s exact words to the question they addressed and the people who answered. Free.
Free to start. No spin. No yelling.
$5/month, cancel anytime. Secure on Stripe, and nothing is ever paywalled.
One-time, secure on Stripe. No account.
