Zelensky congratulated Ukrainians on Easter

On 20 April 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Ukrainians with a congratulatory message on the occasion of the Easter holiday. He published the text of the greeting in his Telegram channel.

Dear Ukrainians, dear Ukrainians, today is a special day, which we always wait for and which is celebrated by millions of people - Easter. A day that becomes a ray of light, especially bright and strong in times when clouds try to close our sky. A day that gives us hope and reminds us that evil has its time and God has his day. This is one of the main meanings of the story of Christ - of his suffering, death and resurrection. That sooner or later, but surely, evil will recede and life will triumph. Today these words resonate in every Ukrainian heart. And strengthen our faith, which, despite everything, does not fade away, - said the President.

He noted that during 1152 days of full-scale war every Ukrainian experienced moments of intense pain and gravity: "When you ask: God, why do we need all this? The blows, explosions, gunshots... All this is evil, all this trouble. How can you kill dozens of people in Sumy on Palm Sunday? Don't you see, God? How they hit a playground in Krivoy Rog? How Kharkiv, Dnipro, our Odessa and dozens of our other cities are burning every day. When will it all end? When our land, our people, our children will hear silence...? How can we not lose faith after all this?

When your mind has no answers, you listen to your heart. And then something invisible, but very strong inside you does not let you give up. It tells you where to find the light so you don't get lost. And then you see people around you, you look into the eyes of your relatives, into the faces of your loved ones, you feel the embrace and support of both familiar and unfamiliar people, the support of Ukrainians and Ukrainian women. And you realise that you are with them - of the same values".

Zelensky emphasised that it was values that united all of us for a reason - united on the first day of the war and continue to unite until now.

It is will, endurance, caring and humanity. This is God. This is His manifestation. He is in our people. And that is why there is light in people. That is why there is strength in people. In every deed, in every small step on a difficult path, in every word of support. In every word: "How are you?", "How can I help you?", "Take care of yourself". We know what we're protecting. We know what we are fighting for, for whom and for whom. And that is why, no matter how hard it is for us, we do not lose faith. Because that faith is in each other. In those who stand beside you. In Ukrainians. In Ukraine. Faith that evil has its hour, and God has his day, - said the President.

He addressed the people: "Dear people, let this day come. Let the hour of evil end. The day of life, the day of peace, the day of Ukraine will come. A day that will last for centuries. And we will again be able to gather around one table on a peaceful Easter. When all of us will be warm, calm and cosy at heart - and, of course, delicious. When everything will be as it should be. That's what we want. All 1152 days of it. We are united in this. Every day. And especially today, when Ukrainians of all Christian denominations celebrate Easter on the same date. Together. We fight for Ukraine together. And together we pray for Ukraine. For those who cannot be near their relatives on Easter, for those who are on the front lines with their twin brothers, for our fighters - warriors of light - we ask God: to protect those who protect us. Strengthen the will of those who are now in captivity. For our captives, for all those who must return home."

We ask for help for all those who dedicate their lives to helping others. May God protect those who guard Ukraine with their daily labour. We pray today for all our children, for the boys and girls who deserve a happy childhood. For our parents, mothers, who deserve a peaceful old age. For all our people who deserve long-awaited peace.

Dear Ukrainians! Our nation is overcoming a very difficult path, but I am sure that the key word here is overcoming. And despite everything, every morning we find the strength to wake up, to move, to do our own. What you can do, where it's needed, for those who expect it. The source of energy for us can be many things around us. The smile of a son or daughter. A mother's voice, thoughts of those at the front right now, or memories of someone who covered you with their body. We can find the impetus for action in the news of our people's victories, in our culture, books, poems, music. And, of course, we are inspired by the symbol of Easter and the story of the Resurrection. That is why we know for sure: all those stones that are thrown at us will not remain ruins on our land. We will turn all the stones that are thrown at us into a solid foundation for the future. Future freedom, future peace, future memories of what we have travelled and achieved. When, in hard times, it is not only the victory of arms, but above all, the victory of the spirit that is decisive. Our victory. Our spirit. May it all come true. May God help us in this. May there be peace. May there be Ukraine. Christ is risen! Truly risen!," the President concluded.