SALT LAKE CITY — In a rousing speech to a group of governors from all over the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for ongoing support for the war with Russia.
"Evil must always, always lose," he said to applause and a standing ovation from a packed ballroom at the Grand America Hotel, where the National Governors Association has been carrying out its summer meeting.
Zelenskyy said he was not asking Americans to fight abroad for Ukraine, but urged ongoing support in the form of air defense systems and weapons. He called the war with Russia unprovoked and unjustified and said they must fight the aggression.
Full speech from Volodymyr Zelenskyy can be watched below:
"Today I personally want to thank you for your support, the state of Utah, other states, many American hearts and many American communities, all those who do not want and will not allow evil to prevail," he said.
Governor Spencer Cox, who is also the chair of the National Governors Association, declared his support for Ukraine in a speech that earned him a standing ovation.
"There’s a lot of nuance in the world. There are conflicts in the world," Gov. Cox told the crowd. "There are things that happen in world affairs, sometimes it’s hard to tell who the good guys and the bad guys are. This is not one of those times."
To back up that support, the governor signed a memorandum of understanding between Ukraine and Utah, opening economic trade doors between the Kyiv-Oblast region and our state.
"It helps unlock doors for entrepreneurs in Ukraine and entrepreneurs here," Gov. Cox said.
Standing with Ukraine was also a priority for Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who is taking over leadership of the National Governors Association from Gov. Cox this year.
"I'll just add governors truly understand the strategic importance in supporting Ukraine, our allies in Europe, preventing future Russian aggression as well as the moral imperative," he said.
Utahns have held rallies to support Ukraine and fundraised for the nation. Among them, philanthropist Gail Miller, who sat in the crowd to hear Zelenskyy's speech.
"I'm very impressed with him," she told FOX 13 News. "I think to be able to hear from him in person and hear the things are going on firsthand should make us all stop and think how important freedom is."
While the crowd at the Grand America for Zelenskyy's speech was very much in favor of supporting Ukraine, not all are in agreement. Utah Sen. Mike Lee has introduced legislation seeking to oppose security guarantees for Ukraine and block the nation's inclusion in NATO.
"As NATO gathers on our soil, we have the opportunity to demand equitable burden sharing and make it clear that Ukraine's membership cannot be on the table," he said in a statement announcing the legislation. "These bills are essential to ensuring that the United States is not unduly burdened by an alliance that refuses to pull its weight or come to grips with strategic realities."
But state leaders stood Friday with Ukraine.
"It's important that we come together as a nation, as a state to show our support for Ukraine," said House Speaker Mike Schultz.
Senate President J. Stuart Adams personally visited Ukraine and has rallied support for the nation.
"I'm going to stand with Ukraine," he told reporters on Friday. "I'm fully behind trying to be with Ukraine."
For some on Friday, Zelenskyy's visit was more personal. Utah has welcomed and accepted thousands of Ukranians who fled the war. Yuliye Tymochko is among them, arriving in Utah two years ago.
"I have a chance to be here to be safe," she told FOX 13 News.
She said she was glad to hear Zelenskyy's speech and viewed it as a call to action.
"We have to help each other," she said. "It can happen again."
