When you live in a small town in the Ukraine, you definitely want to go to Paris.

I spent a lot of time in Europe. I spent a lot of time in United States, I know what is modern standards of life... and always, if I return to my home country, I ask my country why very simple things that works everywhere else in the world doesn't work in Ukraine.

So, Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine. So, basically, that's wrong, and it goes against everything that we stand for.

The attitude of the West and of Russia towards a crisis like Ukraine is diametrically different. The West is trying to establish the legality of any established border. For Russia, Ukraine is part of the Russian patrimony.

From hearty beet-red borscht and soft, pliable pierogi dumplings to dill-scented pickles and hearty braises, the food of Eastern Europe - that is The Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Georgia and their close neighbours - is tasty stuff, but it's never really taken off in Australia in any significant way.

I have a lot of friends in Ukraine.

Ukraine is also successfully moving toward democracy and making progress expanding freedoms and rights to its people. We can help Ukraine achieve these goals and improve its economy by normalizing trade relations.

As long as the opposition believes the world will stand with Ukraine's democrat reformers, they will have the leverage and the courage to establish a legitimate republic under the leadership of Viktor Yushchenko.

The recent history of Ukraine is replete with dead journalists, beaten journalists, news agencies being shut down, and politicians being injured or killed. Most are killed in mysterious auto accidents.

I remember the day Ukraine became independent. I was 20; now I am over 40. It was like one second - time goes so fast. If we wait, the next 20 years will go by. We have a choice to wait or to fight for the better future of our country. I know better than anyone: no fight, no win.

Well, I mean, Russia was responsible for shooting down MH17. Russia was responsible for invading Ukraine. Russia is responsible for taking away the chemical weapons in Syria that they didn't take away. Russia was responsible for having honest athletes in the Olympics when they did the whole doping program.

We are very proud of the fact that we have such a low level of anti-Semitism - such a low level of anti-Semitism in independent Ukraine, which started its life in 1991.

We will fight and defend my good name in the European court. We have to be strong and defend Ukraine from this authoritarianism.

Chernobyl has been a negative part of Ukraine's brand. The time has come to change this.

Deep in my heart, I still believe that the democratization of Russia and the democratization of Ukraine will proceed.

We must improve our lives and we will do it together - all of our citizens and myself as president of Ukraine.

There is only one conflict in Ukraine today and it is between the regime and the people.

Law in Ukraine is not black and white; it is shades of gray.

I will be the personal bodyguard for every investment in my city. If Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary can transform, then so can Ukraine.

Please, please stop saying that Ukraine is a corrupt country, because from now, it's not true. We want to change this image.