Authors

Discussion

This study examines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 (URC2024), held on June 11-12, 2024, in Berlin, Germany. The conference, themed "United in Defence. United in Recovery. Stronger Together," gathered 3,400 participants, including representatives from politics, business, international organizations, academia, and culture, all focused on Ukraine's reconstruction during and post-war. The significance of Zelenskyy's speech was amplified by the intergovernmental element and the Recovery Forum, making it crucial for the diverse and influential audience present.

The speech analyzed is available in Ukrainian on the official website of the President of Ukraine. The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the features of messages from a state leader facing an existential threat – war. Our approach included discourse analysis and a qualitative linguistic examination of the speech’s content.

We described the main structural elements of a presidential speech directed at a foreign audience and identified typical constructions that distinguish Zelenskyy's speeches from other political addresses. Our analysis focused on the strategies used to influence the audience and the potential impact of Zelenskyy's words on listeners, such as his direct and friendly address to Olaf Scholz and Ursula von der Leyen: “I said this in Ukrainian. I am not sure, Olaf, that you understood; Thank you, Olaf, Ursula!”. We identified linguistic tools such as emphasizing key issues, repetitions, and carefully crafted expressions of address or thanks, which serve as means to achieve persuasive strategies. We argue that a thorough analysis of such texts is crucial, especially considering their strategic and propagandistic goals in informational campaigns.

By examining Zelenskyy's speech, this research provides insights into the linguistic techniques employed in political communication, particularly in times of crisis, and contributes to the understanding of the role of language in political leadership and crisis management. The study concludes that Zelenskyy's communication strategy during the war has been highly effective in maintaining national morale and garnering international support. His use of emotional language, direct appeals, and strategic questioning has resonated strongly with international audiences.

This study addresses issues within sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and media discourse, contributing to the broader field of political discourse analysis as explored in the works of van Dijk, R. Wodak, N. Fairclough, P. Chilton, M. Foucault, E. Laclau, P. Pomerantsev and others. The analysis underscores the importance of linguistic strategies in political communication, particularly in times of crisis, where the ability to unite and mobilize the public globally is paramount.