Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech to Australia's parliament evoked memories of MH17.
He also reminded the parliament that Australia too faces real threats from countries that might look at what's happening with Russia in Ukraine and decide such action is also possible for them.
Zelenskyy used both of these themes to relate to his audience, despite Australia being just about as far as your could get from the war raging in Ukraine.
But tapping into the sensitivities of a nation is straight out of the Zelenskyy playbook.
How do we know? Just look at how he has spoken to other governments around the world.
To the Germans, Zelenskyy referenced the Cold War
In his speech to the German Bundestag on March 17, Zelenskyy evoked memories of the Cold War, likening the effects of Russia's invasion to the Berlin Wall, in more ways than one.
"And this wall grows stronger with each bomb that falls on our land, on Ukraine, with every decision that is not made for the sake of peace."
He went even further, saying decisions like NATO's in holding Ukraine off from joining the bloc wasn't just politics, it was "stones for a new wall", and that Germany's economic ties with Russia via its Nord Stream gas pipelines was like "barbed wire over the wall".
He said the Berlin Airlift had been invaluable to Germany and was only possible because the skies were safe, but Ukraine's skies are full of "Russian missiles and air bombs". Zelenskyy has pleaded with the West to close the skies over Ukraine but it has refused so as to avoid being drawn into the conflict itself.
"You don't see what's behind this wall, and it's between us [and] people in Europe, and because of this not everyone is fully aware of what we are going through today," Zelenskyy told the Bundestag.
To neighbouring Poland, it was about brotherhood
In Zelenskyy's speech to the Sejm on March 11, he spoke of the neighbourly relationship between Poland and Ukraine and their "shared values".
He continually addressed the group as his "Polish brothers and sisters".
Zelenskyy also referenced the 2010 Smolensk presidential plane crash where a flight carrying Polish president Lech Kaczynski and 95 others crashed in the Smolensk military airfield in western Russia, killing all on board.
The crash was ruled an accident by official investigations, but many believe it was an assassination.
"We remember all the facts of the investigation into the circumstances of this catastrophe," Zelenskyy told the Sejm.
"We feel what this means for you and what does the silence of those who also know all this mean to you … But they still feast their eyes on Russia."
Japan's address highlighted the threat of nuclear power
To Japan's parliament on March 23, Zelenskyy spoke about Russian forces seizing control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Russia's possession itself of nuclear weapons.
This is a sticking point for Japan ever since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 — the world's most severe nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
"There are four operating nuclear power plants on our land. … And they are all under threat," Zelenskyy said.
To the Americans, he spoke of Pearl Harbor and 9/11
Speaking to Congress on March 16, Zelenskyy tapped into some of the worst tragedies faced by the United States.
"Remember Pearl Harbor, terrible morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you," he said.
"Remember September 11, a terrible day in 2001 when evil tried to turn your cities into a battlefield, when innocent people were attacked … in a way no-one expected.
Why is Zelenskyy making all of these speeches? What is he hoping to achieve?
The Ukrainian President is speaking to foreign parliaments and governments almost daily — sometimes to two per day.
He implores leaders to unite with Ukraine, generating support from leaders and their citizens alike.
Sonia Mycak, an expert on the history of conflict between Ukraine and Russia at the Australian National University, said it was important for Ukrainians to see their president liaising directly with other world leaders.
"I think it would give them confidence to know that their president is able to address those governments, those parliaments, those world leaders directly in the first person," Dr Mycak said.
Dr Mycak said Zelenskyy's speeches were helping to keep the war in Ukraine front of mind around the world.
"Militarily, this is a crucial time because there is something of a stalemate right now in that the Russian forces have not been able to achieve what they aimed, Putin has not been able to achieve what he set out to do, and the Ukrainian forces have not only been able to defend their positions around the major cities, for example, they've even been able in the last few days to reclaim some lost territory and to go on to some offensive actions.
"Given that there is this kind of military stalemate, now is the time for the rest of the world to give the kind of weaponry that can really make a difference that can change the direction of the war."
Zelenskyy had asked Australia to send Australian Bushmaster armoured vehicles to Ukraine to help repel Russian forces.
Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said he was willing to send armoured vehicles to Ukraine.
"We are doing work on just logistically on how we would get the Bushmasters there in the numbers they need," he said.
Zelenskyy is speaking to his people daily
Dr Mycak said much of Ukraine's population watches Zelenskyy's nightly addresses to the nation.
She said a recent national poll from March 18 that revealed 93 per cent of respondents believed Ukraine could repel Russia's attack, was at least in part due to the people's faith in Zelenskyy.
"Quite frankly, the Ukrainian population has never been so united behind a president.
"Political differences, differences of opinion to do with Zelenskyy prior to February 24 have for the time being put aside."
