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Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (20/10/2022)

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 20 October 2022.

Dear Ukrainians!

Today was quite a fruitful day.

I met with the European Commissioner for Crisis Management. I thanked Mr. Lenarčič for all the assistance that was provided during the full-scale war. We discussed what other humanitarian needs of our people could be met with the help of our European friends. Of course, we touched on the situation with energy.

I spoke today with the President of Turkey. I thanked him for supporting our territorial integrity. We discussed the key security issues currently Ukraine and our entire region are facing. The key topics are efforts to further release our people from Russian captivity, defense cooperation, export of Ukrainian food.

I held negotiations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece – he arrived on a visit to Kyiv for the third time since February 24. I thanked Greece for its support in the defense sector. We agreed to strengthen our cooperation in bilateral relations and at the level of the European Union, as well as at the level of NATO.

Tomorrow I will participate in the European Summit – I will contact my partners. The key topic, of course, is challenges to our energy, both Ukrainian and European. We will respond to the terrorist threat together.

Today, Andriy Yermak met with representatives of the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain at the Office and discussed the strengthening of our anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense.

We are working to guarantee the complete safety of the Ukrainian sky. We already have significant results: 233 Shahed UAVs and dozens of missiles were shot down during the month. Ten Iranian drones were destroyed today and this is only in the Kyiv direction. Another 11 Shahed UAVs were shot down thanks to the soldiers of the Pivden air command. Thanks guys for the great job!

There are results in other areas as well. But, unfortunately, there are also impacts. We have new damage to critical infrastructure. Today, three energy facilities were destroyed by the enemy.

Of course, we will do everything possible to restore the normal energy capabilities of our country. But it takes time. And this requires our joint efforts. Tomorrow they are needed even more than before.

There will be clarifications from the heads of regional administrations and government officials, but in general, it is necessary to be especially conscious of electricity consumption from 7 am tomorrow.

Please do not turn on unnecessary electrical appliances. Please limit your electricity consumption and use those appliances that consume a lot of energy. Tomorrow, it is very important that the consumption is as conscious as possible, and thus the schedules of stabilization blackouts will be shorter.

I held a general meeting on energy issues today – the Office, government, energy companies.

We are preparing for all possible scenarios in view of the winter season. We assume that Russian terror will be directed at energy facilities until, with the help of partners, we ensure the ability to shoot down 100% of enemy missiles and drones.

Separately, today I want to address our people in the temporarily occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine. In the near future, the occupiers will try to recruit men into their army. Everywhere is the same as in Donetsk and Luhansk. Please avoid it as much as you can. Try to leave the occupied territory.

If you cannot do this and find yourself in Russian military structures, at the first opportunity try to lay down your arms and come to Ukrainian positions. And most importantly, protect your life. And be sure to help our other people who are close to you. Our common task is to persevere. Stand against these weirdoes…

Russia avoided even the word “war” for six months, punished its own people with criminal cases for it, and now it declares martial law in the occupied territory.

The occupiers themselves brought the war to our land under their constant false pretense of alleged negotiations, and now they are signing some decrees cementing the war.

Well, what can I say? It’s just hysterics of the “Chekist comrades.” Hysterics, which will be greater the closer Russia’s defeat is.

In the evening, I signed another decree on awarding our soldiers. Seventy one servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were awarded state awards today.

I thank everyone who fights and works for Ukraine! I thank everyone who helps our defense!

And I would like to thank separately for the fact that it was the Ukrainian people who this year became the laureate of the special honor of the European Parliament – the Sakharov Prize. This award is given annually to those who have made the greatest contribution to the defense of democracy, human rights and European values. It is really important that all Ukrainian men and women – millions of our people who so bravely defend freedom were recognized in Europe this year.

Glory to our beautiful people!

Glory to Ukraine!

23/10/2022
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (19/10/2022)

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 19 October 2022.

Ukrainians!

Today, the battle for a normal life for our people continued.

There were new Russian attacks against our energy system. Some of the drones and missiles were shot down. Thanks again for this to our anti-aircraft fighters, our Air Forces. In particular, the 138th Dnipro anti-aircraft missile brigade for shooting down four “Kalibrs”. Our other defenders of the sky also have good results. Today, I will also celebrate the Kherson anti-aircraft missile brigade for shooting down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft.

Thanks also to our partners – everyone who helps us with anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense. For example, the German “IRIS-T” has shown itself very well – it is a really effective system.

We are working with partners to provide even more protection to the Ukrainian sky.

Over the past day, more than 10 Ukrainian regions suffered terrorist attacks. Zhytomyr region and Kyiv region, Sumy region, Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv region and Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and other cities of the south of Ukraine, Donbas. Wherever possible, we are trying to speed up restoration work.

But now, just like in the previous days, the overall situation still requires a very conscious consumption of electricity and limiting the use of energy-consuming appliances during peak hours.

The more conscious our household consumption of electricity is from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., the more stable our energy system will be. Everyone who follows this simple rule for peak hours helps the entire country.

Please explain this to your relatives, friends and neighbors to guide our national unity towards a common and much needed result.

Today I had a lot of meetings and communication regarding infrastructure restoration. Another general meeting on the energy situation is scheduled for tomorrow. We are working out all possible scenarios. And, of course, all this is combined with our measures to strengthen defense against drones.

We should remember that the very fact of Russia’s appeal to Iran for such assistance is the Kremlin’s recognition of its military and political bankruptcy.

For decades, they’ve been spending billions of dollars on their military-industrial complex, and in the end they went to bow to Tehran to get rather simple drones and missiles.

It won’t help them strategically anyway. It only further proves to the world that Russia is on the trajectory of its defeat and is trying to draw someone else into its accomplices in terror.

We will definitely ensure an appropriate international reaction to this.

But now, at the tactical level, the terrorists may still have certain hopes, calculations, new illusions due to Iranian drones. All this will fall apart, just as their previous calculations.

237 days of this war prove that we are able to find an answer to any threats. If we act together – all Ukrainians and nations of the free world.

Today we have an important decision from Estonia – its parliament designated Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. And this is another European step to ensure that the actual reality of Russian terror and the European official attitude towards Russia completely coincide. Terror must receive all types of response – on the battlefield, with sanctions and legally. I am grateful to our Estonian friends for this!

We will continue our work at all levels so that other countries adopt similar decisions.

I held a meeting on working out in UN structures our draft resolution on the creation of a compensation mechanism that would provide compensation at the expense of Russian assets for all the damage caused by this war. We are gradually moving in this direction as well. The terrorist state will inevitably pay for everything it has done.

Another expansion of our United24 platform took place today. This public fundraising platform has already raised more than $200 million from people in dozens of countries.

Oleksandr Usyk became the new ambassador of United24. I just spoke with him and thanked him for his willingness to work for Ukraine.

Oleksandr will focus on projects devoted to the reconstruction of our country, in particular in the Kyiv region.

Let me just remind you that Andriy Shevchenko, Elina Svitolina, Imagine Dragons, creative director of Balenciaga Demna, Liev Schreiber, Barbra Streisand and Mark Hamill are already ambassadors along with Usyk.

Today, 2 billion euros of macro-financial aid from the European Union were allocated to Ukraine’s accounts. This is important for us – for the social support of our people. We are very grateful. We expect other tranches under this package with a total volume of 9 billion euros.

I am grateful to all friends of Ukraine!

I am grateful to everyone who fights and works for our victory!

No matter what the enemy plans and does, our perspective is clear: Ukraine will defend itself.

Glory to Ukraine!

23/10/2022
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (18/10/2022)

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 18 October 2022.

Strong people of the indomitable country!

Today was a difficult day. The morning of a new Russian terrorist attack. Hours of clearing debris and eliminating the consequences of strikes. The evening of battles for Ukraine and news for Ukraine.

The next stage of the release of our people from Russian captivity took place – we managed to return 108 Ukrainian women. Officers, sergeants, privates. Army, Navy, territorial defense, National Guard, border guards.

96 are servicemen, 37 of them are evacuees from Azovstal. 12 – civilians.

Among those released today are those who were captured long before the full-scale war. We do not forget about any of our people – we have to return them all. And we will return them all.

Our exchange team continues this work: Budanov, Yermak, Usov, Maliuk, Lubinets and others.

I am grateful to all involved for this success, and I also thank all those who replenish our exchange fund, who ensure the capture of enemies.

The more Russian prisoners we have, the sooner we will be able to free our heroes. Every Ukrainian warrior, every frontline commander should remember this.

Throughout the day, the clearing of rubble continues in those places where the Russian terrorists managed to hit today.

In Kyiv, they killed a young family, targeting an apartment building with an Iranian “Shahed”. A guy and a 6 months pregnant girl… Vladimir Putin can mark another “achievement” – he killed another pregnant woman.

In total, four people were killed by this “Shahed” alone. There were other hits. More than 25 settlements of our country were attacked this night and morning.

Eternal memory to all victims of Russian terror!

Right now there is a new Russian drone attack – there are downings.

The world can and must stop this terror. When we talk about Ukraine’s need for air and missile defense, we are talking about real lives that are being taken by terrorists. We manage to shoot down some of the missiles and drones. In just 12 hours from 9 p.m. Sunday, 37 Iranian “Shaheds” and several cruise missiles were destroyed.

But in order to guarantee the protection of our skies and to reduce the capabilities of Russian terrorists to zero, we need significantly more modern air defense systems and a greater missile provision for such systems.

And this is not only Ukrainian interest. The fewer terrorist opportunities Russia has, the sooner this war will end.

Russia stands no chance on the battlefield. And it tries to cover up its military defeats with terror. Why does it need terror? To put pressure on us, on Europe, on the whole world.

Terrorists must be neutralized. This rule applies equally effectively everywhere, and it will affect Russian terror in the same way.

When Russian terror capabilities are neutralized by the joint efforts with our partners, Russia will have no choice but to think about peace.

And I thank all our Air Force fighters, anti-aircraft fighters, other warriors who are involved in countering Russian attacks! Every Russian missile shot down and every drone destroyed is a life saved.

I am also grateful to everyone who is involved in eliminating the consequences of terrorist attacks: our rescuers, policemen, doctors, energy workers, utility workers, heads of local self-government, government officials and business representatives who help.

Today’s Russian missile and drone attack also caused new power outages, but this is being corrected. Restoration work is ongoing. This form of terror will not give Russia anything even now, when we still do not have a sufficient number of air defense and missile defense systems.

But for this our unity must stay maximal. Please take the request of energy providers into account and consciously consume electricity during the hours of peak load on the power system. This will enable the whole country to go through this period more stably.

Please help local communities eliminate the consequences of terrorist attacks, if your business has the opportunity to do so. Please take care of your acquaintances and neighbors who are alone and need attention or help, especially the elderly. And be sure to thank those who are involved in the defense of our state and in eliminating the consequences of terrorist attacks, who maintain normal life despite any attempts by Russia to break it.

Our unity, our attention to each other, our ability to fight and work together for common interests is a guarantee of Ukrainian victory and the defeat of terrorists. There is no such weapon in Iran or elsewhere that can break a nation that is aware of what it is fighting for and what it will never forgive the enemy for.

I spoke today with the President of the United Arab Emirates. I thanked him for supporting Ukraine, particularly at the level of the UN and other international organizations.

We discussed the threat posed by Russia to global food security. I assured Mr. President that Ukraine can and will remain a guarantor of food security and, therefore, social stability of all our partners.

We are preparing for important negotiations scheduled for this and next week on further defense and financial support for our country.

We will do everything for the victory of Ukraine.

Eternal glory to all our warriors!

Eternal glory to our strong people!

Glory to Ukraine!

23/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Olena Zelenska meets with First Lady of Federal Republic of Germany Elke Büdenbender [October 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 22 October 2022.

The first ladies of Ukraine and Germany held a working meeting within the framework of Olena Zelenska’s visit to Germany and presented the joint project Better Time Stories. The first ladies said that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, they are in constant contact and implement many joint projects.

Zelenska thanked her colleague, in particular, for her contribution to providing humanitarian aid for Ukraine in the field of child protection: the first lady of Germany, Elke Büdenbender, facilitated the arrival, treatment and shelter of children with cancer from Ukraine in Germany. In particular, on March 23, 2022, on the joint initiative of First Lady of Poland Agata Kornhauser-Duda and First Lady of Germany Elke Büdenbender 36 children from the orphanage in Stepove, Mykolaiv region were taken by Polish government and transport planes from Poland to the Bonn/Cologne airport. On July 7, 2022, the first ladies of Poland and Germany, Agata Kornhauser-Duda and Elke Büdenbender, jointly visited these children and got acquainted with the conditions of their living in the Christian Youth Recovery Center.

Zelenska also thanked for caring for Ukrainian citizens who found protection in Germany from the war unleashed by Russia. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, as of October 2022, 1,002,763 refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Germany, the vast majority of whom are women and children. Registered persons are guaranteed free medical care, social benefits, payment for housing and compensation for the costs of its arrangement, education, etc.

“Ukraine is grateful to the Berlin Senate for supporting the pilot project to open a German-Ukrainian school in Berlin. It is important for us that such conditions of education for children are created in Germany, which would support communication and continuation of education of Ukrainian children according to the Ukrainian educational program. We hope that such an approach will be implemented in other German states as well,” Zelenska said.

During the talks with Ms. Büdenbender, she also raised the issue of Germany providing Ukraine with anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense equipment, as well as combat weapons.

“I am forced to raise the topic of providing weapons to Ukraine. This should not be a topic of protocol communication between first ladies. However, in the situation which Ukraine appears, we are forced to use every chance to be heard. It is about saving lives and about human rights. We must close the sky and stop this deliberate missile terror of Russia,” Zelenska added.

Together with the First Lady of Germany, Zelenska took part in the presentation of the Better Time Stories project. This is a non-profit initiative to support Ukrainian children who were forced to leave their homes because of the war. The goal of the project is to help the youngest children (aged 3 to 7 years) overcome sadness, integrate into the environment of the new host country and keep in touch with relatives who stayed at home, thanks to books.

As part of the book project, Ukrainian children who are forced migrants in European countries can receive a set of five illustrated books with available audio versions in the original and translated ones (in Ukrainian and the language of the host country) and with the possibility of recording an individual audio version for each child by their father or other relatives who remained in Ukraine.

The project was initiated by the company Interactive Kids Story (iKs), founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Andriy Shmyhelskyy, Princess of the Netherlands Laurentien’s Number 5 foundation and First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The initiative is implemented in four countries: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. A gift pack of 5 bilingual books for children aged from 3 to 7 can be ordered at bettertimestories.com.

The official international presentation of the project took place on September 29 in The Hague (the Netherlands). In addition to Olena Zelenska and Elke Büdenbender, First Lady of Austria Doris Schmidauer and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands acted as patrons of the project.

“The value of the project is that people who are separated by war, who have not seen each other for a long time and miss each other, can become closer thanks to the book and the voice. The value is to feel a loved one next to you again, to spend time with them doing a cozy family thing – reading. And the value is also in the fact that the project brings cultures together, because in it the books are translated into two languages: Ukrainian and the language of the host country,” Zelenska said.

During the second day of her visit to Germany, Zelenska also met with the president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, Juergen Boos. Zelenska expressed her gratitude to the management of the Frankfurt Book Fair for the comprehensive support of the representation of Ukraine at this prestigious international event, in particular, for the free provision of a stand with an area of 100 square meters, information and technical support.

“This makes it possible to familiarize the professional publishing community, and later readers from different parts of the world, with Ukrainian literature, which in the context of the Russian Federation’s war against our country and the invaders’ efforts to destroy Ukrainian culture and identity becomes of special importance and significance for Ukraine,” the first lady said.

23/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : World community must take active non-standard actions to protect human rights, stop crimes Russia committing – Andriy Yermak at meeting with international human rights organizations [October 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 22 October 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a video conference with representatives of international human rights organizations regarding access to places of forced detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russia and securing their rights.

The conference was also attended by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and deputy heads of the President’s Office.

Yermak said that today thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are being held by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the territory of the Russian Federation. The occupiers keep Ukrainian prisoners in terrible conditions and resort to brutal physical and psychological torture.

The head of the President’s Office said that today, the most egregious violations of human rights are taking place in Europe since the Second World War.

“Ukrainian prisoners are held without mandatory access to them by representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Russia continues blocking the UN mission to establish the facts of the terrorist attack against Ukrainian prisoners of war, defenders of Azovstal, in Olenivka. About 50 of our soldiers were mercilessly killed. And it is very likely that other crimes are hidden in this place,” Yermak said.

According to the head of the President’s Office, each of the places of forced detention of Ukrainians is evidence of Russia’s cynical and impunity abuse of the Geneva Conventions and all international law.

The head of the President’s Office said that after Russia started a war against Ukraine, the traditional methods of diplomacy have become a thing of the past, and the world must realize this reality.

Yermak called on the representatives of the international human rights community, the structures of the UN, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE to take immediate action to stop crimes against Ukrainian prisoners. “I appeal to everyone whose direct human rights mandate should not allow us to stand aside and passively watch as Russia continues committing the most brutal international crimes of our time,” he said.

Yermak said that international organizations should move to active non-standard actions, changing the established rules of their activities in accordance with modern conditions. According to the head of the President’s Office, the system of international security that has existed in the world until now will be changed after this war.

“Today, the entire community must act as a united front to defend the very principle of human rights protection in the 21st century. Otherwise, we will have nothing to say. Otherwise, this very principle and many institutions will not be able to say something for some time. Every war ends, but what do we say after it to all these thousands of people?” he said.

The head of the President’s Office suggested that representatives of international organizations consider the plan, which provides for specific steps to protect the rights of Ukrainians who are in Russian captivity.

“I propose to immediately bring the issue of the Olenivka detention camp, access to Ukrainian prisoners of war and the protection of their rights to the global level and adopt a joint declaration in which we strongly condemn war crimes, crimes against humanity and Russia’s genocide against Ukrainians,” Yermak said.

Also, the head of the President’s Office proposed that a joint mission, which representatives of international organizations can join, is sent to the contact line. This mission should remain on the contact line until Russia provides access to the places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners.

“I can guarantee you on behalf of Ukraine that we will provide all guarantees for your safety and the safety of your representatives. This will take place on the territory controlled by the government of Ukraine,” the head of the President’s Office said.

In addition, he made a proposal to prepare and publish relevant thematic reports of international organizations, which will be based on personally seen information or eyewitness testimony.

Yermak said that trust in international organizations will depend on the direct result of their activities.

“If we unite, if we imagine that there might be someone from our family there, in Olenivka, then, I am sure, we will be able to find completely alternative, non-standard approaches. I urge you to do so,” he said.

Yermak thanked the people of those countries that supported Ukraine during the Russian aggression.

“Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for itself. It is fighting for the whole world. For freedom, for the values of the democratic world. We will definitely win, and it will be our joint victory,” he said.

Also, the head of the President’s Office proposed holding weekly briefings by the human rights ombudsman. Representatives of partner countries can join these briefings so that the international community can get unbiased information about the situation with Ukrainian prisoners.

Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, said: Ukraine proposes that a new mechanism for the implementation of a humanitarian mission to monitor the state and the conditions of detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war and compliance with the norms of the Geneva Convention is created.

“We draw your attention because it concerns our citizens. We come up with new initiatives. It depends on you whether the international community can really influence the aggressor state,” Lubinets said.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova said that Ukraine raises issues that require the international community to find non-classical solutions.

For her part, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, expressed her readiness to participate in the collection of information about crimes committed against Ukrainian prisoners of war, for the purpose of further investigation. She also said that she can visit Ukraine and talk with soldiers released from captivity.

Summing up, Yermak emphasized: today, the entire global human rights community must act as a united front against the most flagrant and large-scale violations of human rights in Europe in the 21st century, being committed by Russia.

23/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine appreciates Norway’s strong and coherent stand in support of our country – Ihor Zhovkva [October 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 22 October 2022.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a telephone conversation with Director General of the Department of International Affairs of the Office of the Prime Minister of Norway Tormod C. Endresen.

Zhovkva highly appreciated Norway’s consistent support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is constantly reiterated by the country’s leadership at high-level international events.

The deputy head of the President’s Office briefed Endresen on the progress of the military operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine aimed at liberating the territories temporarily occupied by Russia in the east and south of our country.

“Given the lack of success on the battlefield, the Russian Federation has returned to its tried-and-tested tactics – terror against the civilian population, destruction of critical infrastructure facilities and planned operations under a foreign flag,” Zhovkva said.

The assistance provided by Norway in the military sphere was highly appreciated, and the belief was expressed that increasing the supply of high-precision weapons would prevent further destruction and death of civilians in Ukraine.

In the light of strengthening Euro-Atlantic security, Zhovkva informed Endresen about Ukraine’s vision of the modalities of further cooperation with NATO.

As part of preparations for the first Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform, which will take place on October 25 in Zagreb, Croatia, the deputy head of the Office of the President welcomed the willingness of President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani to participate in this public inter-parliamentary event.

Zhovkva thanked the government of Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre for its willingness to contribute EUR 205 million to the fund opened by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which accumulates funds to provide Ukraine with natural gas: “Such a decision is particularly important in view of the approaching winter season. This will be an invaluable help for our citizens, an opportunity for our hospitals and schools to properly ensure a stable passage of the heating season.”

23/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : The Yermak-McFaul International Working Group has prepared a Roadmap for individual sanctions against Russian propagandists, opinion leaders and artists [October 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 October 2022.

The international working group on sanctions against Russia chaired by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Former US National Security Adviser, Ambassador Michael McFaul has prepared another document – the Individual Sanctions Roadmap: Recommendations for Sanctions against the Russian Federation.

It contains a basic list of Russian propagandists, opinion leaders, artists who generate and spread Kremlin propaganda narratives, lies about Russia’s war against Ukraine and thus support policies aimed at undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and security of our state. This list will be updated.

The Individual Sanctions Roadmap singles out, in particular, propagandists who consistently reproduce false narratives in line with Kremlin policy, laying the ideological foundation for Russia’s war and concealing ongoing war crimes.

Propagandists are divided into two big groups: those who generate ideas for propaganda (ideologues, experts, scientists) and those who spread these ideas (journalists, artists and stars).

Disreputable think tanks (such as the Valdai International Discussion Club, the Izborsky Club, the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, the Russian Council on International Affairs and the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies have close ties to high-ranking officials, support the actions of the authorities, develop propaganda narratives.

Among those involved in spreading information in support of the war with Ukraine are not only journalists or experts, but also those who are “soldiers” in this hybrid war.

The Individual Sanctions Roadmap includes artists who are no less dangerous than corporate propagandists due to their ability to quickly and effectively spread propaganda to the masses.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many of them have visited the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, performed at concerts in support of Russia, or publicly supported the regime of the President of the Russian Federation and his war. Their activities are not related to journalism, freedom of expression or science, but purposefully help the efforts of the military-political leadership of Russia in Ukraine.

At the same time, most of them spend their vacations abroad, many own expensive real estate in Europe and the United States.

The international working group recommends that democratic countries around the world include in their sanctions lists those persons who have so far avoided it.

23/10/2022
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Speech to the Participants of the Frankfurt Book Fair

The speech made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 21 October 2022.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Dear participants of our meeting!

Thank you for your attention to Ukraine! Your attention means that you really value freedom and are ready to defend it. This is what Europe needs most now – unity in the fight for freedom. And doing more together, as our common enemy is trying to do more every day.

Look – two states that have been regular participants before are now absent at the Frankfurt fair. These are Russia and Iran. They are becoming less present in the space of culture, but more present where everything is being destroyed – not only culture, but also life and everything that provides it.

I keep getting reports about where Iranian attack drones purchased by Russia have hit. Power plants, water pipelines, ports, railway stations, warehouses with humanitarian aid, residential buildings, schools – everything becomes a target for them…

Instead of exporting culture, Iran exports death. Instead of importing culture, Russia imports death and directs it against us. And not just against Ukrainians. Not only. But against Ukraine as the first battlefield of Russia’s battle with a united Europe as of now.

And it is obvious. But not everyone admits this obviousness. We must speak frankly – there are still enough figures in Europe who call for “understanding” Russia and try to ignore the terrorist policy of states like Iran. There are such people in various spheres – in politics, business, in NGOs and in the media.

Why is this possible? What leads to this?

One answer: lack of knowledge. Lack of knowledge in the public majority. Lack of knowledge about murders committed by Russia. Lack of knowledge about crimes that combine different anti-democratic regimes. Lack of knowledge about corruption, which has become their tool to lower Europe’s vigilance. Lack of knowledge about injustice and lies, which are integral elements of the policy of any terrorist state.

When people do not know something, it is easier for politicians to manipulate them. When societies do not pay attention to relations with other states, business magnates can resort to any immorality in these relations. When injustice in a country is not noticed, terror may come from that country.

Remember that Russian state killers took revenge on opponents of the government on German streets, too. Took revenge with bullets. But are you safe from explosions? Or from killer drones?

These are not rhetorical questions. Russia has done enough to show that it does not recognize any borders. So I’m asking you – please do everything you can to let people know. Know about the terror that Russia brought to Ukraine. And before that – to Chechnya, to Georgia, to Syria, to African countries, where Russian mercenaries decided who would live and who would die…

Please write about it. Read about it. Do everything so that the Europeans know how many people died in the struggle for the rights and elementary respect that each and every one of you has simply from birth… Died in Russia, in Iran, in other similar countries.

Create, print, distribute books about those who weakened Europe with their decisions – due to corruption or simply indifference. Let people know about them. About those who gave strength to terrorist states or even now are trying to do everything so that there is no strong reaction to their terror.

And be sure to spread the stories about the victories of freedom. People should know this. They should know that freedom can endure even when it seems to many that it will not. Just as Ukraine endured Russia’s attack this year.

Europeans should not forget that murderers and torturers are still brought to justice – even if they had considerable power and influence.

Remind people about it. Thanks to this knowledge, they will feel that the current perpetrators of the policy of genocide and war criminals can really be brought to justice, too.

Knowledge is the answer. The answer to all those who fear, who manipulate and who do not believe. Books, documentary scenarios, articles, reports – all this is the answer.

I invite all of you to Ukraine – publishers and authors, businessmen and public figures, educators, journalists – everyone! Look at what our people are going through. What we have already managed to achieve. What threats we still face. Take a look – and tell about it.

Tell about it, because it threatens the other nations of Europe as well. As long as terrorist states still exist.

Let us do more together than any of our enemies can do together against us!

Thank you again for your attention!

Long live Europe! Long live freedom!

Glory to Ukraine!

23/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : President of Ukraine Meets With President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [October 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso.

The Head of State noted that the visit of the EBRD President is an important signal of support for Ukraine.

“Today our cooperation is more relevant than ever, because now due to the large amount of destruction caused by missile strikes and kamikaze drone attacks, we need to work on the rapid recovery of our country,” he said.

The President of Ukraine also thanked the EBRD for its decision to stop cooperation with the Russian Federation and Belarus.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the importance of holding a large number of conferences and meetings devoted to the recovery of our country, in particular the International Expert Conference on Restoration and Reconstruction of Ukraine on October 25 in Berlin.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that, in parallel with the discussion of the post-war reconstruction of our country, it is important to work on a fast recovery (Fast Recovery Plan), which also requires urgent attraction of financial resources. First of all, this concerns the energy, infrastructural, educational spheres, as well as the restoration of housing for Ukrainians.

The Head of State thanked the EBRD for the decision on the financial support for NPC Ukrenergo.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Odile Renaud-Basso about the risks for Ukraine in the energy sector due to the terrorist attacks by the Russian Federation. Possibilities of additional lending for the needs of this industry were discussed.

For her part, the President of the EBRD expressed her solidarity with Ukraine and noted that our state demonstrates extraordinary resilience. Odile Renaud-Basso emphasized that the financial institution she chairs will do everything possible to support Ukraine.

23/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the delegation of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress [October 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with members of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress Mike Turner, James Himes and Eric Swalwell.

The Head of State noted that the visit of the congressmen to Ukraine is especially important today, when Russia increased its terror againt peaceful cities and civilian infrastructure, hitting them with missiles and Iranian drones.

“This is a bold step that demonstrates strong bicameral and bipartisan support for Ukraine. It confirms that the United States is our strategic partner,” the President noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the members of the House of Representatives about the situation on the frontline and the priority needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He praised the support of the U.S. Congress, the President of the United States, his Administration and the entire American people. At the same time, the Head of State called for increasing aid in order to bring peace closer.

Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of transferring air defense systems to our country in the necessary quantity to create an air shield over our country, which should protect the civilian population and critical infrastructure facilities. Such systems would become an important element of security guarantees for our state.

During the meeting, the issues of Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and security guarantees for our state were discussed. The parties agreed on the inadmissibility of nuclear blackmail by the Russian leadership.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the strengthening of sanction pressure on the aggressor country, which is of particular importance in view of the terrorist attacks carried out by Russia in recent weeks on the civilian population and civilian objects in our country. The President separately noted that the world should designate Russia as a terrorist state.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of proper preparation of Ukraine for winter and the need for prompt restoration of the energy infrastructure that was destroyed. He expressed hope that the United States would take an active part in the reconstruction of our state.

The members of the House of Representatives assured the President of the unwavering support for Ukraine by the United States and emphasized the importance of restoring the territorial integrity of our state.

Separately, the results of the July visit of the First Lady of Ukraine to the U.S. and her speech in Congress were positively noted, as it contributed to the spread of information about the crimes of the Russian occupiers in Ukraine.

23/10/2022