Category: Attack on Ukraine

The speech made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 23 December 2022.

We are already used to it. This means that everything is fine. If there are sirens, it means that Russia does not forget about us and is afraid of us. We will defeat everyone.

Dmytro Ivanovych! Dear Mr. Minister!

Dear attendees!

Dear heads of diplomatic missions of our country!

24 hours a day and 365 days a year, we all have to be with Ukraine. We have no right to a weekend, no right to rest, no right to vacation, no right to an eight-hour work day.

All the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Ukraine are currently on hold for us personally as representatives of our state. Because if we rest or take it lightly, if we are careless, we will have neither the Constitution of Ukraine nor our state.

We must sleep less than the enemy, think more than the enemy, take risks more effectively than the enemy, and communicate with the world better, constantly, on a different level than anyone else in this world.

Such an attitude should define your work. We must do everything possible and impossible, formally and informally, personally and directing the forces of the powerful, professional teams we have formed in order to strengthen the defense of our state, guarantee the safety of our people and accelerate the victory of Ukraine.

Actually, these are the criteria by which I evaluate and will evaluate the effectiveness of each and every one of you, your work.

We do not have time to, for example, watch the two-hour press conferences of the President of the Russian Federation. We simply do not have time for such trifles. We already know how this war will end, and therefore every hour of yours is very important, it should add up the strength of Ukraine and accelerate our victory.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Ukraine needs concrete results from each and every one of you. The results that will allow everyone who fights and works for our people, for the sake of Ukraine, to say that you stand by them, even though you are in other countries of the world.

And for that to happen, you must understand how bravely and selflessly our people fight, how much they do so that the state can survive, and how much they sacrifice to preserve our free and independent life.

No matter where you live and work abroad, you must still live in Ukraine and for Ukraine. No matter where you are on a working trip, you should still be with Ukraine and feel Ukrainians.

The country is at war. You must be at war. Every day you should feel that the life of our state depends on your work, the lives of people and the situation on our land depend on it.

Yesterday, as you know, we returned to Ukraine from the United States of America. And this was my first visit abroad after February 24 – to the key ally of our state, the United States.

It was a fruitful visit. We have a decision on strengthening our air defense. The Congress is working on a powerful financial package for Ukraine and global security – 45 billion US dollars. We have significant strategic agreements with the United States for the coming months, which will definitely strengthen the capabilities of the most important thing – our defense forces in key directions.

I urge you to consider this visit as a very important reference point, as a set bar. I don’t have the opportunity of foreign visits – I just don’t, there’s no time. As it was done before, in different conditions. I have opportunities to do this kind of work in other formats – and you know it, you’ve seen it. I think it was quite effective this year.

But if any visit potentially has as significant, important, strategic content as my visit to the United States, if our Armed Forces, all our defense forces absolutely directly depend on the results of the visit, if one or another partner of ours is ready to take the lead in the implementation of the points of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, if there can be decisive steps to accelerate our victory, there can be my negotiations on a personal level as an exception to the general practice of wartime.

You have to know what result you will potentially give in your direction. Fight for Ukraine, for strategic results for Ukraine!

The second aspect: we must constantly create new opportunities for our state.

This year we achieved historic results. It’s true.

We have achieved and are increasing vital military, financial, sanction, humanitarian and other necessary support for Ukraine. Despite Russia’s all-out war against us, against each and every one, we preserved the resilience of our state.

A powerful global coalition has been created around Ukraine and the protection of international security, which unites not only traditional partners, but also – what is very important – states with which relations are just being built.

Ukraine united the European Union in an unprecedented way and gained the status of a candidate for joining the EU. This is a great achievement. We applied for NATO membership.

Historically significant results have been achieved in our cooperation with the UN and at the UN site. This applies both to Ukrainian export initiatives and to the decisions adopted for the sake of Ukraine, in particular the resolutions of the UN General Assembly.

143 countries of the world – more than ever before – supported our territorial integrity and condemned Russian aggression.

Our grain export initiative enables the world to overcome the severity of the food crisis. More than 14 million tons of agricultural products were exported – you know – to more than forty countries of the world. We also launched the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian initiative.

Both initiatives put our state in the same line with those who really guarantee global security for the whole world. And next year, we will increase this, I believe, very important activity of ours.

Special attention is paid to those regions and continents where our interests are so far represented less than we need for the good of Ukraine and our protection against Russian aggression. In particular, this is Africa.

We are already restarting relations with dozens of African countries. We have to step it up next year.

Ten countries have already been determined where new embassies of Ukraine in Africa will be opened. We also developed the concept of the “Ukraine – Africa” trading house with the opening of its offices in the capitals of the most promising countries of the African continent. In addition to the existing representation of Ukraine in ten African countries – along with new embassies and trading houses – we must achieve representation in thirty countries of the African continent.

Global growth and international stability in this century cannot be imagined without relations with Africa and other parts of the Global South: Latin America, India, other Asian countries, including China and Southeast Asia, the entire region of the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Ukraine must find the format of its leadership in strategic processes in each of these regions, and the role of the diplomatic corps of Ukraine will be decisive.

We need passports for Ukraine’s relations with each country, as it is currently done by us with African countries. I think the ministers, my colleagues, diplomatic institutions will explain this to you in more detail. We need clarity and defined intersection of our interests with partners and potential partners.

It is necessary to bring the capacity of Ukraine to a new level in the foreign policy of emergency situations. We need such a tool that will enable our state to respond to crisis situations in the world. Our presence should be felt by absolutely everyone, everyone should be interested in our help. To this end, we are preparing the creation of the Ukrainian International Aid Agency, which will expand the geography of our influence and form additional lines of cooperation with partners.

As we ensure the sustainability of our country together with our partners, we can also help other countries maintain and develop sustainability.

As an example, we can consider our cooperation with partners in the field of food security, in the field of digitization and – which is very important, where we have really important developments – in cyber defense. We have experience that can strengthen our partners and give Ukraine new friends in the world.

Of course, all this requires updating the regulations and ensuring the work of our diplomats.

To this end, I commission the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare an ambitious draft of amendments to the Law of Ukraine on the Diplomatic Service.

The system of work of embassies must be updated. In order for embassies to be able to work truly as a team, the approach to the formation of the embassy team must be changed. The ambassador is responsible for the result, and therefore the ambassador needs to influence the formation of the embassy team. It will be done.

Of course, injustice in financing the work of our representative offices, in particular in Africa, will also be corrected.

The third aspect: the world should know about the needs of Ukraine and the needs of our people. Not only politicians, but also business, the very important media environment, and the civil sector.

This is critically necessary for the reconstruction of Ukraine, for the restoration and development of the social and investment opportunities of our state, as well as for the pressure on Russia for this shameful war, for terror, to constantly increase.

Our embassies and our state should be heard and seen in the countries of your direct work.

In particular, one of your tasks, in addition to the general task of popularizing Ukraine, should be the organization of visits of those who can actually become and are newsmakers in the country of your stay.

Take a look at examples of what has been done this year. Just a few examples, there were many of them, but still… For example, the Crimea Platform summit of the parliamentary dimension in Croatia – it was done jointly by the teams of Ruslan Stefanchuk, the government, the Office, all our diplomats. The conference on strengthening our energy sector and infrastructure in general, which took place in France and where Ukraine was represented by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Yulia Svyrydenko and Rostyslav Shurma. Agreements were reached in the amount of about 2 billion euros. The visit of the First Lady of Ukraine to Washington, her speech in Congress, meetings after which the possibility of a powerful strengthening of air defense opened up for Ukraine. A very important visit. Agreements regarding grain, which were dealt with by the team of Oleksandr Kubrakov and the team of the Office. The release of our prisoners of war, in particular the defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal, which was ensured by the team led by Andriy Yermak, Kyrylo Budanov and Rustem Umyerov, which is extremely important. The activity, which was aimed at obtaining candidate status, historical candidate status, and the corresponding visits and negotiations of Dmytro Kuleba, Olha Stefanishyna, Andriy Sybiha, Ihor Zhovkva, Emine Dzhaparova, Oleksiy Chernyshov – this entire team.

We need this level of events for Ukraine next year. We need to create events that could talk about Ukraine and our interests. Political events of strategic importance. You should focus on this and ensure at least one such event per month for the sake of Ukraine.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Today, several special, very important areas of work in the coming year will be presented to you.

In particular, the Head of my Office will present what can be done to implement the Ukrainian Peace Formula. I want to emphasize: this is a practical thing. Not some kind of abstraction, not some trick, not a rhetorical tool. This is a specific task, points that must be implemented in order to restore the territorial integrity of our state and guarantee the security of Ukraine and Ukrainians.

There are more specific tasks for us for the next year. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to outline some of them, those we need to implement to make the next year a truly victorious year for all of us. So.

Start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

Preparation for the planned NATO summit and ensuring concrete results of this summit for Ukraine, which we all know about.

Each of you will be presented with our updated defense and security needs for our army. You must constantly work to satisfy them.

Ukrainian energy sector and, in general, the needs of our country for recovery after the Russian strikes, Fast Recovery Plan – please work as closely as possible with the government, the Office, international organizations and partner states, so that all these existing agreements are provided with a concrete content and result.

Sanctions against Russia. We have to ensure new strong sanction packages next year. The terrorist state must feel real pressure, and your actions – the actions of our diplomatic corps – must be aimed at this.

The Tribunal for the crime of aggression and the accountability of war criminals – work to ensure that the countries of your stay support us.

Help find and block Russia’s assets linked not only to government officials, but also to Russian businesses that support the war. All these funds will be directed to the restoration of Ukraine. Do everything you can to ensure that the countries in which you work help build an effective compensation mechanism.

And be sure to support our people not just as much as you can, but much more. They are facing extremely hard times. Work for our people to return to the state and for all their rights and legitimate interests in the host countries are satisfied. Ukrainian identity, Ukrainian cultural, educational, information and social needs must be satisfied.

In everything, take as an example our work on “Patriots”, “NASAMS”, “IRIS-T”, “Crotale”. We were told that it was impossible. That all this was impossible. Now it’s all there. Diplomacy is just such a tool. Everything that faces a “no” at the beginning must become a concrete result for all of us.

The implementation of all the tasks I mentioned today is not only a specific work plan for the next year.

We must understand: this is our victory, these are the elements of this victory. When we implement a specific task, we accelerate victory for Ukraine, accelerate victory for our people.

The most important task for all of us is victory in this war. We must, and we will get it!

Glory to all our warriors! Gratitude to everyone who works for our victory!

Thank you for all your work for our state in a particularly difficult time after February 24!

I sincerely congratulate you on your day, your professional day – the Day of Diplomatic Service Employees – and I wish you all to achieve even more results in the coming year than this year.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a Happy New Year. May this year be victorious!

Glory to Ukraine!

The address made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 19 December 2022.

Thank you very much, Rishi, Mr. Prime Minister Sunak!

Mr. Prime Minister Kariņš, everyone present!

I am grateful, first of all, for these words of support. They are very important, and they are about the priorities you’ve mentioned.

Dear friends, dear leaders!

First of all, I want to thank you all for supporting Ukraine and our struggle for freedom. When I participated in this format of ours last time, and it was on the twentieth day of a full-scale invasion, I called on you: help Ukraine and through it – help yourself. This is exactly how we have been acting all these months. And I thank you all for that, for your great support!

That is why we see the most important thing – that Russian aggression can and must fail. And our task now is to speed it up. Now – at this summit – I urge you to do everything to speed up the defeat of the occupiers.

I will be very specific today – absolutely practical. Perhaps you expect a more political speech. But it is a different time now.

It is time for specific things.

Ukraine was again attacked by Iranian drones this night. 34 “Shaheds”. I say both the number and the name, and quite specifically.

These are “Shaheds” from the new batch that Russia received from Iran. 250 items – that’s how many “Shaheds” have now been received by the terrorist state.

Russian missiles and Iranian drones are constantly used to strike primarily at our energy sector – and you know all the details about it.

Only one recent massive attack on Ukraine affected more than 20 million of our people. As a result, cities with millions of inhabitants and most Ukrainian regions were left completely without electricity. In general, on the evening of December 16, 22 million 408 thousand Ukrainians were disconnected from the energy supply. More than 10 million people had their water and heat supplies cut off. Imagine the scale of this terror.

And imagine that it can be stopped.

Dear leaders!

Right now to a large extent it depends on you when and how this war will end. And everything is very specific. The more successful our Defense Forces are, the sooner Russian aggression will fail.

Winter is now a really crucial time.

It is a time when decisions can be made, the results of which in the spring will allow us to outline the restoration of our territorial integrity and guarantee that Russian revanchism will never again cross the border of Ukraine, and therefore – the border of Europe. And I want to address everyone.

Mr. Prime Minister of Britain! Rishi!

When we can fully protect the Ukrainian sky, it will mean the dismantling of the last great Russian opportunity to terrorize Ukraine.

And therefore, it will also be the dismantling of the last great Russian hope that they will allegedly succeed in conquering our state and people.

And I am asking you to increase the possibility of supplying air defense systems to our state and help speed up the relevant decisions of partners.

One hundred percent air shield for Ukraine will be one of the most successful steps against Russian aggression. And this step is needed right now.

Mr. Prime Minister of Norway! Mr. Støre!

I am asking you to continue your policy of defense support for Ukraine in the next year as well – at least at the same level as this year.

And we already see tangible results.

NASAMS which have already been given to us, significantly strengthened our defense. I thank you for this!

I am asking you to increase the supply of such systems and missiles for them.

Mrs. Minister of Defense of the Netherlands! Mrs. Ollongren!

For our defense operations to be more successful, we need modern armored vehicles.

First of all, tanks.

There is no explanation why Ukraine has not yet obtained a decision on the provision of modern and effective tanks – in particular, “Leopards”. This is vital! I am asking you and your partners to reach this decision, to help us.

The first to open this defense opportunity for Ukraine – with the supply of tanks – will open it for all other partners of ours. The first step is needed to get others to take their steps as well.

I am asking to continue our cooperation regarding Soviet-type tanks – the necessary shells, as well as Harpoon complexes and other artillery systems.

Mr. Prime Minister of Sweden! Mr. Kristersson!

We have already discussed with you the possibilities of strengthening our artillery.

This is what determines the developments on the battlefield, namely the artillery.

You know how large a stockpile of artillery systems and shells there is in Russia.

And this artillery arrogance of the terrorist state must be shut down. We need to increase our capabilities on the battlefield so that the Russian leadership quicklier understands that this aggression has no chance.

You have good Archer systems – I urge you to make a decision on them.

And also you can strengthen the capabilities in the defense of the sky, and if you can – these are RBS-98 anti-aircraft missile systems and these are Gripen aircraft. We have to achieve such a historically important result for us.

Mr. President of Lithuania! Gіtanas, my friend!

I thank you for the fact that Lithuania became one of the first countries to help us.

Even before the start of the full-scale invasion, when we have already been preparing for defense, you helped us.

I thank you for that!

And I am asking you to continue our cooperation next year.

We need both NASAMS, as you know, and “Stingers”, which we can get if your decision is made.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister of Latvia! Mr. Kariņš!

I thank you for your constant and principled support throughout the Russian war. And let’s reduce the time of this aggression even more actively!

You can help us with artillery systems – please make such decisions.

Dear Mrs. Prime Minister of Estonia! Mrs. Kallas!

You also have this opportunity – 155-mm artillery shells, spare parts for howitzers. Let’s intensify our cooperation.

Dear Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of Denmark! Mr. Ellemann-Jensen!

You are aware of our need for CAESAR systems, which have proven themselves well on the battlefield, and these are the systems you expect from France. But they are vitally necessary for us right now, precisely in Ukraine. We need your decision on CAESAR.

And I am asking you to continue our cooperation next year, which has already been achieved in the field of defense, in particular in anti-ship defense.

Dear Mr. President of Finland! Mr. Niinistö!

I thank you for the armored vehicles provided to us – the APCs that you provided help us a lot.

You have 122-mm and 152-mm caliber – they are vitally necessary. Means of radio-electronic warfare, countering drones. MLRS complexes.

Please maintain the level of interaction that has already been achieved between us.

The sooner we restore our border, the stronger your security will be. I am sure of it.

Dear Mrs. Prime Minister! Mrs. Jakobsdóttir!

I thank you for your demining initiatives and humanitarian leadership.

I am asking you to expand our cooperation next year, to create even more opportunities to protect our people from Russian mine terror.

Dear friends!

Today – on St. Nicholas Day according to the Eastern Rite – Russian terrorists “gifted” new strikes to Ukrainian children.

I am asking you to support our country right now with a clear decision – to provide everything that can not only preserve the existing dynamics on the battlefield in Ukraine, but also accelerate the movement of our Defense Forces to victory. Because our victory will be the victory of each of you, it is the victory of Europe, your nations, the victory, which the whole world expects, I am sure of that.

That’s that – Ukrainian children in their letters to St. Nicholas ask for air defense, weapons and victory – victory for themselves, victory for all Ukrainians. Our children understand everything.

Let’s act!

I thank you for your attention!

I thank you all for your support!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 31 December 2022.

Dear Ukrainians!

This year began on February 24. Without prefaces and preludes. Sharply. Early. At 4 o’clock.

It was dark. It was loud. It was hard for many and scary for some. 311 days have passed. It can still be dark, loud, and complicated for us. But we will definitely never be afraid again. And we’ll never be ashamed.

It was our year. Year of Ukraine. Year of Ukrainians.

We woke up on February 24. Into another life. Being another people. Another Ukrainians. The first missiles finally destroyed the labyrinth of illusions. We saw who was who. What friends and enemy are capable of, and most importantly, what we are capable of.

On February 24, millions of us made a choice. Not a white flag, but a blue and yellow flag. Not escaping, but meeting. Meeting the enemy. Resisting and fighting.

The explosions on February 24 stunned us. Since then we have not heard everything. And we don’t listen to everyone. We were told: you have no other option but to surrender. We say: we have no other option than to win.

On February 24, we began to create our victory. From many bricks – hundreds of other victories.

We have overcome the panic. We did not run away but united. We have overcome doubts, despair, and fear. We believed in ourselves and in our strength. The Armed Forces of Ukraine. Intelligence. National Guard. SBU. Special Operations Forces. Border guards. Territorial defense forces. Air defense forces. The police. The State Emergency Service. All our defense and security forces. I am proud of you all, our warriors!

This year can be called a year of losses for Ukraine, for the whole of Europe, and the whole world. But it’s wrong. We shouldn’t say that.

We haven’t lost anything. It was taken from us. Ukraine did not lose its sons and daughters – they were taken away by murderers. Ukrainians did not lose their homes – they were destroyed by terrorists. We did not lose our lands – they were occupied by invaders. The world did not lose peace – Russia destroyed it.

This year has struck our hearts. We’ve cried out all the tears. All the prayers have been yelled. 311 days. We have something to say about every minute. But most of the words are superfluous. They are not needed. No explanations or decorations are needed. Silence is needed to hear. Pauses are needed to realize.

The morning of February 24.

Hostomel. Bucha. Irpin. Borodianka. Kharkiv.
Mriya.

Kramatorsk Station. Toy.

Chernihiv.

Mariupol. Drama Theater. The word “Children” written.

Olenivka.

Odesa. Multi-story building. Girl. Three months old.

Vilniansk. Maternity hospital. Baby. Two days old.

Azovstal.

It’s impossible to forget. And it’s impossible to forgive. But it’s possible to win.

We stood on our feet because there was something that kept us going. Our spirit.

Defense of Kyiv.

Kharkiv.

Mykolaiv.

Chornobayivka.

Snake Island.

HIMARS.

Antonivsky Bridge.

“Cotton” pops.

Crimean Bridge.

Neptune.

Cruiser Moskva.

Russian warship.

Izyum, Balakliya and Kupyansk.

Kherson.

And we pray that there will be Kreminna and Svatove, Melitopol, all of Donbas, Crimea.

We fight and will continue to fight. For the sake of the main word: “victory.”

It will be for sure. We are approaching it for 311 days.

We gave it a lot of strength. But at the moment, when it seems that you can’t go any further, remember that we have already passed with you.

I want to say to all of you: Ukrainians, you are incredible! See what we have done and what we are doing!

How our soldiers have been smashing this “second army of the world” since the first days.

How our people stopped their equipment and infantry columns.

How an old man used his hands to stop a tank.

How a woman knocked down a drone with a jar of tomatoes.

How enemy tanks, armored personnel carriers, helicopters, shells were stolen during the occupation.

How we fundraised for Shahed hunters, naval drones, armored vehicles, ambulance vehicles and Bayraktar drones in several hours.

How we withstood all threats, shelling, cluster bombs, cruise missiles, darkness and cold.

How we supported each other and the state.

Everyone is important in war.

Who holds a weapon, the steering wheel of a car, the helm of a ship or plane, a scalpel, or a pointer.

Everyone who is behind a laptop, who drives a combine harvester, a train.

Who is at a roadblock and a power plant.

Journalists and diplomats, utility workers and rescuers.

All. Who is working. Studying at a university or school. And even those who are just learning to walk.

All this is for their sake. Our children. Our people. Our country.

There are no small matters in a great war. There are no unnecessary ones. Each of us is a fighter. Each of us is a front. Each of us is the basis of the defense.

We fight as one team – the whole country, all our regions. I admire you all. I want to thank every invincible region of Ukraine.

Kharkiv. Mutilated but unconquered. You proved to the enemy that being close territorially does not mean being close in mind. Kharkiv is a Ukrainian city. The hero city.

Invincible Mykolaiv. Heroically withstands all blows. The city on a wave that overcomes all storms.

Sumy city and the region. You were one of the first to feel the full-scale invasion of the invaders. Sumy region became a bone in their throat for them. Ordinary people made Molotov cocktails, burned enemy columns, took the first prisoners. Sumy region is a force.

Dnipro. The support and reliable rear of our front. You received people, you got the lives of wounded soldiers back. Despite constant barrages, Dnipro lives on.

Odesa. Sunny and friendly, now a fortress. World fortress. Which defends us and which defends the world. Feeds it by sending millions of tonnes of salvation by sea every day. Because it is Odesa Mama.

Kherson! You are heroic people! You have been under occupation for more than eight months. No news. No communication. Separated from Ukraine.

Thousands of you took part in actions against the ruscists. You did not know whether we saw it in Ukraine or knew about it. The occupiers lied to you that Ukraine abandoned you and would not fight for you. But you believed and waited despite everything. The face of Kherson is cut by fragments of shells, but the main thing is that we welcome the New Year free and together under blue and yellow flags. And therefore, we will restore everything, rebuild everything. Just like Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia, and Kramatorsk, and Bakhmut.

Those that became a refuge for millions of Ukrainians: Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Vinnytsia. I thank you! Those who receive and transfer millions of tonnes of aid from Europe and the world: Lviv, Uzhgorod, Chernivtsi, Lutsk. Thank you! Those who accept the evacuation of businesses, enterprises, universities: Khmelnytsky, Zhytomyr, Kropyvnytsky, Poltava, Cherkasy. Thank you!

And those who are waiting for Ukraine. And will wait. Donbas, Luhansk region, Crimea. Thanks to you, our warriors!

And, of course, Kyiv region and the city are our heart, which always beats thanks to you, all our Ukrainians!

We are all one family. One Ukraine.

This is the year when Ukraine changed the world. And the world discovered Ukraine. We were told to surrender. We chose a counterattack! We were told to make concessions and compromises. We are joining the European Union and NATO.

The world heard Ukraine. European Parliament, Bundestag, the UK Parliament, Knesset, the US Congress.

The world felt Ukraine. Ukraine in the media. In the hearts of people. At the top of Google search.

The world saw Ukraine. On the main squares in Toronto, New York, London, Warsaw, Florence, Sydney, and other cities.

Ukrainians surprise. Ukrainians are applauded. Ukrainians inspire.

Is there anything that can scare us? No. Is there anyone who can stop us? No.

Because we are all together.

It is what we are fighting for. One for each other.

The best salute for us is at the warehouses of the occupiers. The best gift is the numbers in the report of the General Staff.

We do not know for sure what the new year 2023 will bring us. But ready for anything.

New achievements? We will be happy. New hits? We will be steadfast. Continuation of the fight? We will fight. And when we win, we will hug.

Dear Ukrainians!

A few minutes remain until the New Year. I want to wish all of us one thing – victory. And that’s the main thing. One wish for all Ukrainians.

Let this year be the year of return. The return of our people. Soldiers – to their families. Prisoners – to their homes. Immigrants – to their Ukraine.

Return of our lands. And the temporarily occupied will become forever free.

Return to normal life. To happy moments without curfew. To earthly joys without air alerts.

The return of what has been stolen from us. The childhood of our children, the peaceful old age of our parents.

So that grandchildren come to visit their grandparents during the holidays. To eat watermelons in Kherson. And the cherry in Melitopol.

So that our cities are free. Our friends are faithful.

And so that our main figure and main success appeared in reports near the figure of 100,000 destroyed enemies, thousands of units of destroyed Russian equipment – it is 603,628 square kilometers. The area of independent Ukraine, as it was since 1991. As it will always be.

May the New Year bring all this. We are ready to fight for it. That’s why each of us is here. I’m here. We are here. You are here. Everyone is here. We are all Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

Happy New Year!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 31 December 2022.

December 31st… Today, this Russian missile attack is not the end of the year, no matter how much the terrorists want it. It’s the outcome of Russia’s fate.

The terrorist state will not be forgiven. And those who give orders for such strikes, and those who carry them out, will not receive a pardon. To put it mildly.

Several missile attack waves on New Year’s Day. Missiles against people. It’s against the people.

NONhumans did it, NONhumans will lose. And you and I know it. Terrorists cannot change it.

At Easter, they made such attacks, at Christmas, at New Year… They call themselves Christians, they are very proud of their Orthodoxy. But they are following the devil. They support him and are together with him.

And I’ll tell you about it in Russian.

All this war that you are waging, you are Russia, it is not the war with NATO, as your propagandists lie. It is not for something historical. It’s for one person to remain in power until the end of his life. And what will be with all of you, citizens of Russia, does not concern him.

Your leader wants to show that he has the troops behind him and that he is ahead. But he is just hiding. He hides behind the troops, behind missiles, behind the walls of his residences and palaces.

He hides behind you and burns your country and your future. No one will ever forgive you for terror. No one in the world will forgive you for this. Ukraine will never forgive.

And you yourself will not forgive him everything that he will destroy and everyone whom he will kill.

Citizen of Ukraine!

All our services work where there were missile hits. We provide assistance to those affected. Kyiv, Khmelnytsky, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv this time…

Unfortunately, there are casualties… My condolences to the families.

Most of the missiles have been intercepted by our air defense forces. And these are lives saved. If it were not for air defense, the number of casualties would have been different. Much bigger. And this is yet another proof for the world that support for Ukraine must be increased.

I thank all the partners who helped with the air defense. IRIS-T, Crotale, NASAMS, Hawk. MANPADS Perun, Mistral, etc. Next year it will be Patriot. This year, a lot of S-300s were made, which we also received.

Each of these systems is a counter to terror, it’s what proves the strength of normal people and the ineffectiveness of terrorists. A weapon against terror is a means for peace.

And every day – today is no exception – we release our people. A total of 140 people were returned from Russian captivity today. 22 officers, 118 privates and sergeants. In total, since February 24, we have returned home 1,596 Ukrainian men and women.

Thanks to our team! Thanks to everyone who protects Ukraine! To everyone who is now on the front line! Thanks to everyone who fights for our country!

Thanks to Air Defense Forces! And please, citizens, don’t ignore the sirens. Thanks to our energy workers – everyone who removes the consequences of terrorist attacks.

It will be the New Year now.

We’ll be in touch with you the whole time!

We are all working.

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 30 December 2022.

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!

I held another meeting of the Staff – already the 45th this year.

The main thing is Donetsk region, Luhansk region – our Donbas, where the fiercest battles are going on. Bakhmut, Soledar, Kreminna… In general, we hold our positions. There are also areas of the front where we are slowly advancing. And I thank all our soldiers who ensure this. You are real heroes!

We discussed the situation in the south, on our border, the supply of weapons, and the further strengthening of air defense.

This year, we not only maintained our air defenses, but we made them stronger than ever. But in the new year Ukrainian air defense will become even stronger, even more effective.

Ukrainian air defense can become the most powerful in Europe, and this will be a guarantee of security not only for our country, but also for the entire continent.

After the meeting of the Staff, at a separate meeting we discussed the situation in the energy industry, what we are preparing for.

We have a clear strategy for ensuring the generation and supply of electricity. It takes time to implement it. It takes a lot of effort. But it will be. It will be mandatory. It is one of the most important tasks for the next year, and I have no doubt that we will accomplish it.

Today I spoke with the Prime Minister of Greece. We summarized the year, and I thanked Greece for supporting our country. We agreed for next year how we can make cooperation even more meaningful.

I held a meeting with our diplomats. There are many questions, but the main thing is the measures we are preparing to strengthen Ukraine already in January and February.

Ukraine will retain the achieved leadership in foreign policy and will be even more active, that’s for sure.

And one more.

Today, for the first time, the ceremony of awarding our volunteers with the Golden Heart took place.

It is fair and honest – at the end of the year, to recognize those who help our defense, help people and our entire state all year long.

Thank you to everyone who fights for our country. Who helps Ukrainians. Who works for Ukraine and our future.

Glory to all our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 29 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, I want to thank our Air Forces servicemen, Ukrainian air defense, which successfully repelled another Russian attack today.

54 missiles and 11 attack drones were shot down.

Our warriors all over Ukraine distinguished themselves, and I thank all our Air Commands: Center, South, East and West.

And especially we are grateful to the warriors of the 96th Kyiv, 160th Odesa, 208th Kherson anti-aircraft missile brigades, whose results are the best today.

Unfortunately, there were several hits. Our power engineers and repair crews are doing everything to make Ukrainians feel the consequences of the terrorists’ strike as little as possible. And I thank everyone who is working to restore energy supply.

As of this evening, there are power outages in most regions of Ukraine. It is especially difficult in Kyiv region and the capital, Lviv region, Odesa and the region, Kherson and the region, Vinnytsia region and Zakarpattia.

But this is nothing compared to what could have happened, if it was not for our heroic anti-aircraft troops and air defense.

With each such missile strike, Russia is only driving itself deeper into a dead end. They have fewer and fewer missiles. Instead, the status of the biggest terrorist in the world will have consequences for Russia and its citizens for a long time. And each missile only confirms that all this must end with a tribunal. And that is exactly what will happen.

And despite all the strikes, the state works every day. The Office, the Cabinet of Ministers – everyone is working.

In particular, today I had two large meetings, economic and defense. We are working to ensure that our defenders have more opportunities, more weapons, more drones.

The situation on the frontline remained without significant changes over the last day.

The most acute situation is in Bakhmut, Soledar, over the entire line in the Donetsk region. The enemy has not abandoned the insane idea to capture the Donetsk region… Now they set themselves a task – for the New Year.

I am grateful to all our guys who have been proving to the occupiers for months that it is us who will set and achieve goals on our land.

I am grateful to everyone who defends the Ukrainian Donbas! To all who defend our Kharkiv region! To all who keep our south! Who protect our border…

And, by the way, I thank those border guards who, together with all the defense forces, are fighting the enemy at the front. I thank the warriors of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and Mukachevo border guard detachments.

Dear Ukrainians!

There are two days left in this year. Perhaps, the enemy will try once again to make us celebrate the New Year in darkness. Perhaps, the occupiers are planning to make us suffer with the next strikes at our cities.

But no matter what they plan, we know one thing about ourselves: we will endure. For sure. We will drive them out. No doubts about that. And they will face punishment for this terrible war. The maximum punishment.

I thank everyone who defends our state! I thank everyone who fights for our independence!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 28 December 2022.

I wish you health, dear Ukrainians!

Today – so it turned out – is the day of summing up this year and plans for the next year.

I held a meeting with officials specializing in international relations regarding events and plans for January.

I met with the Minister of Defense of France who arrived in Ukraine. We discussed cooperation over the year, the reconstruction of our country and another step in strengthening our air defense. Thank you, France!

I met with government officials and heads of parliamentary committees. We discussed the solutions that are being prepared.

Today, I also delivered the annual Message to the Verkhovna Rada on the external and internal situation of Ukraine. About how we all – all Ukrainians – changed the world this year and what we will do next year.

Probably, you could already see the highlights of all these events in the news, or you will see them.

I would like to add one more thing to everything that was done and said today. Add something non-political.

No matter what is happening and what is on your mind, support each other. Necessarily.

Please take the time to say kind words to those close to you. Even if these are not people close to you – just to other Ukrainians.

Please find an opportunity and a moment to thank for the work, to praise for this or that effort, for the care.

And if a person is in such a difficult situation, at such a difficult time, remains alone and for some reason does not have relatives, please ask if he or she needs help. Or just help without even asking.

If you know that a person is waiting for a son or daughter from the war, please pay attention: say hello, listen, help.

Hug your family more often. Tell your friends more often how much you appreciate them. Support colleagues more often. Thank your parents more often. Rejoice with children more often.

Do not forget to call when relatives are waiting, even just to hear: how are you? Do not forget to write messages to friends and acquaintances at least sometimes – you should not lose contact now.

And please don’t forget to say thank you when you’ve been helped. Please try to support those who fight for our country.

Our attention to others, when it may be lacking from one of our relatives – for various reasons, our words that can warm those around us when events are too cold, and our care for each other when circumstances are challenging – all this is also our common defense.

We have not lost our humanity even though we have gone through terrible months. And we will not lose it even though there is also a difficult year ahead. We will reach victory. And we have to do it really together.

Take care of Ukraine, appreciate each other and do everything to help our warriors!

Every day – until victory.

Glory to all our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 27 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

I held a meeting of the Staff today – the 44th of this year already. The topic is clear. First of all, it is Bakhmut, Kreminna and Donbas in general. Possible actions of the enemy in the eastern direction and our actions.

We listened to the commanders, decided on steps for the near future. We continue to prepare the defense and security forces of Ukraine for the next year. It must be a crucial year. We understand the risks in the winter, we understand what we have to do in the spring, and therefore we understand what results the entire defense and security sector must demonstrate.

The supply of ammunition and the repair of military equipment was discussed separately.

By the way, I want to thank our specialists, all our partners, everyone involved in the relevant work. We managed to establish a system to not only return repaired equipment to the battlefield, but also to take trophy equipment from the battlefield and put it at the service of our country.

This is a very important result of the year, everyone involved did a great job.

I spoke today with the Prime Minister of Italy. I thanked for the support already provided and for the new support.

Mrs. Meloni said that the issue of air defense for Ukraine is currently under consideration and we have coordinated our steps. I believe that Italian support will allow us to strengthen the defense of the Ukrainian sky.

Of course, we also discussed our diplomatic plans for the coming months. And also the winter threats, which I am sure we will overcome together.

I held a meeting today regarding the work of the banking system and our cooperation with the IMF. We must provide even more opportunities for Ukrainians in the coming year and guarantee the strength of our banking and financial systems.

I also spoke with the head of the world’s largest investment fund, BlackRock. I received another confirmation that the business of the developed world believes in our victory and is ready to invest in our reconstruction. Specialists of this company are already helping Ukraine to structure the Fund for the reconstruction of our state. And we are already preparing to participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos. The position and prospects of Ukraine will be presented there.

In general, this week will be important for Ukraine from a political point of view. We are entering the next year and must retain a common understanding of our national goals. Of course, this is the liberation of our land from the enemy, as well as the restoration of Ukraine, the return of our people home, the further rapprochement of our state with key partners, the opening of new opportunities for Ukraine in the world – these are all tasks for the near future. And not only for the state, but also for each and every one of us. Soon I will present my view on the implementation of these tasks in the annual Message to the Verkhovna Rada on the external and internal situation of Ukraine.

I want this Message to be not a report, but our conversation about the coming year.

Thank you to everyone who works for Ukraine!

Thank you to everyone who fights for our independence!

Thank you to all the units of our defense forces, which bring the defeat of the enemy closer!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 26 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

A brief report on today – another day of another week of our resistance.

First. The frontline. Bakhmut, Kreminna and other areas in Donbas, which now require maximum strength and concentration.

The situation there is difficult, acute. The occupiers are using all the resources available to them – and these are significant resources – to squeeze out at least some advance.

And I thank all our guys who hold their positions firmly, stand strong, and who nevertheless find opportunities not only to not lose anything, but also to drive the occupiers out, to “subtract” them.

Today I want to celebrate the 10th separate mountain assault brigade for capturing the occupiers in the Donetsk region. It is very important. This will enable us to release more Ukrainians.

I will also celebrate the 80th and 95th separate airborne assault brigades for the successful destruction of the enemy force in the Lyman direction. Well done, guys! The more the occupiers lose, the more time we all gain for Ukraine.

Second. Energy sector.

I want to thank all the workers of the energy companies, all the repair crews for the fact that this Saturday and Sunday – on Christmas Eve and Christmas – it was possible to give people more energy.

Of course, deficits remain. Shutdowns continue. As of this evening, about 9 million people are disconnected in various regions of Ukraine. But the number and duration of outages is still gradually decreasing. I am thankful to each and everyone who made this result possible.

Today I held a special meeting with government officials regarding the situation in the energy and infrastructure spheres. We are preparing for the next year – and not only for the winter months. There are threats that we have to eliminate. There are steps that need to be taken. And the state will definitely take them.

Third. Today I held an extended meeting on the results of the visit to the USA and the implementation of the agreements.

We will not waste time. We will quickly implement everything that was agreed upon in Washington. As much as possible.

And one more thing. Today I spoke with the Prime Minister of India. Next year, it will be India that will preside over the G20. I wished Mr. Modi a fruitful presidency, and fruitful not for someone in particular, but for everyone in the world who values peace.

India can be more active in efforts to end aggression, so I hope we can do more together for global stability in the coming year.

Thank you to everyone who works for Ukraine regardless of whether it’s a holiday, a weekend, or a weekday! Thank you to everyone who fights for Ukraine!

Thank you to everyone who helps our country!

And please don’t forget to be prepared for Russian missile attacks or provocations. Air defense is preparing, the state is preparing, and everyone must prepare. Please pay attention to the sirens.

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 25 December 2022.

Ukrainians!

Today, millions of people celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar. And I once again congratulate everyone who is celebrating right now, these days.

And I want us to once again express gratitude – together – to all those who both these days and at any other time are doing everything so that we can live. Live our life and in our country.

I thank each of our warriors – all military personnel. All fighters of the Air Forces, anti-aircraft fighters, intelligence officers, border guards, national guardsmen, warriors of the territorial defense, Naval Forces. Thank you to every soldier and sailor, to every sergeant and sergeant-major, to every officer and general who are holding the front and trying to push it further – to our borders that we have to reach.

Thanks to everyone who repairs and supplies equipment. To everyone who volunteers.

Thanks to all our medics and everyone who saves the wounded on the battlefield. Thank you to all the nurses who perform their work selflessly under any circumstances.

Thank you to everyone who helps provide hospitals with everything necessary. To all those who come to donate blood for the wounded… And to all those who came now in Kherson to help. To save the wounded from the attack of terrorists on Christmas… Artillery and mortars against ordinary streets of Kherson… Savages!

We will find every Russian murderer. And I thank everyone who works for this: all investigative teams, all prosecutors, officials and diplomats.

Thank you to each and everyone who helps get Ukrainians out of captivity.

Thank you to all our energy workers and repairmen, sappers, policemen, employees of the State Emergency Service, utility workers.

Thank you to the educators who continue to build our future and the builders who take care of our present.

Thank you to the transporters who keep our economy alive and the financiers who maintain our stability.

Thank you to the IT specialists who chose Ukraine.

Thank you to officials who care about people and businesses who help society to be resilient.

Thank you to our farmers, thank you to the agrarians who did not give up last spring and are preparing for the next one.

Thank you to all journalists who spread the truth and public figures who help our people to keep faith in themselves and in victory.

Thank you to all the leaders and peoples of the world, who this year, together with Ukraine, became leaders in the defense of freedom and next year, I believe, together with us, will do everything to become leaders of peace. It’s possible.

Fellow Ukrainians!

There are only a few days left this year. We must be aware that our enemy will try to make this time dark and difficult for us. Russia lost everything it could this year. But it is trying to compensate for its losses with the gloating of its propagandists after the missile strikes at our country, at our energy sector.

I know that the darkness will not prevent us from leading the occupiers to their new defeats. But we have to be ready for any scenario.

Please pay attention to air alarms these days. Search again and remember where the nearest Point of Invincibility is located.

Tell your parents how to find the Point of Invincibility if needed. More than 5,500 points have already been opened throughout the country.

Please take care of yourself. And be ready to help others.

When Ukrainians are together, when Ukrainians are grateful to each other, we cannot be defeated. May it always be so! And it will be so, I’m sure!

Glory to our strong, beautiful, best people!

Glory to Ukraine!