Category: Attack on Ukraine

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

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!

I held a meeting of the Staff today. It was as always substantive, but today more news for the troops after a visit to the United States.

We are preparing for the coming months and next year in general. Our tasks are unchanged. It is the liberation of our land. Safety for our people. Restoration of our country after the Russian strikes. These are the elements of the Ukrainian victory, which we are approaching step by step.

We heard today the commanders’ reports at the Staff meeting. We see prospects at the front. We are preparing for different variants of actions of the terrorist state, we see its intentions. And we will respond.

The situation in the energy sector was discussed separately.

Today I held an important annual meeting with the ambassadors of Ukraine – the entire diplomatic corps of our country received tasks for the next year.

We are preparing to step up Ukrainian diplomacy in several directions.

The first are the countries in which our influence is still less than we need from the point of view of the national security of Ukraine and the interests of our people. First of all, these are the countries of Africa and other parts of the Global South – Latin America, Asian countries, and the Pacific region.

This is a huge economic potential, and it is also a significant diplomatic opportunity. For example, during the voting of the UN General Assembly for resolutions that protect our territorial integrity and international law. We will strengthen Ukraine’s position.

The second aspect of Ukrainian diplomacy is to increase cooperation with our traditional partners so that the next year will really be decisive in this war and Ukraine will achieve all its goals.

We are preparing to upgrade the diplomatic service, we will strengthen the Ukrainian embassies.

There was also a non-public part of our meeting with diplomats today – I focused on several important, sensitive points in communication with the ambassadors.

I spoke today with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte. I am grateful for the new support package – very important, timely EUR 2.5 billion for Ukraine. Of course, our joint actions with the Netherlands next year were also discussed. We are coordinating the steps as much as possible, and I believe that there will be a tangible result, especially in the matter of bringing to justice all those who are guilty of this aggression against Ukraine.

And one more.

It was an honor for me to congratulate those people who, together with their colleagues, are restoring our systems after the Russian strikes. I believe that all of us should thank more often those who work for the preservation of our well-being and normal life. Not political at all. Maybe not always visible to most. But thanks to many of these people, Ukraine is living.

In particular, anyone and everyone who repairs the grids and generation facilities damaged by the strikes, before the air alert has even ended, to give people power faster, is the true hero. Everyone who goes to the de-occupied and front-line areas to return everything for normal life to people is the real hero. Everyone who stabilizes our power system every day and every night, ensures the supply of electricity, the operation of plants and other energy facilities – all of them, along with others who fight and work for Ukraine, guarantee Ukraine’s future. Thank you for that!

I signed decrees on awarding our troops. 215 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were given state awards.

Glory to all who defend our state!

Thanks to all our partners who help us and together with us are securing victory over tyranny!

And please remember who is fighting against us. With the approaching holiday season, Russian terrorists may become active again. They despise Christian values and any values in general. Therefore, please heed the air raid signals, help each other and always take care of each other.

And more. Citizens of Russia must clearly understand that terror never goes unanswered.

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 22 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today will be a very short address and in unusual conditions, but as always – about what we have achieved.

We are returning from Washington – we are coming with good results. With something that will really help.

When we say “patriots” in Ukraine and in the United States, we equally mean the protection of the state and people. This issue has been settled for Ukraine. There is financial support too.

Also there are other agreements – more on that later.

I thank President Biden for his help, his international leadership, and his determination to win.

I am grateful to the Congress of the United States – both houses, both parties, all those who support Ukraine, all those who want victory as much as we all do. There will be victory!

Glory to each of our warriors! Glory to everyone who defends our state! We are bringing to Ukraine, to Donbas, to Bakhmut and to the south the decisions that our Defense Forces have been waiting for.

On the way home, I met with President of Poland Andrzej Duda. I thanked him, all Poles, the city – rescuer Rzeszów for everything they do for Ukraine and our protection – the protection of Europe.

Today, in a special format, face to face, we discussed our interaction with Andrzej. I told him about what I heard in the United States, about our strategic vision for the next year… We are preparing, strengthening our joint forces.

And one more thing – today is a professional holiday of people who give us normality, modernity and exactly the level of well-being that the terrorist state wants to destroy. Today is the Day of Energy Workers. I congratulate all of you, defenders of the Ukrainian light, and thank you for your work. We also bring new agreements to help you!

Glory to Ukraine!

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

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

I’ve returned from the Donetsk region, from our Bakhmut fortress. I was there today to support our fighters, to present state awards, to express gratitude to them. To all our heroes – those who defend not only Bakhmut there, and not only our Donbas, but also the whole of Ukraine. We all should understand this.

You know, on the way to the frontline, today I also passed through Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka… Cities, villages near them, which are now literally fighting for life. Life for all of us – for all Ukrainians and for everything Ukrainian, and even more so – for everything and everyone who preserves humanity inside.

Look at Russia’s offensive, what it leaves where it takes its flag. Burned earth, destroyed life… Pain, ruins and graves – this is the so-called “Russian world”. This is what our heroes stop.

This is exactly what they are expelling from Ukraine, step by step returning life to our land, where the occupiers set foot. And for this movement to exist, for our border to exist, for us to return the Ukrainian flag to the cities and villages in the south and east of our state, there is Bakhmut, there is a fortress, there are our heroic defenders.

Every day they endured there, every hit they withstood there, every attack they repelled and every counterattack they carried out is a life for Ukraine.

I thank all our warriors who defend the #bakhmutfortress! I am grateful to all mothers and fathers, wives and children of our heroes who are saving Ukraine right there! And I am asking all our people: wherever you are, please support the Ukrainian heroes who are holding out against the fiercest attacks of the occupiers, against the most insane Russian strikes…

Support our Bakhmut – tattered yet unconquered – and his defenders.

We will do everything possible and impossible, expected and unexpected, so that our heroes have everything they need to prevail. To get the results that all Ukrainians expect. That all our cities and villages on the frontline are waiting for. This is Maryinka, this is Vuhledar, this is Toretsk, this is Soledar, Klishchiivka… This is our Luhansk region, this is our south of Ukraine, this is our Crimea. Ukraine will leave nothing of its own to the enemy.

This week is extremely important for Ukraine – in order to get through this winter and next year. In order to gain the necessary support and for the Ukrainian flag to finally prevail on all sections of our border – the border of Ukraine.

Our fighters gave me our flag today and asked to pass it on to those whose decisions are very important for Ukraine, for all our warriors. We will definitely do it. We will definitely endure. We will definitely get the necessary support for Ukraine!

Glory to all the guards of the Bakhmut fortress! Glory to all who fight for our country!

Glory to our indomitable and beautiful people!

And eternal memory and honor to all Ukrainians whose lives were taken by this cruel war!

Glory to Ukraine!

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

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today’s morning in several regions and cities of our country was, unfortunately, spoiled by the characteristic sound of the Iranian Shaheds. But most of them luckily fell short of their intended targets, and that made our morning a little better today. 30 Shaheds were shot down – not bad

I thank all our anti-aircraft fighters, pilots, and mobile fire groups for this result and for the protection of the Ukrainian sky. And I am especially grateful to the 96th Kyiv and 208th Kherson anti-aircraft missile brigades, which showed the greatest accuracy today.

These Shaheds, which were used by Russia, are from a new batch of drones. This is the terrorist international of two regimes – they help fight against people.

Well, both of them will be held to account for it.

This week will be quite active for us in terms of international events and negotiations. I held several meetings today regarding these plans. We will fight to strengthen sanctions for all manifestations of terror against Ukrainians and to get additional support for our state and our defense forces.

Today I addressed the leaders of the ten states of Northern Europe united in The Joint Expeditionary Force. This is a format of cooperation initiated by Great Britain. It includes the Baltic states, Finland, Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Iceland and the United Kingdom itself. And my appeal today was very specific. Weapons, ammunition, new defense capabilities… Everything that will allow us to speed up the end of this war. Thank you to the participants of the summit for the fact that we were heard today – we are waiting for new decisions regarding the supply of new weapons.

The key task for all of us now – my task, and that of each of our diplomats and officials – is that world support for Ukraine next year not just remains at the same level as this year, but increases. Precisely under those indicators that are necessary to strengthen our defense operations.

This is artillery – we need more guns, shells, these are modern tanks that have not yet been delivered to Ukraine, these are longer-range MLRS, modern and truly effective air defense…

Please, if your opinion is heard in the media, if you support the state in the expert field, you too can help get everything that our defense forces need.

The main thing is to speak for Ukraine with one voice and defend our common interest: everything for the victory of Ukraine, everything to help our defense.

Bakhmut is the hottest spot on the entire frontline – more than 1300 km of active hostilities. Since May, the occupiers have been trying to break our Bakhmut, but time goes by and Bakhmut is already breaking not only the Russian army, but also the Russian mercenaries who came to replace the wasted army of the occupiers.

Just think about it: Russia has already lost almost 99 thousand of its soldiers in Ukraine. Soon there will be 100 thousand of the occupiers’ casualties. For what? No one in Moscow can answer this question. And they won’t.

They wage war and waste people’s lives, other people’s lives, not of their loved ones, not their own lives, but the lives of others only because a group in the Kremlin can’t admit mistakes and is terribly afraid of reality. But reality speaks for itself.

I thank all our fighters who are heroically holding the Bakhmut direction, Soledar, Avdiivka, Maryinka, Kreminna direction and the entire Donbas region, which was one of the strongest in Ukraine before Russia came, and which Russia is destroying to the scorched ground. Even such cruelty won’t give the enemy anything.

Today more consumers than yesterday are disconnected from electricity. Due to several drone hits in the morning.

But repairmen, as always, work very actively, around the clock. They are trying to restore power supply as soon as possible, at least at the level that generation can provide. It will be done.

And one more thing, which is especially important.

Today is Saint Nicholas Day – a traditional day when we all wish peace and warmth, reliable protection and victory.

I believe that Nicholas will hear us.

Today – just on Saint Nicholas Day – the project by Ukrzaliznytsia and UNICEF started – a joint project that can bring a holiday to Ukrainian children. To those who live near the frontline and in the de-occupied areas. Special festive trains in three directions. Today – Donetsk region. On December 21, such a festive train leaves for the Kharkiv region. On the 23rd – Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. They bring festive performances and more than 30 thousand gifts.

Thank you to everyone at Ukrzaliznytsia, UNICEF and the government who organized this project.

I would also like to thank UNICEF separately for more than 100 million dollars of support for Ukrainian families. More than 120,000 families, in particular those raising four or more children, children with disabilities, can receive financial assistance.

In total, the program will cover more than 600,000 Ukrainians. Thank you for such support!

Thank you to all those who help our people in this terrible time! Thank you to everyone who protects Ukrainians!

And I want to turn now to all our friends and just conscientious people in Georgia.

Probably, everyone could see the health condition of Mikheil Saakashvili now. Therefore, I appeal to the people of Georgia, to the authorities of Georgia – it is necessary to show mercy, especially on the eve of Christmas. What is happening to Mykhailo now is cruelty. This does not suit Georgia. This must be stopped.

Please make a decision that can save his life. Transfer Mikheil Saakashvili to one of the clinics of Ukraine, another European country, America.

It is high time to take this good step.

Glory to Ukraine!

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

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

I held a meeting of the Staff today. The situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions was examined in great detail. The Bakhmut direction is key.

We keep the city, although the occupiers are doing everything so that not a single undamaged wall remains there.

The Zaporizhzhia region, the Kherson region, the south in general – we are gradually reducing the potential of the occupiers. Minus ammunition dumps, minus logistics of the Russian army.

Air defense is a constant priority of the Staff, and I emphasize this once again…

Dear partners! By helping us fully protect our skies, by providing us with more modern air defense systems in sufficient numbers, you can deprive the terrorist state of its main instrument of terror. This will be one of the most powerful steps that will bring the end of aggression closer. Russia will have to follow the path of cessation of aggression, when it can no longer follow the path of missile strikes.

The border was also discussed in detail at the Staff. Protection of the border with both Russia and Belarus is also a constant priority. We are preparing for all possible defense scenarios. Whoever inclines Minsk to whatever, it will not help them just as any other sick idea in this war against Ukraine and Ukrainians.

There are new results in returning light and heat to our people.

Another 3 million Ukrainians have had their energy supply restored. Plus 6 million yesterday. That is, after the terrorist attack on Friday, there is already a result for 9 million of our people. In most cities, the work of transport is being normalized.

I thank everyone who carries out these repair works in any weather and around the clock! I thank each of our partners who help us with equipment! I also thank Ukrainian business – everyone who transforms their shops, cafes, enterprises into new Points of Invincibility.

Today, the FIFA World Cup final took place in Qatar – an emotional final.

This is the meaning of football: everyone has a chance to win, everyone can show that he is the strongest. But the competition is on the playing field, not on the battlefield. And the worst thing that can happen is a red card, not a red button. When people are united by football, people are united by peace. That is why I have prepared a special address from Ukraine to the whole world for today. To all who value peace and life.

Although FIFA blocked this address from being shown at the stadium before the final game in Qatar, the world still heard our call.

Our football players shared the video… Yarmolenko and the entire national team of Ukraine, Shevchenko, Shovkovskyi, Modrić, Srna, Guardiola, Raț and many, many other wonderful players. I thank everyone! Partner states supported it. Thousands of world media spread it.

We are already preparing a special summit this winter. A summit for peace. For our country and for any other nation that can be subjected to the same aggression, the same terror as Russia has brought to our land.

The Ukrainian Peace Formula consists of ten clear points capable of creating a new, globally important security architecture, which will restore freedom to our entire Ukrainian land, to all our people. And which will serve as guarantees of freedom and security for other nations. Not if, but when it works for Ukrainians.

And that is why we invite our partners to show their leadership in guaranteeing peace in the same way that the leadership of various countries and various statesmen is currently being shown in the defense of freedom. We fight together for Ukraine, for the values that unite Europe and the democratic world, for the global value of life. For everything that Russia is trying to destroy.

It is not easy, it is difficult, but I am sure: we will pull through together, and Russia’s aggression will fail. And in a way so that all other potential aggressors of the world do not dare to repeat what russism does.

Glory to each of our warriors! Gratitude to everyone who works for the victory and who helps! We will pull through everything, we will overcome everything.

And one more thing.

Congratulations to the Jewish community of Ukraine and all the Jews of the world on Hanukkah. Those who were outnumbered defeated those who outnumbered them. Light defeated darkness. It will be the same this time. Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 17 December 2022.

Dear Ukrainians! I wish you health!

The main thing today is energy. During the day, it was possible to restore the electricity supply to almost 6 million Ukrainians. Repair work is ongoing now and has been going on non-stop since yesterday’s terrorist attack.

Of course, there is still a lot of work to do to stabilize the system. Problems with the supply of heat, big problems with the supply of water exist. The most difficult situation is in the city of Kyiv and the region, Vinnytsia and the region, Lviv and the region. But there are, unfortunately, large-scale outages in many other regions: they include Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk region, Volyn, Zhytomyr region, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, the city of Odesa and the region, Poltava region, Ternopil region, Chernihiv region and other cities and regions.

Russia spares no resources for the war against our people – precisely against the people, against all Ukrainians from Lutsk to Kharkiv, from Sumy to Odesa. And I am grateful to every leader, I am grateful to every nation – our partners who understand that Russia’s large-scale “investment” in terror is already, imagine, more than 4,000 missiles! It’s necessary to exceed it with even more help to the people against whom this terror is directed.

This week we received important decisions from the EU, partner countries in Europe, the United States, which will help maintain stability now and in the coming year. This applies to defense support, energy support, and macro-financial assistance for Ukraine. But there is still work to be done. There are still vital decisions awaiting final approval and implementation.

In particular, I will constantly remind… Dear partners! Find an opportunity to give Ukraine reliable protection of the sky, a reliable air defense shield. You can do it. You can give protection to our people – one hundred percent protection from these terrorist Russian strikes.

When this happens, the main form of Russian terror – missile terror – will become simply impossible. And this will mean safety for Ukrainians, safety for millions of people and a strategic realignment of the entire military situation. The fewer opportunities Russia has for terror, the more opportunities we will have to restore and guarantee peace.

We are already preparing for the international events that are planned for the near future – both political and more global, which include not only traditional political audiences, but also all people of the world who value peace and are ready to support our defense against Russian terror. You will see everything.

Also on Monday, a meeting of the leaders of the Northern European countries will take place: the UK, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway. These are our extremely important friends, important partners and effective helpers in our defense. So we are preparing several new proposals from Ukraine, how to strengthen us all, all the countries of Europe.

I thank everyone who helps Ukraine! Thank you to all our energy workers, everyone who works to supply heat and water, everyone who repairs communications damaged by shelling and restores, and restores, and restores normal life every time, no matter how the terrorists try to leave us in the cold and in the dark. The terrorists will still lose.

Glory to all those who hold back hell in Bakhmut and other areas in Donetsk region!

Glory to all who hold our front!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 16 December 2022.

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!

First of all, I thank our Air Force fighters, our counter aircraft fighters, intelligence and everyone who protects and helps protect the Ukrainian sky. Today’s result is 60 shot down missiles. All air commands – Center, South, East and West were active.

And the fighters of the 96th anti-aircraft missile brigade, which protect Kyiv region, were especially effective. Over 40 terrorists’ missiles were destroyed in the sky of the central regions of the country and near Kyiv. I thank you, warriors!

But, unfortunately, there is a hit. Terrorists need such a large number of missiles in an attack that at least part of their “products” reaches their intended targets. All their targets today are civilian, and these are mainly energy and heat supply facilities. Probably, as a result of this war, the meaning of the word “terror” for most people in the world will be associated primarily with such crazy actions of Russia.

In Kryvy Rih, the demolition of the rubble of a residential building, which was hit by one of the Russian missiles, continued all day. The list of the dead so far includes three. My condolences to all the relatives… More than ten people were injured, including children. Everyone gets help.

Emergency power outages were applied today across the country – in most cities and regions. In Kyiv and 14 regions, as a result of power outages, water supply halted.

Our power engineers and repair crews have already started working during the air alert and are doing everything possible to restore generation and supply. It takes time. But it will be.

I ask all our people to be patient now and I thank everyone whose job is to restore normality at any time and under any circumstances. I also ask the representatives of regional and local authorities to be more active in creating an additional reserve of energy strength. Please work more actively with business so that more companies join the Points of Invincibility map.

And I ask everyone now – of course, if possible – to take care of those who have the most difficulties… The elderly, families with children, displaced people from war zones or from the occupied territory. If you can help, please help.

No matter what the missile worshipers from Moscow are hoping for, it still won’t change the balance of power in this war. They still have enough missiles for several such heavy strikes. We have enough determination and self-belief to return our own after these blows.

And one more.

The European Union approved the ninth package of sanctions against Russia during the war. Ninth, but obviously not the last. Because it is obvious that the pressure needs to be increased.

I thank all those leaders and countries who fought for a stronger package.

But we will work with the European Commission, with the leaders of the EU countries, with the European public, so that the existing sanctions policy works towards the end of the war and does not give Russia wrong signals – signals that someone is ready to ease the pressure.

I thank everyone who keeps to principles!

Glory to all who work for our victory!

Glory to all our soldiers, who heroically repel all attempts of Russian mercenaries to gain a foothold in Bakhmut! 17th separate tank brigade, 46th separate airmobile brigade – glory to you guys!

Glory to all who fight for Ukraine!

Air Force – Thanks again!

And the last. I will repeat constantly. Dear our partners, find an opportunity to provide us with a reliable air defense shield. This is saving people’s lives.

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 15 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Briefly about today.

First. There is a confirmation of the macro-financial aid from the European Union for Ukraine for the next year. The volume is 18 billion euros. This is a good result.

Second. I spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. It was a good conversation – we are preparing to strengthen our defense cooperation. I am grateful to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all Canadians for the principled leadership on sanctions policy. Every sanction step against Russia for the war that has already been taken by the free world really helps us bring peace closer.

Third. We are preparing important international events for the next week. Something that could give Ukraine more defense support this winter, more military capabilities.

During another Russian shelling of Kherson today, a projectile hit the aid station of the Red Cross. The woman who died was a paramedic, a volunteer. My condolences to the relatives… Just since the beginning of this day, Russia has shelled Kherson more than 16 times! Only in one day! And it is so every day.

Today, communities of the Kharkiv region were shelled again…

Today in Donbas, as in all previous weeks, brutal Russian attacks continue. The occupiers throw everyone and everything they have into the offensive. They cannot defeat our army, so they physically destroy every town and village so that there are no buildings, not even walls, that can be used for any kind of defense…

The only way to stop this is to push out Russian terrorists step by step from our Ukrainian land. To continue the pressure on Russia. To find new ways to hold every Russian terrorist, every Russian oligarch who helps the terrorist state and all Russian officials and propagandists to account for everything they do. Do against Ukraine, against freedom as such.

Thank you to everyone who fights and works for Ukraine! Thank you to everyone who holds the front in Donbas, in the south, who holds the border, who protects our sky and our people.

Eternal memory to all those who gave their lives for freedom!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 14 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, I want to thank our anti-aircraft gunners and the Air Force for repelling another attack by Iranian drones this morning.

The skies of the Kyiv region are defended by the 96th anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Air Force. Thank you guys!

A total of 13 Shaheds were shot down. These are 13 saved infrastructure objects, these are saved lives. In one morning.

I held a meeting of the Staff today. We talked, in particular, about the protection of the sky. We are constantly strengthening our air defense and anti-drone defense. And we are doing everything to get more modern and more powerful systems for Ukraine.

This week we have made important progress on the air defense issue.

Of course, the situation in Donbas and other active areas on the frontline was discussed in great detail at the Staff meeting. There is no calm on the frontline. There is nothing easy and simple. Every day and every meter is given extremely hard. Especially where the entire tactic of the occupiers boils down to the destruction of everything in front of them with artillery, so that only bare ruins and craters in the ground remain.

Today, by the way, I spoke about it in an address to the European Parliament. Russia is destroying city after city in Donbas, like Mariupol, like Volnovakha, like Bakhmut. Defense in such conditions is not just heroism, it is something more. And I thank all our warriors who withstand the pressure of the occupiers.

I would like to note the warriors of the 46th separate airmobile brigade, who very skillfully and bravely defeated the enemy during another attack and forced him to retreat. Well done!

I would also like to note the warriors of the 80th and 95th separate airborne assault brigades who are fighting in the Kreminna direction – and very effectively. Thank you, warriors!

We are preparing agreements that will strengthen our defense capabilities and give Ukraine more operational capabilities.

We also do not slow down our activity for the sake of creating a special tribunal for Russian aggression and holding all those responsible for it to account. Today I called on our friends in Europe and members of the European Parliament to step up their efforts to make the tribunal finally operational. The terrorist state must bear responsibility for every burned Ukrainian city, for every destroyed life of our people. And it will bear it.

I spoke today with International Olympic Committee President Bach.

In particular, about the fact that the principles of the Olympic movement definitely do not envisage conniving with terrorist states. Any ideas on how to get Russian representatives back to international competitions are ideas on how to allow those guilty of terror to tell their society that the world supposedly condones terror. This is a sports indulgence. This is how it will be presented by Russian propaganda if the International Olympic Committee fails and allows those who represent war and nothing else to participate in sporting events on an equal footing with others.

I do not want to clarify whether there are any motives behind such ideas about the return of Russia. But no one will turn a blind eye to any attempt to reduce international pressure on the source of the war.

When we receive reports like today from Kherson, where a child, a boy, was killed by yet another Russian shelling… He was eight years old… We can only say one thing: a white or any neutral flag is impossible for Russian athletes, all their flags are bloodstained.

Today, I held very important negotiations with UN Secretary-General Guterres. I thanked him for his constant support of Ukraine and international law, for effective assistance in the implementation of our initiatives, such as “Grain from Ukraine”. We are currently working on organizing missions with an international mandate to the objects of the critical energy infrastructure of our state. I believe that this can also be successful.

And one more thing.

Today, 64 Ukrainians were returned from Russian captivity. 64 warriors. Four officers and 60 privates and sergeants. Among them are seriously wounded. We provide adequate assistance to everyone.

We continue to work to free and return home every Ukrainian man and woman still held captive in Russia. I would like to thank our team that ensures the exchanges.

I thank everyone who works for Ukrainians and Ukraine!

Glory to all who fight for our country!

Glory to all who fill with their courage and effectiveness the word that is now heard all over the world – the word “Ukraine”.

And I want to separately thank “Plast” today, our Ukrainian scouts, guides for the Peace Light of Bethlehem, which they brought to Ukraine. Let this light support all of us, all Ukrainians.

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 13 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today was a very fruitful day for Ukraine. In different aspects.

We have very good news from France – two conferences in support of Ukraine were held there today. Their first result is €1 billion in aid to our resilience, primarily energy.

Every day we gain new strength for Ukraine to get through this winter, and I thank everyone who works for this and who helps our state.

Today, we also have decisions from other countries, besides France, – the Czech Republic, Spain, Switzerland – to provide additional support packages. The Italian Senate passed a decision on armed support. Norway is preparing a new program to support our state and people…

I took part in both conferences in Paris today. The first concerned to a greater extent our interstate relations. The second forum was focused on French business.

Ukrainian government officials presented French entrepreneurs with opportunities to invest in Ukraine already now, when the war is still going on, and after our victory. We also discussed what we can do additionally to strengthen our state at the European level.

Today in France, the First Lady of Ukraine presents humanitarian projects to our partners. What can be done as quickly as possible to support our people in the field of healthcare, education and humanitarian aid, in particular through Olena’s Foundation. And I am grateful to all the French for their support of Ukraine – not only political, not only defense and sanctions, which is vitally important. But also for the fact that we equally perceive the need to protect the value of human life, human dignity and the humanitarian opportunities that the modern world gives to everyone.

I spoke with President of the European Council Charles Michel. I thanked for the decision regarding 18 billion euros for Ukraine next year and for increasing the European Peace Facility by 2 billion euros. These funds can greatly help us maintain social stability. I am also preparing to participate in the meeting of the European Council on December 15.

I have just addressed the parliament and people of New Zealand, a country that has fundamentally supported us since the first weeks of full-scale Russian aggression. I’ve told about our peace formula, about the special summit that we are convening to implement our formula. And I called on New Zealand to take the lead in supporting at the international level one of the clauses of the peace formula – the one related to environmental security and demining.

New Zealand is one of those countries that understands that the destruction of the natural environment is equal to the destruction of life, and that can help the diplomatic mobilization of its region in order to implement the Ukrainian peace formula.

And one more thing.

Today I signed the Law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on the liquidation of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv. This story is over. And the story of reforms continues – continues even during such a war.

Thank you to everyone who works for Ukraine!

Thank you to everyone who is fighting for our independence, who is currently at the front, who is currently struggling! We support you, we strongly believe in you.

Glory to all our warriors!

Glory to our indomitable people!

Glory to Ukraine!