Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 2 October 2022.

As part of his visit to the The Republic of Türkiye, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting with the National Security Advisor to the President of the United States of America, Jake Sullivan, to discuss the latest aggressive actions of the Russian Federation.

Andriy Yermak highly appreciated the level of economic and defense support provided by the United States to Ukraine to counter full-scale Russian aggression. In this context, he noted the recent announcement of another US security assistance package in the amount of $1.1 billion and the signing by President Biden of the law approved by both houses of the US Congress on the allocation of additional support for our state in the amount of $12.35 billion.

At the same time, Yermak said, “the kremlin’s decision to recognize the so-called “referendums” in the temporarily occupied territories require an immediate adequate response from the world community. We cannot allow the Crimean scenario to be repeated. We will react strongly and in a consolidated manner.”

During the meeting, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine briefed Jake Sullivan on the situation on the front line, drawing attention to the noticeable increase in shelling of civilian targets by the Russian army against the background of the successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The parties discussed further security aid to the Ukrainian army.

Andriy Yermak emphasized the urgent priority needs of the defense forces of Ukraine and the importance of promptly obtaining such support and its increase.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and the National Security Advisor to the President of the USA discussed in detail all relevant issues of bilateral cooperation.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 2 October 2022.

As part of his visit to Turkey, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting with chief adviser to the President of the Republic of Türkiye İbrahim Kalın.

Yermak thanked the Turkish side for their active participation in the recent release of 215 Ukrainian servicemen from Russian captivity and expressed hope for Ankara’s further assistance in this matter.

During the meeting, Turkey’s key role in organizing the operation of the grain initiative and establishing the export of Ukrainian foodstuffs through the Black Sea was pointed out. It was noted that since its start, more than 250 ships with over 5.7 million tonnes of foodstuffs sailing to the countries of Asia, Europe and Africa have left Ukrainian ports. Hope for the further smooth functioning of the grain initiative to prevent a global food crisis was expressed.

The parties also discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The Turkish side expressed its readiness to contribute to international efforts to prevent a nuclear threat.

The head of the Office of the President emphasized the importance of a tough reaction to Russia’s holding of so-called referendums on the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and the adoption of an illegal decision on their annexation.

Yermak thanked the Turkish side for its principled position in supporting the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine and for its consistent position on non-recognition of illegal referendums.

The head of the President’s Office also emphasized the importance of Ukraine receiving reliable international security guarantees, in particular, even before our country becomes a member of NATO.

The parties also discussed the situation at the front, specific issues of Ukrainian-Turkish defense cooperation and support of national initiatives within international organizations.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 2 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron.

The head of the Ukrainian state thanked the President of France for his strong condemnation of the illegal referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and Russia’s attempts to illegally annex these territories of Ukraine. The presidents agreed on the need for a tough, consolidated response by the world community to this latest crime by the Russian Federation, in particular via boosting sanctions pressure.

In addition, the leaders discussed the situation at the front and new successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in liberating Ukrainian territories.

Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of enhancing defense support for Ukraine from France and noted Emmanuel Macron’s important personal role in this.

Touching on the topic of nuclear blackmail of the world by Russia, the presidents of Ukraine and France discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP and once again emphasized the need for its immediate demilitarization. The parties separately drew attention to the illegal detention of Director General of the ZNPP Ihor Murashov by the Russian occupation authorities and called for his release.

In the context of the need to guarantee Ukraine’s security, Zelenskyy touched upon the issue of our country’s application for NATO membership.

The leaders discussed holding the summit of the European Political Community and an informal meeting of the European Council in Prague next week, which will serve as an opportunity for a joint assessment of the new acts of Russian aggression and finding relevant solutions.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 October 2022.

The response to Russia’s nuclear blackmail must be fierce and unequivocal, otherwise every dictator will scramble to obtain nuclear weapons, and al nonproliferation agreements will be worthless.

This is stated in the column of Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak published in the U.S. magazine The Atlantic.

Yermak draws readers’ attention to the fact that the Russians held fake referenda in sovereign territories of Ukraine the day before and recognized their results. In addition, losing on the battlefield in Ukraine, the Russian Federation began to threaten nuclear blackmail to force the Ukrainian state to abandon the fight for its people and its land.

“The response to Russia’s nuclear blackmail must be fierce and unequivocal, rejecting the very idea of making concessions to a nuclear aggressor. Otherwise, every ambitious dictator will scramble to obtain nuclear weapons, and every responsible nonnuclear nation will seek to acquire nuclear weapons for self-defense. Nonproliferation agreements will be worthless. Nuclear wars, with their millions of casualties, will follow,” Yermak said.

Therefore, according to his conviction, today the civilized world must demonstrate resolution and make it clear to the Russian Federation that it will not get away with either an attempt at annexation or nuclear blackmail. One of these decisive steps may be the conclusion of the Kyiv Security Compact, recommendations for which were recently presented.

“Earlier this month, I co-wrote a report with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former secretary-general of NATO, offering a set of recommendations based on our consultations with an international group of experts. We called for the creation of a Kyiv Security Compact – a strategic partnership that unites Ukraine and a set of guarantor states,” the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said.

According to him, the principle of operation of this agreement is simple: the security of Ukraine depends primarily on the ability to defend itself. To do this effectively, Ukraine needs long-term contributions from its allies. The Kyiv Security Compact is aimed at providing practical assistance to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

“A core group of Ukraine’s allies, with significant military capabilities, would make a set of commitments that are both politically and legally binding. Alongside these commitments of military support, a broader group of international partners would offer a set of nonmilitary guarantees based on sanctions,” Yermak said.

He said that alongside these recommendations are not a substitute for Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO. But joining NATO will take time, and we need guarantees to protect Ukraine now.

“The Kyiv Security Compact would make clear to Russia that the cost of its aggression will continue to mount, until it becomes too high for it to bear. Helping Ukraine defend itself, survive, and ultimately prevail is the best investment our allies can make to secure a safer future for the whole world,” Yermak said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 October 2022.

Despite the statement of the authorities of the Russian Federation that it is ready for negotiations, it puts forward only ultimatums, so in such conditions the settlement of the conflict by diplomatic means is impossible, Mykhailo Podolyak, the adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in an interview with the Italian publication La Repubblica.

“Russia does not want to negotiate – it only launches ultimatums. If the Russian army leaves the entire territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, the negotiations could resume,” Podolyak said.

He also said that Russia’s announcement of the annexation of the occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as well as the pseudo-referendums held in these territories, do not change anything for Ukraine. These regions were and remain Ukrainian, and the Ukrainian army will fight for their liberation.

“Referendums have no legal force under international law. And Ukraine is ready to do anything to return them. Our people ask us for this. These were farce votes, which they had no relation to. Those who went to vote were pointed at the gun and ordered: “Vote!” Therefore, our counter-offensives continue,” the adviser to the head of the President’s Office said.

Regarding Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons, Podolyak said: “The chances of a nuclear conflict are not high, but they do exist. And if the world, I mean the civilian part of the world, allows the complete collapse of international nuclear security, we will have catastrophic consequences not only for Ukraine.”

According to him, the global response to a possible nuclear attack will have to be taken within the framework of the EU and NATO.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 October 2022.

Russia’s attempt to annex the territories of four Ukrainian regions will in no way affect Ukraine’s resolve to liberate all its lands, Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said this in an interview with Politico.

“For our plans, [Russia’s annexation] doesn’t matter,” Podolyak said, adding the nation “should liberate all its territories.”

The adviser to the head of the Office of the Head of State also said that the mobilization recently announced by the President of the Russian Federation shows that Russia has run out of a professional army.

“This army is being replaced by absolutely untrained people. A living resource has been thrown onto the front lines, and it will simply be exterminated,” he said.

According to the adviser to the head of the President’s Office, it’s actually to Ukraine’s advantage that Russia has announced this mobilization.

“This shows the people of Russia that the country really is at war, that it’s not doing very well in this war, and that the Russians themselves will be the ones to pay the price,” Podolyak said.

In addition, in his opinion, the mobilization is prompting Kyiv to call for more weapons from its Western allies.

“For example, 100 more 155mm-caliber missiles would solve the problem, if you will excuse me for putting it that way, of additional human resources being utilized by Russia on the field of battle,” the adviser to the head of the President’s Office said.

U.S. authorities announced a $1.1 billion arms package for Ukraine, including 18 additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). Russia now has one card left to play in this war: nuclear weapons.

However, Podolyak considers its application against a non-nuclear nation to be absurd.

At the same time, the Ukrainian side calls on Western countries to unequivocally warn Russia of the consequences of using nuclear or chemical weapons. Podolyak wants for “very tough retaliation measures aimed at the destruction of Russia’s defense infrastructure” to follow.

Meanwhile, Ukraine “will keep doing its job” to liberate its territory, Podolyak said.

“We have no other options when it comes to ending the war properly. We can’t leave some enclave [under Russian occupation] or create a new dividing line,” he said, referring to the frozen conflict that followed Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the Donbas war in 2014-2015.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 30 September 2022.