Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 16 April 2022.

Tariffs for electricity for households of Ukraine with consumption up to 250 kWh per month will not increase and will amount to UAH 1.44 per kWh. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address.

According to the Head of State, energy issues were discussed during a meeting with government officials.

“We are extending the electricity tariff of UAH 1.44 per kilowatt for at least next six months for those who consume less than 250 kilowatts. This is 80% of our citizens,” Zelenskyy said.

Also, according to him, the meeting reviewed the results of the current heating season.

“The season was successful despite everything. Despite all the “prophecies,” the tariffs have not increased. There were no rotating outages. Supplies were not disrupted even in wartime. Preparations have also begun for the next heating season. We discussed the purchase of gas, the purchase of coal,” the President said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 15 April 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with members of the Cabinet of Ministers and representatives of the Office of the Head of State on the topical issues of economic development under martial law and the priorities that need to be addressed.

The parties discussed the restoration of business in our country. In particular, the restoration of heavy industry, metallurgy and mechanical engineering was noted.

Special attention was paid to macroeconomic stability and inflation. The President heard reports from government officials on topical issues of the relevant ministries.

They also discussed the completion of work on the first part of the questionnaire to obtain the candidate status for membership in the European Union. The questionnaire was handed over to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on April 8 in Kyiv.

The agenda also included the issues of humanitarian aid, public expenditures, the functioning of Ukraine’s energy system and the completion of the autumn-winter heating season, the work of Ukrzaliznytsia, sowing campaign and environmental policy under martial law.

 

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 15 April 2022.

A group of Ukrainian and international experts analyzing the real impact of sanctions against Russia is tracking Russian oil tankers through network analysis software. This was stated by Adviser to the President of Ukraine on economic issues Oleg Ustenko in a comment for The Economist.

Experts are tracking energy supply routes, thanks to which “Russia is desperately trying to finance its military machine.”

Information for the group is provided by both international experts and government officials from other countries and even intelligence.

In addition, the team uses network analysis software to establish the relationship between disparate data.

The program analyzes the behavior of ships, taking into account various information. For example, the declared cargo, route and insurance data, as well as historical models of navigation in different weather and market conditions. You can even see the tonnage of the cargo on board the ship and see if there is a suspicion that there may be more cargo on board than stated.

A group of experts has already managed to identify supplies of Kazakh oil, which they believe contain portions of clandestinely loaded Russian crude, says Oleg Ustenko.

Warnings are sent to relevant governments and companies, as well as to Ukrainian ministries.

A more recently developed approach uses satellites in low orbits to hoover up signals from shipborne radars. These are used for navigation and to avoid collisions, so mariners are disinclined to switch them off. Fancy software for signal processing geolocates the signals’ sources, at times within just several hundred meters.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 14 April 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke via a video call with members of the Invictus Games – Ukraine team who are now in The Hague to take part in the Invictus Games international sports competition.

Most of the members of the team are current servicemen who defend Ukraine in the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the territorial defense and other structures of the security and defense sector. 19 Ukrainian athletes – defenders will compete with 500 veterans and servicemen from 18 NATO and Allied countries.

“It is an honor for us that you represent Ukraine. I believe that Ukraine is each of you. If you represent our country in The Hague today at the Invictus Games, you will show that Ukraine is unconquered,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President noted that Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, which is being rebuffed by our army, has been going on for 50 days. Today, Ukraine is one of the strongest states in the world, and Ukrainians are invincible.

“Victory is important for us, it is important to prove that we are all unconquered. And your team is part of the spirit of indomitability of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people and each of us,” the Head of State is convinced.

As Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, the Ukrainian team of the Invictus Games is a reflection of our state – “different people, but all strong, united for the sake of the result.”

“The only result is victory,” he said.

The Head of State together with Ukrainian athletes honored the memory of the coach of the archery team, ATO veteran since 2014 Dmytro Sydoruk who died in the battle for Ukraine in early April.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted that the world needs to know the story of a paramedic volunteer, a member of the national team Yulia Payevska (nicknamed “Tayra”), who is currently being held captive by the Russian occupiers.

“This sip of freedom, which you can give with your participation, victories and stories about what is happening on our beautiful land and what tragedy the enemy has brought, – I think she will definitely get this sip. Because you will tell about her to journalists, media and other athletes. And you will tell not only with words, but first of all with victory,” the Head of State emphasized.

The President called on Ukrainian athletes to do everything possible to ensure that people in The Hague, where the Invictus Games take place, learn more about all the crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine.

“In The Hague today, you will basically fight for the Russian occupiers and all those who deserve that to be in The Hague in due time. Because what they did is a crime against the people, against the people of Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The members of the team told the Head of State that they are determined to win the competition to show the indomitability of our Homeland. They stressed that in communication with athletes from other countries they tell the truth about the horrible events taking place in Ukraine.

The President wished the Invictus Games – Ukraine team great victories.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 April 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the leadership of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the comprehensive support for Ukraine in the face of armed aggression by the Russian Federation. The President of Ukraine stated this to the media following the talks with the Presidents of the four countries in Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that before the meeting, the leaders of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia visited Bucha, Borodyanka and Dmytrivka in the Kyiv region, which were recently liberated from Russian occupation.

“This means that it is very important for them to see with their own eyes what happened in these small towns that were burned and tortured. This is what we discussed today. And this is not about war – this is about something horrible, tragic, something incomprehensible,” he said.

The Ukrainian Head of State stressed that the leaders of Poland and the Baltic states have always been side by side with Ukraine and they have been the first in everything from the very beginning in terms of supporting our state.

“The first to support Ukraine’s desire to take its place in the European family. The first in the strong sanctions policy against the Russian Federation, which is being promoted in the EU countries. Even when we talk about weapons, armaments and equipping our army, the leaders of these countries were among the first,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President would like Ukraine to have the same friendly, partnership, honest and open strategic relations with all neighboring countries.

“And I am confident that these four states will be the first in all pages of the future history of Ukraine. And we have a great future, because with such partners and friends we will definitely win,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced.

For his part, Polish President Andrzej Duda said the last time he visited Ukraine was the day before the Russian invasion. He noted that the current visit is a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and its heroic people.

Andrzej Duda also stressed that currently about 2 million Ukrainians (mostly women and children) are in Poland to protect themselves from war and death.

The President of the Republic of Poland said that today he saw with his own eyes the consequences of Russian aggression.

“It’s hard to believe. This is not war, this is terrorism. If someone sends aircraft and soldiers to bomb residential areas, to kill civilians, it is not war, but cruelty, banditry, terrorism,” he said.

Andrzej Duda stressed the importance of bringing those who committed crimes and who gave criminal orders to justice in international courts.

The Polish leader noted that the sanctions applied must lead to the end of the war and prevent aggression in the future.

He also expressed hope that a free, sovereign, independent Ukraine would soon become part of the European Union.

President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda noted that the Ukrainian nation has shown its strength and determination in recent weeks and continues to demonstrate these qualities every day in battles.

He also stressed that the Russian authorities must be held accountable for all heinous crimes committed by Russian soldiers in the Kyiv region.

According to Gitanas Nausėda, Ukraine must win this war, and for this it needs support – military, armed, humanitarian, financial, economic.

Gitanas Nausėda also called for tougher sanctions against Russia, including a full embargo on Russian oil and gas, sanctions against all Russian banks aimed to stop funding Vladimir Putin’s war.

The President of Lithuania also announced that they intend to create a hub of Ukrainian culture and education in Vilnius, which will work under the leadership of the First Ladies. “Lithuanians feel the Ukrainian pain. We know that Ukraine will win and prosper, and we will remain partners and close friends,” Gitanas Nausėda assured.

President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis stressed the need to push Russian troops further east to ensure peace in Europe.

He also stated that he, together with all the Estonian people, deeply sympathizes with Ukraine over the horrors the Russian occupiers did to the Ukrainians.

Alar Karis stressed that all these crimes must be investigated, and they must be taken into account when applying a new package of sanctions against Russia.

However, according to him, since diplomatic efforts have not helped avoid armed confrontation, Ukraine must receive assistance in the form of necessary weapons.

President of the Republic of Latvia Egils Levits noted that the process of bringing the aggressor to justice for war crimes committed against Ukrainians is already underway in international courts.

“I support the need for a special court or tribunal that will deal with the crime of aggression. Because so far there is no such international court where one can be convicted for such a crime with such a composition,” he said.

The President of Latvia is also convinced that Ukraine needs armed assistance now.

“Ukraine is fighting for us, and it is our duty to help by all means, weapons, so that Ukraine can defend itself from the enemy,” said Egils Levits.

The Latvian leader noted that today all NATO member states must help Ukraine with effective weapons. In addition, the Republic of Latvia can help with grain exports.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 April 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a regular meeting of a group of Ukrainian and international experts who analyze the real impact of sanctions against Russia and make proposals to strengthen them.

At the beginning of the meeting, he noted that the McFaul-Yermak international expert group has been working for three weeks. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Office of the Head of State highly appreciate the efforts of the experts, and this area is one of the key priorities for Ukraine today.

“Our common goal is to stop the war, and for that we must defeat Russia with all possible and impossible sanctions. I know that our experts now have two pages of priority sanctions against Russia, which are proposed for the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other partners,” Andriy Yermak said.

According to him, the list includes a full embargo on crude oil and natural gas exports, additional bans on financial institutions in both Russia and Belarus, further trade barriers and customs duties, and other powerful measures.

Approaches to strengthening personal restrictions and imposing secondary sanctions are also being developed.

Andriy Yermak noted that Ukrainian experts have already proposed their part of the action plan.

Former National Security Adviser to the President of the United States, Ambassador Michael McFaul, who is the coordinator of the international expert group, said that foreign experts will provide comments and suggestions shortly.

During the meeting the parties also heard a report by White House National Security Council member Peter Harrell, who focused on the political dimension of sanctions.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 11 April 2022.

Ukraine will be able to repel the armed aggression of the Russian Federation if we are provided with the necessary weapons as soon as possible. This was emphasized by Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak in an interview for 60 Minutes on CBS.

According to him, first of all Ukraine needs heavy weapons, in particular artillery.

“Secondly, we need tanks, military aircraft. We need all possible weapons that will help close the Ukrainian sky,” Andriy Yermak said.

The Head of the Office of the President noted that he has a profound and detailed dialogue with the American side, and stressed that US President Joseph Biden “has done more for Ukraine than anyone else.”

“But when you’re at war – we talk about it openly – you need more. And even that is not enough – we need everything as soon as possible. If we have it in time, we will win,” Andriy Yermak said.