Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 12 February 2022.

During a working trip to the Kherson region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed the conduct of tactical and special exercises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

The exercises are taking place in Kalanchak, near the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea. They are aimed at preparing the Interior Ministry as much as possible to respond effectively to destabilizing factors.

The Head of State was informed that, according to the exercise script, plans are being prepared for internal destabilization of the situation with the use of elements of hybrid warfare. In particular, with the help of social networks and telegram-bots, false information is spread about the allegedly difficult situation in the energy sector, interruptions in heating and water supply, rolling blackouts. Against this background, according to the script, there are riots, attempts to undermine critical infrastructure, and seize administrative buildings.

To overcome this situation, law enforcement officers have worked out skills to deploy an operational headquarters, eliminate emergencies related to the disconnection of the village from the electricity supply, and ensure public order.

In addition, operations were carried out to stabilize the situation on the border with the temporarily occupied territories, to respond to the facts of illegal crossing of checkpoints, etc. There was also a special operation to identify, block and eliminate armed groups and sabotage-reconnaissance groups, detain armed criminals, and liberate seized administrative buildings.

“These are mass exercises, 1,300 people are involved. These exercises are not accidental, they take place in all border regions of our state. Coordinated work of the National Police, SES, National Guard. This is how our state was supposed to work in 2014,” the President said during a conversation with media representatives in the Kherson region.

He stressed that military exercises will be held in Ukraine simultaneously.

“Yesterday a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council took place, we are acting in accordance with our plan. We are not afraid of anyone, do not panic, everything is under control,” the Head of State stressed.

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

Under the chairmanship of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an offsite meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine was held in Kharkiv to discuss the formation of territorial defense, impose restrictive measures against a number of legal entities and approve the Maritime Security Strategy of Ukraine.

In particular, the National Security and Defense Council considered the issue of ensuring national security from internal and external threats in a “classified” mode and heard reports from representatives of intelligence services, military units and the border service. The Navy Command also reported on the risks to Ukraine’s navigation due to the Russian Federation’s intention to block the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov area under the pretext of military drills.

Also the National Security and Defense Council heard a report in the “classified” mode on the provision of international military-technical and financial assistance to our country since 2014. Recently, 25 planes with the aid of partners arrived in Ukraine.

The National Security and Defense Council also heard information from the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Head of the Security Service and heads of regional state administrations on the implementation of the Law of Ukraine “On Fundamentals of National Resistance” in terms of the formation of territorial defense units.

At the initiative of the President, a protocol decision was made on the need to take measures to implement this law in full in a short time.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has set a task that the territorial defense forces must include 2 million citizens.

The National Security and Defense Council also approved the Maritime Security Strategy of Ukraine, which was developed to fulfill the instructions of the President. This is the first time such a document has been elaborated in our country.

In addition, it was decided to send national personnel of Ukraine to participate in the NATO mission in the Republic of Iraq.

“We will send a small contingent there to perform tasks not related to the military component,” said the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

At the meeting, the National Security and Defense Council considered the application and amendment of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions). Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Kyrylo Shevchenko and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Bakanov reported on this.

In particular, due to the fact that Liberton Star construction company, which is already under Ukrainian sanctions, changed its place of registration from Odesa to Kyiv, the sanctions were applied to it again.

In addition, the National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions for a period of five years against Vytryna TV company registered in Moscow. It is a company that provides services for broadcasting Russian TV channels blocked in Ukraine.

Sanctions were also imposed against Nasha Praga LLC (Maxi-TV), Nash 24 LLC, Nash 365 LLC (Nash TV channel) and the Cypriot Demosena Investments LTD, which owns all these companies.

Oleksiy Danilov also said that pursuant to the instruction of the President, meetings of the National Security and Defense Council will be held in various regions of Ukraine, in particular to address the issues of concern to the regions, directly on the ground.

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

During a working trip to the Kharkiv region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Zbigniew Rau.

The President noted the importance of the Minister’s first visit to Ukraine, including the Joint Forces Operation area, as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

“I am pleased to welcome you as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. The role of the Organization in the deoccupation of Ukrainian territories and in supporting our state is extremely important,” the President stressed.

He informed about the security situation in the region, noting that Ukraine stands for the political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict in all available negotiation formats, including the Normandy one.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Zbigniew Rau exchanged views and assessments on recent international events and contacts with strategic partners.

The Head of State also drew attention to the unblocking of the work of the Trilateral Contact Group, noting that the Ukrainian side has submitted to it a number of important initiatives aimed at resolving urgent humanitarian issues.

During the meeting, the parties discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the economy, energy and infrastructure.

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

During his working trip to the Kharkiv region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, during which they discussed issues of improving the quality of medical services and ensuring decent wages of medical workers.

The Head of State stressed that a strong Ukraine is a strong medicine.

“Right now we are talking about raising the salaries of our doctors and paramedics. In every institution, even the smallest, most remote, without exception,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded that last year, in accordance with the President’s decree, the budget for the healthcare sector and the Medical Guarantee Program was increased. And then local authorities and heads of medical institutions should act.

The Head of State also set a task to improve the quality of medical services, which would be aimed not only at stabilizing the condition, but also at maximizing the restoration of the human body.

“This is medicine, an integral part of which is rehabilitation from the first day of illness or injury. 24 rehabilitation centers have been identified, which the state will equip in each region of our state in a priority manner in the framework of the Large Construction,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

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

To build an effective model of territorial defense and national resistance, there must be full cooperation between the authorities at all levels and an understanding of their area of responsibility. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting of the Presidium of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Kharkiv.

The Head of State stressed that in the issue of national security there is no room for politics, intrigue, speculation and the chaos they can create.

“Every day, and even more so now, there must be full cooperation between the authorities at all levels and a full understanding of their area of responsibility – from RSA and DSA, regional and district councils and other local government bodies to build a very effective model of territorial defense and national resistance. This is a reliable rear for a professional and well-equipped army, which together form the basis of our state, a strong state,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his opening speech at the meeting of the Presidium of the Congress.

The President noted that the organization of national resistance and territorial defense in our country takes place under the auspices and direct leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“All leaders on the ground must clearly understand: there are things that should be implemented exclusively by the military, only by professionals. It is good to help them, but sometimes it is much better not to hinder them, h e said.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak informed the participants of the meeting of the Presidium of the Congress about the results of the meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format. He said that during the talks, unconditional support was expressed by all parties for a comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas.

The Head of the Office of the President also noted that the implementation of the Law of Ukraine “On the Fundamentals of National Resistance” is an extremely important and topical issue. “I think we all already understand that only a strong army and security system at different levels will ensure the overall security of our country,” he said.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi told members of the Presidium of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities about the territorial defense management system, which consists of the command, 4 regional offices, 29 brigades and 150 battalions. In addition, there are still voluntary formations of territorial communities.

“This is a force that can restrain the enemy and prevent them from thinking about setting foot on our land. After all, the price for it will be huge. The purpose of all this is to resist in every city, every village, on every street and in every house,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi stressed.

For his part, Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the heads of regional state administrations and local authorities in the regions where territorial defense units are being recruited on schedule. At the same time, the Head of State appealed to the leadership of Kyiv and the Kyiv region, Mariupol, Odesa, Rivne, where the worst situation is, so that everything necessary is done in the coming weeks.

The President also called on Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko to cooperate with all heads of regional state administrations, mayors and district heads so that the information policy is the same everywhere in the country. “So that people understand exactly what’s what, understand the current state of preparation in a particular area,” he said.

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

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva had a phone conversation with Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Ihor Zhovkva informed the interlocutor in detail about the current security situation in Donbas, in the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as along the state border of Ukraine. He thanked the Danish side for its solidarity in supporting our country both bilaterally and within the EU and NATO.

The diplomatic advisers discussed the implementation of Ukraine’s European integration strategy. Ihor Zhovkva noted the importance of fixing the European perspective of our state, and also expressed hope for Copenhagen’s support to this ambitious idea. An exchange of views took place on relevant initiatives in support of Ukraine within the institutions of the European Union.

Particular attention was paid to the forthcoming NATO Summit in Madrid in June 2022, especially in the context of invitation for Ukraine to participate in the event, as well as its expected results.

The interlocutors touched upon the issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of energy security, in particular in the context of our country’s practical steps towards joining the European continental energy network ENTSO-E. In this regard, the effective work of the Ukrainian-Danish Energy Center in Kyiv was also noted.

At the end of the conversation, Ihor Zhovkva and Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Denmark, which will be celebrated on February 12, 2022. Mutual readiness for further comprehensive development of bilateral cooperation was confirmed.

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

Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak hopes to unblock humanitarian issues at the next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in the East of Ukraine. He said this at a briefing in Berlin after a meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format.

“We hope that the next meeting of the TCG will unblock humanitarian issues – the release of detainees, the opening of checkpoints, which have been prepared for more than a year by the Ukrainian side,” said Andriy Yermak.

According to him, it is also very important that all participants of the meeting of advisers in the Normandy format expressed their full commitment to a comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas.

The Head of the President’s Office thanked the German side for organizing these talks. He noted that the next meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Four is to take place shortly.

“The Ukrainian party is ready for a constructive dialogue,” Andriy Yermak stressed.

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

Negotiations in Berlin at the level of political advisers to the leaders of the countries participating in the Normandy format ended. Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak took part in them.

This has been the second meeting since the beginning of this year. The talks between representatives of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia lasted more than nine hours.

During the negotiations, Andriy Yermak stressed that Ukraine is consistently committed to a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict. Hence, the Ukrainian party will continue to take measures to intensify the work of all existing negotiation formats in order to facilitate the peace process.

All parties reaffirmed their willingness to continue negotiations in the Normandy format, and also agreed on the necessity to unblock the work of the Trilateral Contact Group.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 10 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda.

The Ukrainian President thanked Poland for its concrete support in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and resilience.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the important role of the Polish chairmanship in the OSCE in terms of ensuring a peaceful settlement in Donbas and regional security in Europe.

The parties discussed further cooperation within the new regional format Ukraine – Poland – Great Britain.

The interlocutors also paid attention to the implementation of the main foreign policy priorities of our country – the course of accession to the European Union and NATO.

The leaders of Ukraine and Poland praised the achievement of agreements on permits for international cargo transportation.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 10 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The interlocutors exchanged relevant information on diplomatic measures taken by Ukraine and the Alliance in response to threats from Russia.

The President thanked for the consolidated position of NATO member states on the need for immediate de-escalation of the situation by Russia.

He commended the Alliance’s continued commitment to an open door policy, as well as its principled support for the right of all countries to freely choose security alliances and determine their foreign policy.

In addition, the President and the Secretary General discussed the modalities of Ukraine’s participation in the NATO Summit in Madrid in June 2022 and its expected results.