Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 22 May 2022.

Dear Chairman, presidium.

Dear people’s deputies of Ukraine,

Dear guests.

Andrzej.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Guest in the house, God in the house. This is a Polish proverb with which I greet in Kyiv our guest, friend and brother, President of Poland Andrzej Duda. This folk wisdom tells that each of your guests is a grace of God. And this is the worldview according to which the Poles from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Russia’s war against Ukraine, sheltered millions of our citizens – citizens of Ukraine. Our women, our children, the elderly and everyone else whose door was knocked on on February 24 by completely different guests. Guests whom we never wanted to have and who have other proverbs and other folk wisdom.

Russia has been proving this “otherness” for 88 days. 88 days of madness: their missiles, bombs, projectiles fly into houses, schools, hospitals, museums, theaters, temples, even cemeteries.

At the same time, without realizing it, on February 24, Russia destroyed something else as well. A kind of “repository” of past contradictions between Ukraine and Poland. They no longer exist. In a day it became clear that all these contradictions have no force when there is the force of such a threat. Threat to the survival of our nations – Ukraine, Poland, the nations of Europe.

Andrzej and I sought a true understanding between our nations, and together we dismantled this “repository.” We planned to build a Memorial of Reconciliation on the common border of Ukraine and Poland. But those who want other memorials, dedicated not to peace at all, have crossed Ukrainian borders.

February 24 changed everything. It changed our nations. Changed our countries. Although this is not accidental. I do not know whether our astronomers Drohobych and Copernicus studied this phenomenon, but the stars are always formed in such a way that during the most difficult periods of eclipse Ukrainians and Poles unite and stand side by side, despite past quarrels and “nebulae”.

We are defending a common universe for us called freedom and independence, at a time when someone is committing barbarism of a cosmic scale.

Today the understanding, interaction, friendship and brotherhood of Ukraine and Poland reach the same scale. On February 24, we began writing a new volume of our history. Our common history – it is important. The unity of our nations must last forever. It must never again be dishonored by enmity.

St. John Paul II called the incitement of hatred between us a blatant anachronism unworthy of our two great nations. In various letters to our nations, the Pontiff said: “The new millennium requires that Ukrainians and Poles not remain enslaved by sad memories of the past. By committing to a better future for all, let them look at each other with a look of reconciliation. Our two nations have experienced so much bitterness and pain over the past few decades. Let this experience serve as purification. Let everyone be willing to put what unites above what divides. Look for something that cures. So that together they may build a future based on mutual respect, brotherhood, fraternal cooperation and true solidarity.”

Learn to appreciate, distinguish, choose.

Ukraine and Poland have chosen one path. This path. On it we learned to distinguish enemies and appreciate friends. Appreciate each other and most importantly – respect. The time that Jerzy Giedroyc and Bohdan Osadchuk dreamed of has come. About which Juliusz Słowacki, whose monument stands in Kyiv, and Taras Shevchenko, whose monument stands in Warsaw, wrote.

Today, half a word is enough for Polish President Andrzej and I to understand each other. Our parliaments, our governments and our nations in general understand each other as never before. And it doesn’t matter whether it is Cyrillic or Latin, it doesn’t matter how we write the words “freedom” and “independence”. It is important that Ukrainians and Poles say these things in the same way. And are equally ready to defend them.

Ukraine is already doing this. On the very frontline. It defends not just itself but the whole of Europe. Poles know this, appreciate, respect and help Ukraine – not out of courtesy, but as brothers and allies who remember Lech Kaczyński’s words about who could be next. This does not mean fear. This means readiness to face the enemy and repel him.

That is why, for example, we have the same perception of the sanctions policy against the Russian Federation. We know that half-measures cannot be used when aggression needs to be stopped. Now.

Poland is one of the leaders not only in supporting our state, but also in defending and promoting the sanctions that are absolutely necessary to force Russia into peace. The absolute majority of Poles support the embargo on energy resources from Russia. This is just one manifestation – but how important it is – of our common vision of the political front in this war. I believe that Poland’s leadership will help establish at the European level what our nations already understand.

The unity of our nations must remain constant. Neither now nor in the future does anyone have the right to break this unity. Neither our politicians, nor hostile agents, nor even members of the jury at Eurovision. The Ukrainian and Polish nations gave each other 12 points – today and forever.

I want to thank all Poles for their support. I want to remember everyone from this rostrum. So that every voivodeship, powiat and gmina hears this. Whose support and help is felt in every region, every city, village, in every community of Ukraine.

Thank you, Warsaw, Kraków. Thank you, Łódź, Poznań, Wrocław. Thank you Gdańsk, Bydgoszcz, Toruń. Thank you, Lublin, Katowice, Opole, Szczecin. Gorzów Wielkopolski, Zielona Góra. Thank you, Rzeszów, Białystok, Olsztyn, Kielce. These are sister cities of our cities – Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih, Cherkasy, Luhansk, Donetsk, Sumy, Izyum, Starobilsk, Mariupol.

Almost all our cities are sister cities of those in Poland. Our nations are also brothers. Our countries are sisters. We are relatives. And there should be no borders or barriers between us. The Ukrainian and Polish nations have not been mentally separated for a long time. So we agreed to implement this in the near future in the relevant bilateral agreement. First on joint border and customs control, and later on the conditional border when Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union.

And I am sure that all the necessary decisions will be made first for the status of a candidate for Ukraine, and then for full membership. In particular, thanks to Poland’s many years of protection of Ukrainian interests on the European continent.

And I am grateful for your willingness – for your willingness personally, Andrzej – to pay a visit to European capitals together with President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputová to lobby for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union in countries – as they say, “skeptics”. In fact, they are not skeptics, but future optimists. This is how I see our common very important task in this direction.

Separately, I thank the Polish Sejm for the recently adopted law on assistance to the citizens of Ukraine. This is a completely unprecedented decision, according to which our citizens, who were forced to move temporarily to Poland due to the aggression of the Russian Federation, will receive almost the same rights and opportunities as Polish citizens. Legal residence, employment, education, medical care, social guarantees. This is a great step, a great gesture of a great soul, which only a great friend of Ukraine is capable of.

And this step will not remain unilateral. I believe that in the near future we must submit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a similar – mirror – bill. God forbid that Polish citizens will ever need all these advantages in such conditions, in conditions of war. But these laws are of great symbolic significance. They show that Ukrainians and Poles are native and equal. And I am sure that the parliamentary corps of Ukraine will support this law – quickly and, I am sure, by a majority of votes.

In addition, before this speech, I signed a decree noting the special role of the Polish city of Rzeszów. I have introduced a special honorary title of “rescuer city” for the partner cities of our state, which today do the impossible to help us, to help our people, to help our army. On behalf of the entire Ukrainian people, I would like to express great gratitude to the city of Rzeszów, the first rescuer city.

I also want to thank Polish cultural figures, sportsmen, clergy and ordinary people who support us – organize big concerts, take part in competitions with the Ukrainian ribbon, or come from Poznań to Bucha just to bake bread.

I believe that soon Ukrainians and Poles will gather at one big table to share this bread. Share the feelings – the most important feelings – of peace. Share the taste of victory. Victory of Ukraine. Joint victory. And raise a toast to your and our freedom. Without a free Ukraine, there can be no free Poland. I know historians often argue about who was the first to say this, who was the author of this phrase. We have resolved this dispute – this is the will of the Ukrainian and Polish nations.

Thank you brothers!

Together until the end.

Niech żyje Polska!

Glory to Ukraine!

 

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 May 2022.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva met with Chairman of the Interparliamentary Relations Group with Ukraine in the Italian Parliament Ugo Cappellacci and Member of the Foreign Affairs Commission Matteo Perego di Cremnago.

Ihor Zhovkva thanked the leadership of the Italian Republic, parliamentarians and the entire Italian people for their clear and unequivocal support for Ukraine after the beginning of Russia’s armed aggression, which was shown not only by political statements, but also by concrete actions, including significant assistance.

“We appreciate the care and support that Italy has provided to Ukrainian citizens who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the aggressor’s invasion,” said Ihor Zhovkva.

Ugo Cappellacci reaffirmed that Italy would continue to support Ukrainians in their defense of their country and European democracy in general. The parliamentary delegation was greatly shocked by the terrible consequences of the war in the city of Bucha, which the parliamentarians visited.

Ihor Zhovkva informed his interlocutors about the President’s initiative of patronage over the affected Ukrainian cities and regions. In this regard, it was noted that the Italian government is considering the possibility of joining the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President expressed expectation that Italy would clearly support the sixth package of EU sanctions, primarily on the oil embargo and the disconnection of all Russian banks from SWIFT. The parliamentarians said that Italy continues to actively seek and establish alternative ways to supply energy to the country to strengthen its energy independence.

Recent European integration steps of Ukraine were also discussed during the meeting. “Ukraine has promptly completed its part of the job to obtain the status of a candidate for EU membership, now the ball is in the court of the European Union,” said Ihor Zhovkva.

The participants agreed that the unanimous position of the EU member states on granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union in June 2022 would be an important symbolic and political step in recognizing the European prospects of the Ukrainian people.

 

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 May 2022.

On Europe Day, Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak met with the heads of diplomatic missions of the European Union member states and the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak noted the importance of resuming the work of diplomatic missions and stressed: “This is a powerful signal for Ukrainians, a demonstration of faith in our country and its victory.”

The Head of the President’s Office informed his interlocutors about the situation at the front, where the Ukrainian people are bravely defending their land from the Russian aggressor. Andriy Yermak noted that the Ukrainian state seeks to end this war as soon as possible. But this requires appropriate conditions, including practical defense support from our partners, which will help not only repel the aggressor’s pressure, but also to liberate the temporarily occupied territories.

“Ukraine aims to return its territories,” he said.

The Head of the Office of the President paid special attention to the need to strengthen the coordinated sanctions pressure of the international community on Russia, in particular, the approval of the sixth package of sanctions and the start of work on the seventh package. “Russia must feel the impact of sanctions as soon as possible,” said Andriy Yermak.

He also emphasized the continuation of work on the creation of an international legal mechanism to compensate Ukraine for the damage caused by Russia as a result of the war. He also spoke about the coordination of work on the investigation of crimes against children committed by the aggressor country and the facts of illegal forced deportation of young Ukrainians.

“All citizens forcibly deported to Russia, including children, must return home,” the Head of the President’s Office said.

Andriy Yermak informed European diplomats about the work already underway on a comprehensive plan for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and welcomed signals of the readiness of a number of EU member states, as well as the EU itself, to join its implementation.

During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on the most pressing issues, including key practical areas of assistance to our country, new challenges posed by Russian aggression, as well as prospects for the security situation in the region.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 May 2022.

The world community must help Ukraine unblock seaports, otherwise the energy crisis will be followed by a food crisis and many more countries will face it, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Russia has blocked almost all ports and all, so to speak, maritime opportunities to export food – our grain, barley, sunflower and more. A lot of things,” the Head of State said during a meeting with media representatives following negotiations with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa in Kyiv.

According to the President of Ukraine, currently the Russian Federation has blocked 22 million tons of food products. The aggressor country is gradually stealing it and trying to sell it.

“There will be a crisis in the world. The second crisis after the energy one, which was provoked by Russia. Now it will create a food crisis if we do not unblock the routes for Ukraine, do not help the countries of Africa, Europe, Asia, which need these food products. You can unblock them in different ways. One of the ways is a military solution. That is why we turn to our partners with inquiries regarding the relevant weapons,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.

For his part, the Prime Minister of Portugal noted that his country has already sent military aid to our country. These are non-lethal and lethal weapons in accordance with Ukraine’s requests. And the provision of such assistance continues.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 May 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects that the result of the second meeting of the partner countries in the composition in which they met at Ramstein Air Base, scheduled for May 23 in online format, will be the provision of Ukraine with the necessary weapons to defend its territories.

“To be honest, we have high expectations. I would call it a long-awaited process. We are grateful for the great military support provided by various states. We expect a positive result on the supply of MLRS. I have no secrets, we appeal to all countries – from the United States to every European country – regarding MLRS, thanks to which Ukraine will be able to take over the initiative and liberate its territory,” said the President, answering questions from media representatives following talks with Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa in Kyiv.

To those countries that are afraid to provide Ukraine with MLRS because they believe that our state will attack Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded that the war is currently underway on Ukrainian territory, and Donbas has not ceased to be part of Ukraine after Russian passports were issued there.

“These are our territories, and we are going step by step to liberate them. We cannot pay the price of tens, hundreds of thousands of people. So we ask you to help us. In some countries it is just stored (this weaponry – ed.), and for us it is survival, I mean these MLRS,” the Head of State stressed.

According to him, the Ukrainian side knows that the Russian Federation at various levels threatens certain states, trying to prevent the transfer of these systems to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the countries not to be afraid and to unite, because that is what Russia is really afraid of.

“It is afraid of a strong union, that the EU and the United States will act as one organism. This is very important for us as well, because Ukraine is a fist in this single organism today. That is why we really need your material help,” the Head of State concluded.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 May 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic António Costa, who is on a visit to our country.

The Head of State noted that this was the first visit of the Portuguese Prime Minister to Ukraine. He called it symbolic that António Costa visited our country on Europe Day, because today the Ukrainian people are defending the independence and freedom that are common to all Europeans.

“Today, during the meeting, I once again felt such a closeness of values ​​and a common understanding by our nations of the future of Europe. Portugal has been helping Ukraine since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of our land. I am grateful to your country and to you personally, Mr. Prime Minister, for your defensive, political and humanitarian assistance, as well as for the great support for our citizens, forcibly displaced Ukrainians who fled the war and are now on the European continent in various countries, in particular in Portugal,” said the President, addressing António Costa during a joint meeting with media representatives following the talks in Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also praised Portugal’s readiness to provide financial assistance to Ukraine.

“Relevant agreements on the provision of financial assistance by Portugal today will be formalized at the governmental level,” the President said.

In addition, according to him, a wide range of important issues related to the defense of Ukraine was discussed during the meeting, including further defense assistance. Attention was also paid to the issue of prosecuting Russian war criminals.

“We agreed to further increase the sanctions pressure on the aggressor. The key issue now is the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which must include an embargo on Russian oil, oil blends and petroleum products. We appreciate Portugal’s understanding that Russia is using all this to put pressure on Ukraine and a united Europe,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The interlocutors also discussed Ukraine’s European integration.

“We hope that the state vote of Portugal will be in support of our country on the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union during the consideration of this issue at the European Council in June,” said the President.

Special attention was paid to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects Portugal to be actively involved in this process.

For his part, António Costa reaffirmed readiness to join the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war. He noted that his country could be responsible for rebuilding schools and kindergartens that were destroyed during hostilities. According to António Costa, Portugal has significant experience in designing and building educational institutions, which it will be able to use in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic noted the resistance of the Ukrainian people to the barbaric and completely illegal invasion of Russia and the example of courage that Ukrainians have shown to the world.

He noted the closeness of the people of Ukraine and Portugal, in particular due to the great contribution of the Ukrainian community to the development of the Portuguese economy in recent decades.

António Costa assured Ukraine of his country’s support in winning the war and establishing peace throughout Europe.

The Portuguese Prime Minister also said that his country is looking forward to the European Commission’s report on the prospects of Ukraine’s integration with the European Union and is ready to share its own experience of gaining EU membership.

António Costa spoke in favor of international sanctions and increased investment in alternative energy sources and ways to supply energy to Europe to overcome dependence on Russia.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 May 2022.

A full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine could not be repulsed at once because the enemy was advancing simultaneously from several directions and used a large amount of manpower. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with the host of the United News telethon.

The Head of State noted that Ukraine was preparing for a full-scale Russian aggression, but no one knew the methods and scope of this invasion until the end.

“It’s one thing when you realize that tanks will go from Belarus. And another thing is that Russia will go to Ukraine through Belarus, another thing is that missiles are flying from Belarus. It seems that the difference is small. There were warnings that there could be an offensive from that side. But the difference is big: you are at war with the forces and means that are on the territory of Belarus, which pass through the territory of Belarus and go to Ukraine, or you are at war with two countries,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President stressed that Ukraine was preparing for various scenarios of invasion, and our state had sufficient information about the intentions of the enemy.

“In terms of the volume of forces used by the Russian Federation, which used everything, even the reserve, “quiet” mobilization… Concentration was in Crimea, in Belarus and in other areas… Along the borders, they concentrated a large number of forces a year before. I think that today no European country would be able to cope with such a volume,” the President said.

He noted that according to analysts, our state could not cope with the full-scale invasion of Russia, at least because Ukraine is 28 times smaller in area and still quite large territorially.

“When you are attacked by a large army, you cannot concentrate your forces around, for example, Kyiv. You need to look and provide air defense, tanks, equipment, infantry fighting vehicles, and most importantly – professional military personnel (throughout the country – ed.),” said the President.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that in order to protect such a territory, the army should have not 250,000 of servicemen, but much more. The Head of State reminded that at the beginning of the year he signed a decree to increase the number of personnel of the Armed Forces by 100,000 servicemen.

“But even 100,000 plus could not stop them (the aggressor’s troops – ed.). Today we have 700,000. You see the result of the work of 700,000 people who are at war,” the President said.

In addition, according to the President, at the beginning of the invasion, the enemy struck at the positions of the Ukrainian artillery and air defense forces. At the same time, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, Ukraine was well prepared for the invasion, and there were many things that the enemy did not know about and that later worked against him.

The Head of State is convinced that now Ukraine must quickly provide its army with modern weapons that will protect the entire territory.

“NATO countries have the appropriate weapons – there are Patriots, there is powerful air defense equipment that can protect the sky from missile strikes,” he said.

The President stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine should move from Soviet technology to the latest models of weapons used by NATO countries.

“But it’s a lot of money not only for re-equipment. We need to move from Soviet weapons to NATO models. And if you are a country that is not a member of NATO, how can you do that if you are not given licenses, you are not sold anything, as it was before the war,” said the President.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that some partners recommended that Ukraine dig trenches before the war.

“By digging trenches, it is impossible to do what we did. Because it is impossible to win a war with a shovel. They told us to dig trenches. And we told them: give us weapons,” the Head of State said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 21 May 2022.

Ukraine can win the war with Russia only on the battlefield, but the final dot will still be put at the negotiating table, because that is the only way to settle many difficult issues. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with the host of the United News telethon.

The Head of State noted that even today he can repeat the words he said three years ago after his election as President of Ukraine: we did not start this war, but we have to end it. However, the meaning of these words has changed.

“I really thought that the war could end with dialogue. But, unfortunately, I thought that this was a dialogue with the appropriate timing, that it would be possible to find answers to many questions and many decisions with the Russian side. I really thought so. And now it is a hybrid. That is why the war is so difficult. And the victory will be very difficult. It will be bloody, it will be in battle, but the end will definitely be in diplomacy,” the President explained.

At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that the end of the war will still lie in the diplomatic sphere, because there are a number of issues that can be resolved only at the negotiating table.

“We want everything back. And the Russian Federation doesn’t want to return anything. That’s why the ending will be at the negotiating table,” he said.

The Head of State also noted that the specific purpose and agenda of his future meeting with the Russian President, which is inevitable for registration of the end of the war, will depend on the moment when it will take place.

“Everything changes. There is a hybrid war, honestly, there will be a hybrid peace as well. And hybrid meetings. For example, if we met today, the issue of Mariupol would also be on the agenda. If we meet in two or three months, maybe this issue will not be on the agenda, or maybe it will. We don’t know,” he said.

At the same time, the President of Ukraine stressed that in any case the issues of the end of the war and the establishment of peace, deoccupation of Ukrainian territories, exchange and return home of Ukrainian military and civilians should be resolved at the negotiating table.

“A lot depends on us, but a lot depends on Russia, too. Without talking to them, we must then state the result we have. We want the territories back and this war to be over. But how and when it will happen depends on the time when the conversation with Putin will take place. I think that the conversation between Ukraine and Russia will definitely take place. But we don’t know in what format: with or without intermediaries, in a wide circle or in the format of bilateral conversation,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.