PRESS RELEASE : Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Joseph Biden

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 25 August 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with President of the United States of America Joseph Biden.

The Head of State expressed his gratitude to the President of the United States and to the American people for the powerful assistance, both security and macro-financial, provided by the United States to counter the Russian aggression.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically noted yesterday’s announcement of Joseph Biden to provide Ukraine with an unprecedented assistance package worth $6 billion – $3 billion in defense aid, as well as the channeling of $3 billion of financial aid through the World Bank. “This is the best gift for Ukraine on its Independence Day,” the President said, expressing particular gratitude for the inclusion of NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems in this new aid package. “These modern air defense systems will help us protect our cities from missile terror,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The importance of further macro-financial support of Ukraine was also noted. Volodymyr Zelenskyy highly appreciated the leadership of the United States on this track.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Joseph Biden about the scale of destruction of the housing and infrastructure in Ukraine. The President proposed to enhance bilateral coordination in order to resolve immediate issues related to reconstruction of the destroyed critical infrastructure.

The Head of State informed the U.S. President in detail about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the global risks it can cause. The leaders concurred on the need to return the Plant under the Ukrainian control and provide for the IAEA access, consistent with the accepted modalities.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joseph Biden discussed strengthening sanction pressure on the aggressor state. “The free world must increase its pressure on the aggressor in order to force him to peace”, said the President of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed the importance of ironclad support by the United States of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Particularly, in the context of impermissibility of arranging by the aggressor of any illegitimate referendums on the Ukrainian soil.

The interlocutors discussed First Lady Olena Zelenska’s recent visit to Washington, which helped to consolidate support for Ukraine.