Tag: 2022

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

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a video call with American actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck.

Andriy Yermak thanked him for supporting Ukraine, which has been defending its freedom and independence in the war against the Russian invaders for more than eight months already.

The Head of the Office of the President emphasized that today it is extremely important to maintain a high level of attention of the whole world to what is happening in our country. In particular, this can be facilitated by famous personalities who have achieved success thanks to their talent and are popular in all parts of the world.

Andriy Yermak discussed with Ben Affleck ways to provide even greater support to Ukraine and its citizens during these ordeals.

The Head of the President’s Office invited Ben Affleck to visit Ukraine at his convenience.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 31 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala who is in our country on a visit.

Welcoming Petr Fiala to Kyiv, the Head of State noted the importance of this visit, as it is taking place at a time when Ukraine is facing Russian attacks on civil infrastructure, in particular on energy facilities.

“50 Russian missiles only this morning. The Prime Minister personally saw what such terror means and what damage it does to Ukraine, namely to our civilian population. I thank you, Petr, for the assistance already provided to our state, for your willingness to increase support to overcome the consequences of Russian terror, and for your willingness to increase pressure on the Russian Federation, which erases itself from international relations with its terror every day,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during communication with media representatives following the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

The President of Ukraine stated that Russia deliberately resorts to escalation, and this escalation of aggression deserves a tough reaction from the whole world, both at the national level and at the level of international organizations and associations of states.

“Russia should have no place in the G20, the UN and other structures that were created specifically to protect peace and cooperation between nations. It is obvious that Russia just exploits all such structures cynically to cover up its crimes. Any criminal must bear responsibility for what he has committed,” he emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during today’s meeting with Petr Fiala, steps were coordinated to increase sanctions against the Russian Federation for terror and bring it to justice.

“That is, the creation of a special tribunal regarding the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine and an international compensation mechanism that will ensure compensation for all damages caused by the Russian war at the expense of Russian assets,” the President said.

The parties also discussed defense cooperation, which will be increased. Separately, they focused on strengthening anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense, as well as protection against drones, which Russian terrorists have acquired from their accomplices in Iran.

“When we, together with our partners, ensure 100 percent protection of the Ukrainian sky, it will become one of the fundamental guarantees of the new European security system, as it will deprive Russia of a significant part of its escalation capabilities,” the Head of State emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Petr Fiala also discussed the involvement of the Czech Republic in the training of Ukrainian defenders and the projects for the production and repair of military equipment.

“This increases the defense of Ukraine, gives new strength to the Czech Republic, and also provides the Czech Republic with new jobs and technological opportunities,” noted the President of Ukraine.

In addition, the parties discussed in detail the issue of rebuilding Ukraine and the needs to eliminate the consequences of the destruction caused by Russian terror.

“We appreciate the approval of the government program in the Czech Republic regarding the restoration of our country, as well as the readiness to take patronage over the Dnipropetrovsk region. And I thank the Czech Republic for its readiness to work now to restore specific objects destroyed or damaged by Russian terrorists,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The parties also discussed the entire spectrum of interaction within the European Union, as the Czech Republic currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“I thank the Czech Republic for supporting Ukraine in the matter of allocation of European macro-financial aid for our country. And also for real assistance to our European integration process. I hope that at the stage of the Czech Presidency we will see an assessment by the European Commission of Ukraine’s implementation of the seven recommendations that were given to us, and clarity regarding the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” the Head of State said.

The President of Ukraine noted the meaningfulness and usefulness of the negotiations for both peoples.

“The role of the Czech Republic, the role of Prague in protecting peace and people who suffered from the war, has already become historically important. And this is exactly what Ukraine recognized with the special title conferred upon the city of Prague – “Rescuer City”. Once again, thank you very much for your support,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also awarded Petr Fiala with the Order of Yaroslav the Wise of the I degree, which the Prime Minister received for his outstanding personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian-Czech interstate cooperation, support for the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“I want this order to symbolize the historical significance of our relations – the relations between Ukraine and the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Europe, which have been achieved thanks to your efforts, Mr. Prime Minister, dear Petr. My congratulations,” the Head of State emphasized.

The President of Ukraine thanked the Czech people, who are holding rallies in support of Ukraine and the common European values of the two peoples.

“On the eve of the Prime Minister’s visit, just such a rally took place in Prague – tens of thousands of people took to the square. And I thank everyone who came to this square to remind us that Europe must be brave, must be genuine and can really win this confrontation. And I’m sure it will prevail. When Europeans are together, no one will be able to take away our freedom – the freedom of everyone on the continent,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

For his part, Petr Fiala noted that today’s massive shelling of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which coincided with his visit, clearly demonstrates what Ukrainians are going through every day and how urgent concrete steps and actions to support Ukraine are.

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic noted the courage of the Ukrainian people in defending democratic values, freedom and territorial integrity of their state.

“We will continue to support Ukraine, because we see: in the east of Ukraine, Russia’s actions are becoming more aggressive and Russia’s policy is becoming more aggressive. It is shown, inter alia, in attacks on energy infrastructure, which we observe in particular today. These are moments that concern not only the military – it concerns civilians who are suffering,” said Petr Fiala.

In this context, he emphasized the importance of providing military, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine.

“For Ukraine to have a clear prospect of joining Western structures – NATO and the European Union,” the Prime Minister noted and added that the Czech Republic is a partner that Ukraine can rely on in these matters.

Petr Fiala assured that our country will be a priority during the Czech Presidency in the EU and the steps taken by Ukraine will be welcomed in all the bodies of the European Union.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 31 October 2022.

During a meeting in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala signed the Joint Declaration on Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic Perspective.

The document defines the priority areas of cooperation between Ukraine and the Czech Republic in the framework of our country’s strategic course to acquire full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The declaration expresses support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and also confirms its commitment to NATO’s “open door” policy.

With the signing of the document at the level of the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the support of the Czech side for the prospect of Ukraine becoming a member of NATO was recorded as soon as conditions allow.

The declaration separately notes the intention of the Czech Republic to continue providing powerful military, technical, defense and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

As Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized, this is the first document signed by Ukraine with the aim of accelerating Euro-Atlantic integration.

“We confirmed with this declaration that we will enhance cooperation to ensure NATO standards in Ukraine. The Czech Republic has confirmed that it supports our country in becoming a full-fledged member of the Alliance as soon as conditions permit,” the President said.

He thanked the Czech friends of Ukraine and personally Prime Minister Petr Fiala for the leadership in the Euro-Atlantic integration of our country, as this is what brings Ukraine and the whole of Europe closer to long-term peace and security.

“We will work to ensure that such joint declarations are signed with other NATO member states as well,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 31 October 2022.

If Ukraine receives a sufficient number of weapons and equipment from its partners, it will be able to put an end to the Russian genocide of Ukrainians and protect the security of Europe. Mykhailo Podolyak, Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office, said this in an interview with the German TV channel Welt.

“Russia would like to freeze this war in order to prepare new forces for the invasion. Therefore, they are trying to force our partners to put pressure on President Zelenskyy so that we accept Russia’s ultimatum at the negotiating table,” said the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office.

However, as Mykhailo Podolyak noted, today, after eight months of full-scale Russian aggression, Ukraine is not afraid of the Russian Federation and is ready to ensure its freedom and the security of Europe if it receives enough weapons from its partners.

“We constantly tell the German government that Russia can and will lose. And we are ready to pay any price for the security of Europe. But help us with weapons!” he emphasized.

The Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office expressed hope that Ukraine will find a consensus with its German partners regarding the supply of tanks.

“The supply of tanks, especially the Leopard, would be very important now because this war is extremely intense and Russia has a large number of Soviet weapons. We won’t be able to keep up with them if they have 10,000 tanks, and we only have a hundred,” Mykhailo Podolyak is convinced.

He noted that tanks ensure rapid advancement on the battlefield, which makes it possible to speed up the liberation of the occupied territories in the Kherson region, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk region, and Donetsk region.

“Germany could help us with Leopards and Marders. It is important for Germany to be a leader in Europe not only in economic terms, but also in the protection of our common values,” the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office emphasized.

Mykhailo Podolyak urged European partners to stop being afraid of the Russian President, who does not understand the rules of modern war.

According to the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office, Russia is trying to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, but our country is restoring destroyed objects and defending itself against attacks, in particular thanks to the German IRIS-T air defense system.

“If we get Leopard tanks in sufficient numbers, if we get MLRS, if we get air defense systems and anti-drone systems to cover the skies, we can end the Russian genocide. And we will also be able to almost mathematically calculate the time until the end of Putin,” Mykhailo Podolyak summarized.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 29 October 2022.

Over time, the number of states that support Ukraine and do not trust Russian propaganda will grow, but we need to work on this. This was stated by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, who participated via video call in a roundtable organized by the U.S. Brookings Institution.

About 50 scientists, public figures and opinion leaders took part in the event. The meeting was moderated by Vice President, Director of Foreign Policy program of the Brookings Institution, Suzanne Maloney.

Answering the participants’ questions about the difficulties with designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, Yermak said that the Russian Federation is the country that is responsible for the terrible war in Ukraine, which bombs civilian objects, kills civilians, including children, and creates concentration camps. Therefore, it must be designated by the world as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The head of the President’s Office expressed his gratitude to the UN and Secretary General António Guterres for his leadership in the implementation of the grain initiative and other projects.

“Sometimes the level of personal communication is important. Sometimes we talked two or three times a day, if it were necessary, if there was something of concern – a food crisis or the release of prisoners. Of course, we are very grateful,” Yermak said.

The head of the Office of the President reminded that 143 members of the UN General Assembly backed the resolution in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“And this is another powerful signal that the community of the free world has a great future because it has a strong position,” he said.
With those countries that have not yet decided, it is necessary to work harder, because sometimes the position of the government changed depending on the mood in society.

“That is why it is so important that people all over the world know the truth about what is happening in Ukraine. We are very grateful that many journalists of free media come to Ukraine and work here, show the truth,” Yermak is convinced.

He also said that many world leaders changed their minds when they visited our country and saw everything with their own eyes.

“Because it’s one thing when you see something on TV, and it’s completely different when you personally visit Bucha, Irpin and other cities,” the head of the President’s Office said.

Yermak expressed his belief that the number of countries supporting Ukraine will grow, because all decent people want to live in peace and do not want a new world war.

As for some international organizations that have not yet understood that the world has changed since the beginning of this war and that it is no longer possible to live with bureaucracy while someone is killing people, then, according to Yermak, they have no future.

The head of the President’s Office said that today the leaders of the world’s leading states have on their tables the recommendations regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, developed by an expert group chaired by Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

“Leaders are very seriously considering this document and Ukraine’s prospects for receiving these security guarantees. Of course, this is a lot of work. Of course, it takes time. But it is absolutely real. We are receiving very positive signals from our partners that a possible first step in this direction will be the provision of air defense systems. And the circle of guarantors will consist of countries that manufacture such instruments,” Yermak said.

The head of the Office of the President also talked about the work aimed at increasing sanctions pressure on Russia. When the International Working Group on Sanctions against Russia, headed by Yermak and former US National Security Advisor, Ambassador Michael McFaul, began its activities, it became clear that despite the good name, the effect of the sanctions is quite limited in practice.

“For example, there was the issue of sanctions against representatives of the closest circle of the President of Russia, but they had almost no assets or business interests in Europe or the United States. But in a few months, sanctions were applied to their families, children, partners, and it became a more concrete action,” he said.

In addition, the most recent document proposed by the Yermak-McFaul group includes recommendations for world governments to impose sanctions on members of the United Russia party, Russian propagandists, opinion leaders and show business stars who spread Kremlin propaganda.

“This is an extremely powerful argument, and we expect these sanctions to be applied as soon as possible. Because this war is criminal, and Russian citizens must feel responsible for it and stop supporting the Kremlin’s policy,” Yermak said.

Asked whether any of the world leaders are putting pressure on Ukraine to start negotiations with the Russian Federation to end the war as soon as possible, the head of the Office of the President recalled the words of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who once said that only his young son could press on him.

“To be honest, I don’t feel any pressure. And even if someone has it in mind, they understand that there is no point in asking for it,” Yermak said.

He said that before the war, the leaders of many countries of the world consumed Russian propaganda and tried to build diplomatic and economic ties with the Russian Federation on its basis.

“But during this war, Ukraine, the Ukrainian army and people destroyed many Russian narratives and showed that it is possible have no fear and not to take too seriously everything that Russian propaganda says, but instead to offer our ideas, our narratives, our policies – ideas, narratives and policies of the free world. Because we are on the side of light,” Yermak said.

The head of the President’s Office said that the achievement of absolutely clear goals will be a victory for Ukraine. In particular, this is the return of all occupied territories and the restoration of the territorial integrity of our state within internationally recognized borders. The second is the release of all Ukrainians who are currently being held in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories. The third is the recovery of the country and receiving reparations and compensations for the damages caused to Ukraine by Russian aggression over eight years.

“Also, we want all people who committed this international crime to be held accountable. Then the whole world will return to normal life, and respect for international law will be restored,” Yermak said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 29 October 2022.

The head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, called on the world community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation and increase the amount of aid to Ukraine, because only the defeat of the aggressor will make it impossible to wage similar wars against other countries of the world. He stated this participating online in a roundtable organized by the U.S. Brookings Institution.

About 50 scientists, public figures and opinion leaders took part in the event. The meeting was moderated by Vice President, Director of Foreign Policy program of the Brookings Institution, Suzanne Maloney.

Yermak said that the Ukrainian army is liberating our land from the occupiers step by step, while the Russian troops are losing the initiative in the war. Being aware of the inevitability of defeat, the aggressor attacks peaceful Ukrainian cities, hits civilian objects (houses, hospitals, schools), tries to destroy the power grid so that Ukrainians are left without electricity and heat.

“But it must be understood: what is happening between Russia and Ukraine is not a conflict over territory. For Russia, this is a war of destruction. For us, this is a war for survival. And while they are trying to abolish us as a state and a nation, any agreements with Russia will be doomed. They will allow Moscow to regroup and accumulate resources to start al again. This has already happened many times,” the head of the President’s Office said.

He emphasized the need to enhance pressure on the aggressor and increase aid to Ukraine.

“It is in the interests of the whole world to minimize the Russian threat as much as possible. After all, Ukraine is not the only target of Russian aggression. This aggression is directed against the whole part of the world, which is used to living freely, comfortably and peacefully. Russia has blurred the line between peace and war. Russia has used everything as a weapon – from its own diasporas to mass media,” Yermak said.

According to him, artificial crises are also part of Russia’s efforts in the war against the entire free world.

“The Kremlin’s blackmail – both nuclear and manmade – is another attempt to get what it wants through negotiations. The response of the democratic world must be tough. And it should fully support Ukraine,” the head of the President’s Office added.

Yermak named five steps that should be taken to support our state and defeat the aggressor. First of all, he called on the world to help Ukraine in creating a reliable air and missile defense system to defend critical infrastructure and residential areas.

“Our children should go to school. Our people cannot listen to sirens in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine all the time,” the head of the President’s Office said.

He said: Ukrainians overcome difficulties every day with cooking, heating their homes, ensuring their safety during missile attacks both day and night. Having comfortable and well-furnished homes, people are forced to cook food on a stove, spend the night in sleeping bags in corridors or basements, and not in their own beds, Yermak said.

The head of the Office of the President also called for providing conventional weapons for Ukraine without politically determined restrictions.

“Give us what we need and as much as we need. The timing of Ukraine’s restoration of control over its entire territory depends on this,” Yermak said.

In addition, he called for a faster completion of the process of recognizing the Russian regime as a terrorist and for further strengthening of sanctions pressure on Russia, introduction of effective secondary sanctions against those states and bodies that help it.

It is also necessary to restart the entire complex of international humanitarian organizations to fix their algorithms, which Russia has hacked. They should become an effective mechanism for the protection and return home of thousands of Ukrainian hostages of the Kremlin, the head of the President’s Office is convinced.

Considering the foregoing, Yermak called for the provision of reliable security guarantees to Ukraine.

“Ukraine aspires to join NATO. But, unfortunately, it will not happen tomorrow. Therefore, for the transition period, we need our partners and allies to make every effort to help Ukraine realize its right to self-defense,” the head of the Office of the President said, adding that the mechanism, which can ensure this, is the prepared initiative of the Kyiv Security Compact.

“It was often said that Russia should not win this war. It must be understood that the only way to avoid its repetition is to ensure Ukraine’s victory. Any other option will encourage the Russian regime to continue,” Yermak said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 28 October 2022.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva had a phone call with Christian Danielsson, Minister for EU Affairs of the recently elected government of the Kingdom of Sweden headed by Ulf Kristersson.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the situation with Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and agreed on the need to increase international pressure on the aggressor country and make every effort to preserve European unity on the issues related to the international isolation of the Russian Federation, increased sanctions pressure, and the achievement of full independence from Russian energy resources.

Ihor Zhovkva noted Sweden’s strong political and practical support for Ukraine in defending independence, as well as readiness to actively participate in the post-war reconstruction of our country.

The main focus was on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and the priorities of Sweden’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2023. The parties coordinated their positions on achieving Ukraine’s progress on the European integration path and agreed to deepen the dialogue in this direction.

“Sweden’s Presidency of the Council of the EU should be marked by the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and serve as a driving force for continued and comprehensive support for Ukraine by the European community,” Ihor Zhovkva emphasized.

The interlocutors agreed on the need for further integration of Ukraine into the EU internal market and the implementation of necessary reforms. Sweden’s experience in this field is especially valuable for our country.

“We expect that we will be able to use Sweden’s practical experience of joining the European Union to achieve further progress on the European integration path,” summed up the Deputy Head of the President’s Office.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 28 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree № 742/2022 on conferring the honorary title of the Rescuer City upon the city of Prague.

The title celebrates the solidarity of the local authorities, residents and volunteers of Prague with the Ukrainian people, the comprehensive large-scale assistance to the citizens of Ukraine who were forced to leave their homeland as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, as well as the strong support for our state in protecting its independence and sovereignty.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Prague has sheltered more than 100,000 Ukrainians who came to the Czech Republic in search of salvation. In total, the country gave shelter to more than 460,000 Ukrainian citizens.

The Czech Republic actively and decisively supports our country in countering the aggression of the Russian Federation and overcoming its consequences. The Czech Republic is also one of the leaders in providing security assistance to Ukraine.

Prague became the third city, after Poland’s Rzeszów and Przemyśl, to be awarded the honorary title of the Rescuer City.