Tag: 2022

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

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a video conference with representatives of international human rights organizations regarding access to places of forced detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russia and securing their rights.

The conference was also attended by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and deputy heads of the President’s Office.

Yermak said that today thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are being held by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the territory of the Russian Federation. The occupiers keep Ukrainian prisoners in terrible conditions and resort to brutal physical and psychological torture.

The head of the President’s Office said that today, the most egregious violations of human rights are taking place in Europe since the Second World War.

“Ukrainian prisoners are held without mandatory access to them by representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Russia continues blocking the UN mission to establish the facts of the terrorist attack against Ukrainian prisoners of war, defenders of Azovstal, in Olenivka. About 50 of our soldiers were mercilessly killed. And it is very likely that other crimes are hidden in this place,” Yermak said.

According to the head of the President’s Office, each of the places of forced detention of Ukrainians is evidence of Russia’s cynical and impunity abuse of the Geneva Conventions and all international law.

The head of the President’s Office said that after Russia started a war against Ukraine, the traditional methods of diplomacy have become a thing of the past, and the world must realize this reality.

Yermak called on the representatives of the international human rights community, the structures of the UN, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE to take immediate action to stop crimes against Ukrainian prisoners. “I appeal to everyone whose direct human rights mandate should not allow us to stand aside and passively watch as Russia continues committing the most brutal international crimes of our time,” he said.

Yermak said that international organizations should move to active non-standard actions, changing the established rules of their activities in accordance with modern conditions. According to the head of the President’s Office, the system of international security that has existed in the world until now will be changed after this war.

“Today, the entire community must act as a united front to defend the very principle of human rights protection in the 21st century. Otherwise, we will have nothing to say. Otherwise, this very principle and many institutions will not be able to say something for some time. Every war ends, but what do we say after it to all these thousands of people?” he said.

The head of the President’s Office suggested that representatives of international organizations consider the plan, which provides for specific steps to protect the rights of Ukrainians who are in Russian captivity.

“I propose to immediately bring the issue of the Olenivka detention camp, access to Ukrainian prisoners of war and the protection of their rights to the global level and adopt a joint declaration in which we strongly condemn war crimes, crimes against humanity and Russia’s genocide against Ukrainians,” Yermak said.

Also, the head of the President’s Office proposed that a joint mission, which representatives of international organizations can join, is sent to the contact line. This mission should remain on the contact line until Russia provides access to the places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners.

“I can guarantee you on behalf of Ukraine that we will provide all guarantees for your safety and the safety of your representatives. This will take place on the territory controlled by the government of Ukraine,” the head of the President’s Office said.

In addition, he made a proposal to prepare and publish relevant thematic reports of international organizations, which will be based on personally seen information or eyewitness testimony.

Yermak said that trust in international organizations will depend on the direct result of their activities.

“If we unite, if we imagine that there might be someone from our family there, in Olenivka, then, I am sure, we will be able to find completely alternative, non-standard approaches. I urge you to do so,” he said.

Yermak thanked the people of those countries that supported Ukraine during the Russian aggression.

“Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for itself. It is fighting for the whole world. For freedom, for the values of the democratic world. We will definitely win, and it will be our joint victory,” he said.

Also, the head of the President’s Office proposed holding weekly briefings by the human rights ombudsman. Representatives of partner countries can join these briefings so that the international community can get unbiased information about the situation with Ukrainian prisoners.

Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, said: Ukraine proposes that a new mechanism for the implementation of a humanitarian mission to monitor the state and the conditions of detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war and compliance with the norms of the Geneva Convention is created.

“We draw your attention because it concerns our citizens. We come up with new initiatives. It depends on you whether the international community can really influence the aggressor state,” Lubinets said.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova said that Ukraine raises issues that require the international community to find non-classical solutions.

For her part, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, expressed her readiness to participate in the collection of information about crimes committed against Ukrainian prisoners of war, for the purpose of further investigation. She also said that she can visit Ukraine and talk with soldiers released from captivity.

Summing up, Yermak emphasized: today, the entire global human rights community must act as a united front against the most flagrant and large-scale violations of human rights in Europe in the 21st century, being committed by Russia.

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

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a telephone conversation with Director General of the Department of International Affairs of the Office of the Prime Minister of Norway Tormod C. Endresen.

Zhovkva highly appreciated Norway’s consistent support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is constantly reiterated by the country’s leadership at high-level international events.

The deputy head of the President’s Office briefed Endresen on the progress of the military operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine aimed at liberating the territories temporarily occupied by Russia in the east and south of our country.

“Given the lack of success on the battlefield, the Russian Federation has returned to its tried-and-tested tactics – terror against the civilian population, destruction of critical infrastructure facilities and planned operations under a foreign flag,” Zhovkva said.

The assistance provided by Norway in the military sphere was highly appreciated, and the belief was expressed that increasing the supply of high-precision weapons would prevent further destruction and death of civilians in Ukraine.

In the light of strengthening Euro-Atlantic security, Zhovkva informed Endresen about Ukraine’s vision of the modalities of further cooperation with NATO.

As part of preparations for the first Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform, which will take place on October 25 in Zagreb, Croatia, the deputy head of the Office of the President welcomed the willingness of President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani to participate in this public inter-parliamentary event.

Zhovkva thanked the government of Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre for its willingness to contribute EUR 205 million to the fund opened by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which accumulates funds to provide Ukraine with natural gas: “Such a decision is particularly important in view of the approaching winter season. This will be an invaluable help for our citizens, an opportunity for our hospitals and schools to properly ensure a stable passage of the heating season.”

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

The international working group on sanctions against Russia chaired by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Former US National Security Adviser, Ambassador Michael McFaul has prepared another document – the Individual Sanctions Roadmap: Recommendations for Sanctions against the Russian Federation.

It contains a basic list of Russian propagandists, opinion leaders, artists who generate and spread Kremlin propaganda narratives, lies about Russia’s war against Ukraine and thus support policies aimed at undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and security of our state. This list will be updated.

The Individual Sanctions Roadmap singles out, in particular, propagandists who consistently reproduce false narratives in line with Kremlin policy, laying the ideological foundation for Russia’s war and concealing ongoing war crimes.

Propagandists are divided into two big groups: those who generate ideas for propaganda (ideologues, experts, scientists) and those who spread these ideas (journalists, artists and stars).

Disreputable think tanks (such as the Valdai International Discussion Club, the Izborsky Club, the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, the Russian Council on International Affairs and the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies have close ties to high-ranking officials, support the actions of the authorities, develop propaganda narratives.

Among those involved in spreading information in support of the war with Ukraine are not only journalists or experts, but also those who are “soldiers” in this hybrid war.

The Individual Sanctions Roadmap includes artists who are no less dangerous than corporate propagandists due to their ability to quickly and effectively spread propaganda to the masses.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many of them have visited the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, performed at concerts in support of Russia, or publicly supported the regime of the President of the Russian Federation and his war. Their activities are not related to journalism, freedom of expression or science, but purposefully help the efforts of the military-political leadership of Russia in Ukraine.

At the same time, most of them spend their vacations abroad, many own expensive real estate in Europe and the United States.

The international working group recommends that democratic countries around the world include in their sanctions lists those persons who have so far avoided it.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso.

The Head of State noted that the visit of the EBRD President is an important signal of support for Ukraine.

“Today our cooperation is more relevant than ever, because now due to the large amount of destruction caused by missile strikes and kamikaze drone attacks, we need to work on the rapid recovery of our country,” he said.

The President of Ukraine also thanked the EBRD for its decision to stop cooperation with the Russian Federation and Belarus.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the importance of holding a large number of conferences and meetings devoted to the recovery of our country, in particular the International Expert Conference on Restoration and Reconstruction of Ukraine on October 25 in Berlin.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that, in parallel with the discussion of the post-war reconstruction of our country, it is important to work on a fast recovery (Fast Recovery Plan), which also requires urgent attraction of financial resources. First of all, this concerns the energy, infrastructural, educational spheres, as well as the restoration of housing for Ukrainians.

The Head of State thanked the EBRD for the decision on the financial support for NPC Ukrenergo.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Odile Renaud-Basso about the risks for Ukraine in the energy sector due to the terrorist attacks by the Russian Federation. Possibilities of additional lending for the needs of this industry were discussed.

For her part, the President of the EBRD expressed her solidarity with Ukraine and noted that our state demonstrates extraordinary resilience. Odile Renaud-Basso emphasized that the financial institution she chairs will do everything possible to support Ukraine.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with members of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress Mike Turner, James Himes and Eric Swalwell.

The Head of State noted that the visit of the congressmen to Ukraine is especially important today, when Russia increased its terror againt peaceful cities and civilian infrastructure, hitting them with missiles and Iranian drones.

“This is a bold step that demonstrates strong bicameral and bipartisan support for Ukraine. It confirms that the United States is our strategic partner,” the President noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the members of the House of Representatives about the situation on the frontline and the priority needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He praised the support of the U.S. Congress, the President of the United States, his Administration and the entire American people. At the same time, the Head of State called for increasing aid in order to bring peace closer.

Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of transferring air defense systems to our country in the necessary quantity to create an air shield over our country, which should protect the civilian population and critical infrastructure facilities. Such systems would become an important element of security guarantees for our state.

During the meeting, the issues of Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and security guarantees for our state were discussed. The parties agreed on the inadmissibility of nuclear blackmail by the Russian leadership.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the strengthening of sanction pressure on the aggressor country, which is of particular importance in view of the terrorist attacks carried out by Russia in recent weeks on the civilian population and civilian objects in our country. The President separately noted that the world should designate Russia as a terrorist state.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of proper preparation of Ukraine for winter and the need for prompt restoration of the energy infrastructure that was destroyed. He expressed hope that the United States would take an active part in the reconstruction of our state.

The members of the House of Representatives assured the President of the unwavering support for Ukraine by the United States and emphasized the importance of restoring the territorial integrity of our state.

Separately, the results of the July visit of the First Lady of Ukraine to the U.S. and her speech in Congress were positively noted, as it contributed to the spread of information about the crimes of the Russian occupiers in Ukraine.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 20 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with representatives of one of the largest investment companies in the U.S. and the world, Goldman Sachs: Executive Vice President John Rogers and Co-Head of the Office of Applied Innovation and President of Global Affairs Jared Cohen.

The Head of State thanked them for their visit to Ukraine at this difficult time.

“I really appreciate when such people are not afraid and come to Ukraine to support us. And it is very important that intelligent people convey real information about the situation in Ukraine, Russian attacks and their consequences. And our people are very open and sincere,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is also open to investments, the arrival of businesses and financial companies, and new technologies.

“So that they bring something new and create jobs for Ukrainians. This is what we need,” said the President.

The Head of State told representatives of Goldman Sachs about the project to create a recovery fund to support the Ukrainian economy.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that today one of the key priorities for Ukraine is the issue of security, primarily the protection of airspace, as it is important for citizens, as well as for business and investments.

The parties discussed the possibilities of attracting investments by Goldman Sachs company to meet the urgent needs of Ukraine, which arose as a result of the full-scale aggression of Russia. In particular, attention was focused on the issue of cyber defense and countering the spread of disinformation.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 20 October 2022.

Ukraine counts on the adoption of the United Nations resolution on the international mechanism of confiscation of frozen Russian assets as reparations for the unleashed war. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives following the negotiations with President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis in Kyiv.

The Head of State noted that Ukraine has already frozen the assets of many Russian citizens subject to sanctions.

“I signed the decree, enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, there are 3,000 people there. There are frozen assets there, and we will definitely receive compensation from them in our budget,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President of Ukraine thanked the countries that also froze Russian assets, in particular the accounts of Russian legal entities. Among others, Switzerland supported Ukraine in this matter.

At the same time, the Head of State emphasized the importance of introducing an international mechanism for the transfer of frozen assets of the aggressor country to Ukraine as compensation.

“We are working on this – so that the appropriate resolution on the implementation of an international compensation mechanism is supported by the United Nations. Many countries are already willing to do this. I think that by the end of this year we will have real solutions, we will see a real mechanism,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President noted that the issue of the implementation of the frozen assets compensation mechanism will be discussed at the International Expert Conference on the Restoration and Reconstruction of Ukraine, which will be held this month in Berlin.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 20 October 2022.

In Kyiv, in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis, the Memorandum of Partnership between Ukraine and the Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the field of digital transformation was signed.

The document was signed by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Patricia Danzi.

According to the Memorandum, the signatories intend to expand and deepen cooperation in the field of digital transformation in order to promote the recovery of Ukraine through digitization.

It is envisaged that Switzerland can provide grant funding in the amount of up to CHF 15 million to support the further development of digitization as an innovative approach to recovery in accordance with the principles approved at the International Ukraine Recovery Conference, which took place on July 4-5, 2022 in Lugano.

The participants declared their intention to direct this grant to the expansion of the Program “Electronic governance for government accountability and community participation” (EGAP), which is an exceptional example of Swiss-Ukrainian cooperation and has proven its effectiveness. The grant will support the digital recovery and development of the EGAP Program during 2022-2023 and will allow expanding the scope of its activities both thematically and geographically.

“We separately discussed the possibilities of the Swiss side in supporting the digitization of our country and helping in the restoration of telecommunications systems in the newly de-occupied territories of our state, as well as in countering cyber threats,” noted Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with media representatives following the meeting with Ignazio Cassis in Kyiv.