Tag: President of Ukraine

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 14 October 2022.

In the event of a real nuclear threat from Russia, the aggressor country will receive an appropriate response from the world, and the Russian authorities understand this. This was stated by Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office Mykhailo Podolyak in an interview with the German newspaper Bild.

“NATO monitors everything that happens in Russia with nuclear weapons. And NATO categorically warns Russia that if there is even an attempt to use nuclear weapons, there will be a response. Today, Russia is gradually reducing its rhetorical threats with nuclear weapons. There is a protocol according to which the nuclear powers act,” he said

Mykhailo Podolyak noted that the world is already doing a lot to prevent Russia from using nuclear weapons, in particular, relevant warning statements were made by U.S. President Joseph Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also called on Russia to immediately stop the rhetoric about nuclear threats.

The Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office noted that Russia invaded the territory of Ukraine with conventional weapons, and our troops counterattacked and pushed back the Russian army also with conventional weapons.

“Russia says: “If Ukraine does not allow us to keep the territories we invaded and cannot keep with conventional weapons, we will use nuclear weapons.” This is how a nuclear state threatens a non-nuclear state. If Russia is not stopped now, other countries will withdraw from the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons – ed.), because any war against a nuclear state will lead to losses. These countries will try to find components for nuclear weapons on the black market or elsewhere. Russia not only threatens Ukraine, it breaks a key element of global security,” the Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office said.

That is why, according to him, other countries react harshly to blackmail by a state possessing nuclear weapons.

“Everyone understands that they must give Russia a symmetrical response. Those who want to use nuclear weapons will get a response, and Russia seems to understand that,” Mykhailo Podolyak said.

The Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office expressed his belief that, despite the statements, the Russian Federation will still not use nuclear weapons, including tactical ones.

“Today we see a drastic decline in the nuclear threat in Russian rhetoric – if we ignore propagandists and talk about officials. We’re seeing a dramatic decline in the nuclear threat, and that’s a pretty good sign. Russia has admitted that it can wage war with conventional weapons, but any attempt to use nuclear weapons will lead to an immediate response,” he stated.

In addition to nuclear blackmail, Mykhailo Podolyak also mentioned the terrorist pressure that Russia exerts on European countries, particularly in the energy sector. The Russian Federation not only blows up its own gas pipelines, but also tries to damage the Ukrainian gas transmission system and delay the supply of gas volumes ordered by European countries.

As the Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office noted, the Russians believe that this will force Germany to receive gas through the Nord Stream 2 branch and endorse its operation.

To prevent the realization of this scenario, it is necessary to protect Ukrainian critical infrastructure from damage by Russian missiles. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen Ukrainian air defense and close the sky from Russian cruise missiles, Mykhailo Podolyak emphasized.

“Yes, we expect attacks, and Russia has publicly stated this. Their goal is to destroy civilian infrastructure, since they can’t do anything on the battlefield. We are aware of this and, together with our partners, develop programs for the protection of critical objects. Second, we developed a rapid system to repair damage and replenish energy in the event of leakage from one region to another. We will also advance our counteroffensive at the front. So Russia will have to focus its attention and efforts on the battlefield. We believe that the sooner we end this war, the less pressure and damage there will be to our infrastructure,” the Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office summarized.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 14 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held another meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on Friday.

The participants listened to the reports of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the head of intelligence and the commanders of the troops of operational directions regarding the situation on the fronts and probable actions of the enemy in the near future.

The steps for the further liberation of Ukrainian territories were outlined.

The issue of logistical maintenance of the troops, in particular uninterrupted supply of ammunition and preparation for winter was also discussed.

In addition, further regulation of the activities of voluntary formations of territorial communities was discussed.

The meeting was attended by: Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhny, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi and commanders of operational directions.

Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrskyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, heads of security and law enforcement agencies also joined the meeting of the Staff.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 October 2022.

Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak made a demand without alternatives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): in the coming days, send a mission to the colony in Olenivka in the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian prisoners of war are held and where at the end of July, as a result of terrorist shelling by the Russian occupiers, more than 50 defenders of Ukraine were killed.

He said this during a video call with representatives of the ICRC and other international organizations. The call was also attended by: Deputy Heads of the Office of the President Andriy Sybiha and Ihor Zhovkva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov, Acting Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk, representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for human rights Dmytro Lubinets, head of the NGO “Civil Liberties Center” Oleksandra Matviychuk, people’s deputies and ambassadors of Ukraine’s partner states.

Andriy Yermak emphasized that the question of the conditions under which Ukrainian prisoners are held and what they face in places of detention in the Russian Federation and in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine is extremely important today.

“Today, in the center of Europe, unfortunately, terrible things are happening every minute and every hour, there are concentration camps again, and it is impossible to remain silent about this,” he said.

The Head of the President’s Office noted that he does not understand why the Red Cross mission has not yet arrived in Olenivka. He emphasized that there is no time to wait, as it is about human lives.

“Therefore, I call for the Red Cross mission with international media representatives to arrive in Ukraine no later than in three days, even if you do not receive confirmation from Russia by this time. And we are sure that Russia is not interested in the truth being known. We call to send a mission that will be on the frontline until Russia issues these permits,” he said.

Andriy Yermak urged to resolve this issue and send the ICRC mission by October 17. The Head of the President’s Office assured that Ukraine will facilitate this mission in every possible way.

“We are ready to join it. Our people’s deputies are ready to go there. Our esteemed partners – representatives of the countries that are with us today, I am sure, are also ready to help so that the leading channels and other mass media arrive. As it happens, for example, when the IAEA mission arrives,” Andriy Yermak said.

The Head of the President’s Office stated that otherwise Ukraine will use all possible information and diplomatic means to move this issue from stalemate.

According to him, the Ukrainian state, together with its partners, will find a way to form an expert group and find people who will be willing to carry out the mission that the Red Cross has to carry out.

“But we won’t wait any longer. Every hour, every day is the life of our people. And today  war is a test for every person, in particular a test for international organizations. If there is a desire, there is always a way to realize it,” summed up Andriy Yermak.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 October 2022.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 October 2022.

In order to protect citizens from Russian attacks from the air, Ukraine needs modern air defense systems, because the currently available means are not enough, as we could see a few days ago. The Head of State noted this while answering questions at the plenary autumn session of the PACE.

The President noted that today there are several powerful countries in the world – manufacturers of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense systems, including Germany. He thanked for the fact that the first IRIS-T air defense system came from Germany.

“Yes, it will not cover our sky completely, it will not protect us from those 130 strikes that happened two days ago and continue these days. This will not protect us completely, but it is already opening up the possibility that in the future Germany will be able to provide us with more help and other countries – manufacturers of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense systems will be able to help us close the sky over the heads of peaceful Ukrainians,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced.

The Head of State reminded that the USA confirmed the provision of NASAMS systems to Ukraine. According to him, our country also expects powerful steps in this direction from France and Italy.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 October 2022.

In order to ensure a return to the system of international justice, it is necessary to isolate Russia diplomatically and economically, to designate it as a state sponsor of terrorism, and to bring to justice all those guilty of aggression against Ukraine. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, answering questions at the autumn plenary session of the PACE.

“It is necessary to isolate the Russian Federation diplomatically as much as possible, so that society in Russia knows and pays a high price for this aggression. So that society begins to put pressure on its military-political leadership. Therefore, the maximum sanctions policy is what you can do,” the President of Ukraine noted.

He also emphasized the importance of designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in order to ensure the system of international justice.

“It is important that society of the Russian Federation understands that it is the society of a terrorist state and from this moment the borders of European states are not open to it,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

“The most important thing is political and information support for Ukraine today, and all of you can do it,” added the Head of State and urged not to get tired of the war, but to support our country on the way to victory.

According to the President, specialists from different countries are working on the investigation of Russian crimes: Poland, Slovakia, France, the Baltic countries – and our country is open to the help of the international community in this matter.

“A large number of people were killed. A large number of exhumation operations are required. Therefore, we are grateful for any technical support as well,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President also noted that Ukraine expects the opening of the field office of the International Criminal Court in Kyiv.

“Prosecutor Khan is now in communication with our Prosecutor General. We expect this process to be accelerated and the office to be opened,” he said.

In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to support the UN resolution on the establishment of a Special International Tribunal. “We are returning to the system of international justice. Justice is to hold all the guilty to account,” the Head of State said.

According to the President, Ukraine seeks to involve international experts in the work of a Special International Tribunal.

“It is important to ensure that all this works out, that an international tribunal is organized. And here it is not the question of who is in charge and from which country. The main thing is that they should be ambitious, professional people, focused on the result,” he is convinced.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted the importance of the adoption of the UN resolution on the creation of compensation mechanisms for damages caused by the aggressor.

“The guilty must be brought to justice. Therefore, creating a special tribunal and convicting all the guilty is something that is very important today for us, for ordinary Ukrainians,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 October 2022.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) must show more persistence and act more powerfully in the issue of gaining access to prisoners in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in the Russian Federation. This was emphasized by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his participation in the PACE plenary autumn session.

“We Ukrainians cannot fight for the Red Cross to find an opportunity. The Red Cross has to fight because it’s their job, because they get paid for it, because the whole world is watching them. They should put pressure on Russia to get there (to the places of detention of prisoners – ed.),” the Head of State said.

The President noted that the conditions of detention of civilian and military prisoners in Russia-controlled territories are a priority humanitarian issue, and this became obvious to the whole world after the terrorist attack in Olenivka, when more than 50 prisoners were blown up.

“And here the main issue is the access of the Red Cross. I would like to address you and, on your honorable platform, address the representatives and leadership of the Red Cross: they must have access to the prisoners,” said the Head of State.

However, as stated by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the ICRC has not demonstrated effectiveness in the issue of access to Ukrainian prisoners since the very beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014.

“This has been the case since the beginning of the occupation of our Crimea and Donbas – there was no access to our prisoners. The Red Cross cannot get there. This has been the case for eight years. And now, when thousands of our prisoners are in the temporarily occupied parts of Donbas after the full-scale invasion, where they are being tortured – we know that – and whatever is being done to them, the Red Cross also has no access,” he said.

The President expressed his conviction that the ICRC should put more pressure on the Russian authorities, in particular in the public space, in order to gain access to all prisoners.

“I don’t see their constant appearances in the media, pressure on Russia, speeches at the UN General Assembly. I don’t see this media, information, any kind of pressure,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to him, Ukraine, on its part, with the help of various mechanisms, organizations and partner countries, is doing everything possible to release prisoners and exchange military personnel. He noted the help of the UN and Secretary-General of the Organization António Guterres, Türkiye, which helped free the defenders of Azovstal, and partners from Saudi Arabia, which contributed to the release of captured citizens of the United States, Great Britain, Sweden and Croatia.

“I believe that we should all be involved. I believe that the Red Cross should act more powerfully,” said the President.

In the context of humanitarian support for Ukraine, the Head of State also thanked the partner countries for the medical aid. In particular, he expressed gratitude to France, which from the very beginning of the full-scale war contributed to the evacuation of children with cancer.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated: Ukraine’s medical infrastructure has shown itself well during the fight against COVID, but it is very difficult to cope with the huge challenges that have arisen due to the full-scale invasion of Russia. Therefore, our state needs further assistance, particularly in the medical field.

“There is a large number of wounded, and therefore we will definitely need such help. We can’t talk about the details right now because everything is needed. There are special hospitals that are deployed in the de-occupied territories, there are also mobile hospitals, hospitals that are deployed at the front. There is separate support for rehabilitation programs. That is, there is a lot to help with. And if there is a desire, we will be grateful,” the Head of State summarized.

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

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a video call with Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Commission Bjoern Seibert.

The parties discussed the issue of financial support for the reconstruction of Ukraine and macro-financial aid to our state.

Andriy Yermak thanked for the start of the implementation of the second part of the EU macro-financial aid program in the amount of EUR 5 billion from the total package of EUR 9 billion.

According to him, it is extremely important for Ukraine to receive these funds as soon as possible. It is also necessary to already plan a new large-scale macro-financial aid from the European Union for 2023.

The Head of the Office of the President reminded that following the meeting of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv in September, a draft law on the creation of the Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Fund was submitted for consideration by EU partners.

Andriy Yermak emphasized that this Fund will be created to ensure the effective use of budget funds and contributions of international partners for the recovery of our country from the consequences of the war.

“Everything must be completely transparent. Therefore, we proposed that the supervisory board of this Fund should include our international partners, representatives of organizations and financial institutions, which will definitely participate in this,” he said.

The Head of the President’s Office also offered to identify a contact person in the European Commission for communication regarding the reconstruction of our country and a unit that will ensure the work of the “Ukraine Recovery Platform”, the creation of which was initiated by the European Commission. On the Ukrainian side, it is planned to create a special working group.

Andriy Yermak expressed hope that the international conference on the recovery of our country, which will be held in Berlin on October 25, will provide the necessary impetus for the launch of the “Ukraine Recovery Platform”.

In addition, the interlocutors discussed the effectiveness and strengthening of the sanctions policy against the Russian Federation. The Head of the President’s Office informed that the International Working Group on Sanctions Against Russia (Yermak-McFaul Group) is completing the preparation of two documents with recommendations on new sanctions.

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

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Roman Mashovets held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda.

The head of the Japanese diplomatic mission was informed about the current situation in the areas of operations, the plans and the nature of the actions of the Russian occupation forces.

The interlocutors discussed the impact on the course of hostilities of the recent decisions of the Russian leadership regarding mobilization in the Russian Federation, the Kremlin’s attempts to annex the occupied Ukrainian territories and new appointments among the Russian military leadership, as well as prospects for the development of the situation.

Special attention was paid to the consequences of massive air and missile strikes, which the Russian Federation has been carrying out in recent days on peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian objects of critical infrastructure. There was an exchange of views on the Russian nuclear threat.

Roman Mashovets thanked Japan for its constant support and assistance to Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression, both internationally and bilaterally, and noted the friendly nature of Ukrainian-Japanese relations.

Kuninori Matsuda assured of Japan’s willingness to continue to maintain an active position in support of our country in the international arena and exert influence on Russia in order to force it to abandon its aggressive plans.

The parties agreed to hold regular meetings with the aim of exchanging views and initiatives in order to speed up the full restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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

The only way to win the war unleashed by the Russian Federation is to stop being afraid of Russia and multiply Ukraine’s tactical victories. This was stated by Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro.

He believes that mass shelling, similar to the one Ukraine experienced on Monday, enables the current President of the Russian Federation to retain power in his country. After all, he lied when he said that the Russian army was the second in the world, and now the world has seen that Russia is weak.

“The only way to win this war is to stop being afraid,” said Mykhailo Podolyak.

According to him, in order to weaken Vladimir Putin and his entourage, it is necessary to multiply Ukraine’s tactical victories.

“We compensate for the fact that we have fewer numbers and fewer weapons with our strategic advantage and better planning. Russian elite soldiers are already dead. Russian recruits are poorly prepared. Russia bets only on artillery. We are not looking for parity with it, but unblocking the battlefield by hitting the rear. Now we need more tanks and long-range MLRS. It’s math: each arrival of weapons accelerates our liberation. Our victory is possible only under three conditions: Ukrainians – civilians and military – must maintain high morale, as now; weapons must continue to arrive, and Russian elites must be punished even more. And we should not listen to pro-Russian propagandists who are now talking about peace proposals. Russia is trying to buy time,” the Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine emphasized.

He also called for an end to speculation on the nuclear issue, because Ukraine is not a nuclear state. And if Russia does not follow the protocol in this sphere, other nuclear powers should respond accordingly.

“In the near future, we need to strengthen our air defense to protect the civilian population. And the Europeans are still wondering: “Should Ukrainians receive weapons?” he noted.

Mykhailo Podolyak emphasized that Ukraine must return all the territories it had as of 1991.

“Russian war criminals should be tried not only for Ukraine, but also for all past wars: in Georgia, in Syria and in Donbas since 2014… Ukraine’s victory would cure Russia of the chauvinism from which the whole of Europe suffers,” he is convinced.

The Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office drew attention to the fact that Russia supports extremes in Europe – both far-right and far-left political forces – and also caused the energy crisis that is affecting the entire region.

“If Ukraine loses, Russia will dominate in Europe and impose its values on it. Ukraine has shown that it is capable of waging war, but we need help. It’s time to go the whole way – without fear,” Mykhailo Podolyak emphasized.