Tag: President of Ukraine

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

First Lady Olena Zelenska spoke at the Ukrainian House in the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland) and spoke about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The President’s wife joined the conversation via video call from the Ukrainian House in Kyiv.

The First Lady showed the participants photos of Ukrainian cities before and after the Russian attack, as well as photos of Ukrainians wounded by the Russian shelling.

Olena Zelenska noted that today it is an image of the whole of Ukraine: wounded, the country seeks to live on and is fighting for it.

“When it became clear that the enemy was not just destroying civilian objects, but was doing so deliberately – we have more than 200 destroyed hospitals – we began to rescue the most vulnerable. We started taking children with oncology abroad. We take orphans abroad, and you can meet the children of two orphanages in Switzerland – they were hosted by the cantons of Bern and Vaud. Thank you for that,” said the First Lady.

“We are rescuing and providing those who stayed in Ukraine with essentials. Incubators for perinatal centers… Today in Ukraine there are several dozen children with limb amputations who need prosthetics and long-term rehabilitation. This is the task I am now beginning to pursue. I will turn to the world’s leading clinics. And our brand new project is the National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program,” the President’s wife added.

Answering the audience’s questions, Olena Zelenska commented on the role of Ukrainian women in wartime, calling their resilience outstanding.

She also spoke about how to help and support Ukraine. First of all, according to the First Lady, one should not get used to war.

“We ask on behalf of the whole of Ukraine – do not to get used to the fact that somewhere in Europe children are bombed. Talk about it. Because as soon as we all get used to it, Putin will have a psychological victory. Second – verify the information. The information warfare is also ongoing. And if you start to think that there may be some justification for attacking another country, that invasion may make some sense, it means that you are under the influence of the Russian media,” said the First Lady.

Olena Zelenska added that in order to support our state, public representatives should influence their governments, calling on them to increase sanctions on Russia.

“The sooner it feels them, the less people will die in Ukraine. And representatives of big business, people who have financial authority in the world, can influence the situation by ceasing cooperation with Russian companies,” the President’s wife is convinced.

The First Lady also told how she manages to hold on during the war: “We have a meme on this. When Russian troops attacked near Kyiv, they dropped bombs from aircraft on the small, cozy village of Borodyanka. And when our people returned, they noticed that there was a kitchen cabinet on the wall of the bombed-out high-rise building. An ordinary one, even with utensils cutlery. So now to the question “how are you?” we have the answer: like a kitchen cabinet from Borodyanka, holding on. That’s how we all are today.”

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

Dear panelists, dear guests.

Thank you for the honor of opening this meeting. It’s dedicated to one of the most pressing issues in today’s world.

The panel is focused on securing Europe. I am here as an official Ukraine’s representative. No more doubts, obviously. Ukraine is Europe. Shame, it took eight years for Europeans to realize it. In those eight years the world order shattered, the political map was illegally changed, tens of thousands of people died and millions more had to escape.

However, despite all the crimes Russian soldiers committed in Bucha, Mariupol, Chernihiv, and dozens of other locations, we keep hearing calls for capitulation for the sake of peace in Europe. Some of our partners are still suggesting us to give in to the aggressor to save lives. Negotiations on so-called territorial disputes are proposed.

How can one believe it when Russia shows outright intention to destroy Ukraine? How can one hope for it while Russian opinion leaders are calling Ukrainians, us, the wrong Russians? How can one expect it, given the numerous testimonies of acts of genocide against Ukrainians committed by Russian troops?

Ukraine does not have any territorial disputes with Russia. Russia has simply occupied and tried to annex Ukrainian territories. Illegally. Absolutely.

More than anyone, we strive for a balanced and rational dialogue. However, Russia’s political culture does not provide for a dialogue on equal terms. Its basis is dictation. The language of brute force.

More than anyone in the world, we seek peace. But it should be just. Our sovereignty and territorial integrity are not subject to compromise. We are dealing with ideologies and practices terribly alike the worst dictatorships of the last century. History teaches us that pacifying an aggressor is futile. They always take peacefulness for weakness. They demand more with every next concession.

Therefore, there is only one way to prevent the war in Ukraine from escalating into a continental and even world war: help Ukraine win. Now, you don’t have to wage this war. Just help us do it. Otherwise, you’ll have to. You’ll have to send your troops to the battles.

Helping Ukraine is a way to resolve the contradiction between values policy and realpolitik. This is a way to send a clear signal to potential aggressors: their actions will not go unpunished.

So, Ukraine’s immediate goal is to stop Russia’s brutal aggression and ensure the complete withdrawal of its troops from our lands.

Then, we must find a reliable way to deter Russia from repeating aggression in the future. But the world order is nearly wrecked and shattered. The UN is semi-paralyzed with Russia’s presence in the Security Council. The OSCE has lost its raison d’etre. NATO is the only institution capable of providing a reliable security umbrella to its members. But some of the Allied nations still allow Russia to veto Ukraine’s accession. So, we have to take an alternative path.

Today, I’m glad to announce here in Davos that together with the former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen we’re establishing an international advisory working group. Its aim is to make some recommendations for reliable and efficient security guarantees for Ukraine. Leading figures from security, policy and diplomacy as well as scientists will be invited to join in and contribute. We look forward to involving the friends of Ukraine who can offer their expertise and experience to efficiently implement the initiative. Our goal is to stop history from repeating and prepare the future for a sovereign and free Ukraine.

Given the Budapest Memorandum experience, we assume that the future agreement should contain security guarantees, not assurances. This is very important.

No third parties’ security obligations can fully substitute for Ukraine developing and sustaining its own strong defense capabilities.

So, the first block of security guarantees is related to enhancing Ukraine’s ability to resist aggression.

To ensure Ukraine’s defense capabilities, the guarantor states should provide our Armed Forces with modern conventional weapons and military equipment. No restrictions nor politically motivated bars. We need weapons to defend. We must be able to withstand any aggression. Since February 24, nearly seven hundred Ukrainian children have been killed, tortured, raped, and wounded by the Russian troops. Those are we know of for sure. So, the toll is probably much higher. Over two hundred and thirty thousand kids were deported to Russia. We must be able to protect our children. They have the right to live in a safe country, and we are to ensure that right.

As part of their commitment, partners could help us in the fields of intelligence sharing, information security, cyber security, maritime security.

We believe that rapid recovery of defense potential of Ukraine is one of important factors in preventing the new possible aggression. Russia has badly damaged our economy. And we can’t put enough money into defense in the coming years. So, we’ll need annual financial aid. For reconstruction purposes as well as for financing the security and defense.

The next block of security guarantees is sanctions. They are an effective tool for stopping Russian aggression today and deterring it in the future. The current sanctions should last at the very least until the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Their mitigation and lifting should be agreed with the Government of Ukraine. We should consider the risk of restoring Russia’s military-technical potential.

We also believe that guarantees of imposition of preventive sanctions should also be provided in case of a real threat to our state. And, of course, in the event of aggression immediate and coordinated sanctions should be provided.

The final bloc of security guarantees is related to political and diplomatic support of Ukraine. Embedding Ukraine in multilateral diplomatic processes would improve our integration with the international community. First of all, it’s about Ukraine’s joining the European Union as soon as possible. I need to emphasize we don’t think the so-called alternative formats of integration are acceptable here.

Ukraine also supports the establishment of a coalition of responsible states like “Friends of Ukraine” or “Anti-War Coalition U-24”, which will be ready to effectively respond to violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within 24 hours.

This means providing the necessary military and military-technical, financial and humanitarian aid, as well as imposing sanctions against the aggressor country within 24 hours.

When it comes to security guarantees for ourselves, we are not asking. We offer our partners to invest in common security. First, European. In the future, this system could become the basis of a new global security architecture.

Thanks for your time.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the first meeting with the newly appointed Permanent Representative of the Head of State to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Tamila Tasheva. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Permanent Representative of the President to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Denys Chystikov, Head of the Crimea Platform Support Service Maria Tomak, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova and Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with the participants the mood of Ukrainian citizens in the Russian-occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the prospects for the liberation of the peninsula and the issue of resistance to the occupation.

“It is important for us to understand the mood of the people in the occupied Crimea and Sevastopol. After all, we realize that active and caring citizens of Ukraine on the peninsula will be our mainstay during the liberation of Crimea from occupation. We must support them,” the President stressed.

According to him, in addition to the work aimed at increasing international political support for deoccupation, the first thing to think about is the adoption of additional laws and regulations that help ensure the rights of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea.

Tamila Tasheva spoke about the activities of the President’s Permanent Mission aimed at maintaining contact with Ukrainian citizens on the peninsula who are protesting against the war in one way or another and expressing their solidarity with the mainland of Ukraine. She mentioned some high-profile cases of persecution of activists.

“We have to keep in touch with these people. They should feel that we see and appreciate these signals of solidarity from the occupied territory,” she said.

In addition, the participants of the meeting discussed the prospects for the development of the initiative of the President of Ukraine “Crimea Platform”. In particular, holding international events in August 2022, which will bring together participants of the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform and potentially expand the geography of states that support the declaration of the Crimea Platform.

Tamila Tasheva also handed over to Volodymyr Zelenskyy a letter from the Deputy Speaker of the Crimean Tatar People’s Mejlis Nariman Dzhelialov who was arrested after participating in the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in 2021. Now the occupiers are holding him captive.

In the letter, Nariman Dzhelialov, in particular, thanked the President of Ukraine for signing a law introducing social and legal protection for political prisoners, prisoners of war and civilian hostages.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has announced the establishment of an international advisory group that will develop proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine. He will co-lead the group with former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. This was announced by Andriy Yermak, speaking at the Securing Europe panel in the framework of the World Economic Forum, which is taking place in Davos.

“Today, I’m glad to announce here in Davos that together with the former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen we’re establishing an international advisory working group. Its aim is to make some recommendations for reliable and efficient security guarantees for Ukraine. Leading figures from security, policy and diplomacy as well as scientists will be invited to join in and contribute,” the Head of the Office of the President noted.

He expressed confidence that the friends of Ukraine will take part in the work of the advisory group and will be able to offer their knowledge and experience for the effective implementation of this initiative.

“Our goal is to stop history from repeating and prepare the future for a sovereign and free Ukraine,” Andriy Yermak emphasized.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

The unification of Ukrainians after the beginning of the Russian invasion proves that the citizens of Ukraine, despite some differences, have common values and views of important strategic issues. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an online conversation at the Ukrainian House in Davos.

“It wasn’t a surprise to me that our people are so united. Sometimes different parts of our country have different opinions, different views of some things, there are different people. Russian is spoken more in the east and Ukrainian is spoken more in the west. But we are so united, and I am happy that my confidence in the Ukrainian people has been confirmed. We are different, but the same. We are different in details and trifles, but we are the same in important strategic things, in human things. We have the same values,” the Head of State stressed.

The President also noted that he has always considered Ukraine the best country in the world.

“I am a fan of Ukraine, I have always been. Whenever I had the opportunity to choose where to have a vacation before the presidency, I chose one or another place in Ukraine. Even if the mountains are higher and better somewhere, for me in Ukraine they have always been the best,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he feels at home only in Ukraine, and defending our country is the same as defending your home from criminals who broke in at 4 am.

The President expressed the opinion that after this war Ukrainians will look at their land, their nature and their country differently.

According to him, the war gave an additional understanding that the most important things are very simple.

“When the children are around, everything is fine with your wife, parents and loved ones are alive. When neighbors are alive, nothing is burned, the missile did not destroy their property… Because grief is common. And this invasion of Russia is a common grief,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained.

The Head of State is convinced that now the greatest happiness is probably the opportunity for Ukrainian families to gather together in the evening at home.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

The most pressing humanitarian issues for Ukraine today are the exchange of prisoners, the unblocking of Ukrainian ports and the export of grain, as well as the search for and establishment of the location of Ukrainians illegally deported by the aggressor country. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an online conversation at the Ukrainian House in Davos.

“The first is the exchange of people. Today, this is a humanitarian moment and a political decision that depends on the support of many states. You know, several thousand of our people are in captivity after the blockade of Mariupol, Azovstal. Besides, there were people from Donbas. They are in captivity today. These are absolutely brave people, I am immensely grateful to them. They did a great job. Heroic, historical. We must exchange them,” the Head of State stressed.

According to him, Ukraine has involved the UN, Switzerland, Israel and many other countries that are trying to talk to Russia in the exchange process.

However, according to the President, it is necessary not to persuade Russia, but to put pressure on it, demanding the necessary decision.

“In no case can you play with Russia. You should put pressure politically through business closures, oil embargo. Threats in terms of sanctions, business. And through these threats to achieve the possibility of exchange. To activate the exchange of our people for the Russian military,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The second humanitarian problem, according to the President, is the threat of global food crisis, as Ukrainian ports are blocked by Russia.

“There will be a shortage of food products due to the blockade of all ports in our country. Today, 22 million tons of grain are blocked by the Russian Federation, which completely controls the Black Sea and Azov coasts,” he said.

To prevent food shortages, the world’s political and business elites must take measures to ensure that this grain is unblocked and exported to Europe, Asia and Africa, the President is convinced.

“So that people have something to eat. That’s how some countries will face this question – that there is nothing to eat. And we have to help with that,” he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the illegal deportation of Ukrainian citizens to the territory of the Russian Federation the third important humanitarian problem for which there is no practical solution yet.

“About 500,000 people were forcibly deported to Russia or the occupied parts of Donbas. The children were taken away by force, separated from their parents. There are many such cases. We appealed to both the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations. Where they have access, they are looking for these people, we are looking for them,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to him, it is difficult to establish the location of illegally deported Ukrainians, as their passports, other documents and phones are often confiscated.

“Personally, I can’t find a solution to this problem yet. I would like to draw the attention of the international community to this issue. And I would like to bring people home or at least get information about their whereabouts, about whether they are alive or not,” the President said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

Today, Ukraine is fighting for freedom and independence, for the values of all mankind, so the countries of the free world must support our state so that their citizens do not have to face the horrors of war. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an online conversation at the Ukrainian House in Davos.

“Our task is to ensure that the world doesn’t get tired of war and keeps supporting Ukraine, because we are fighting for the values that people live by, the values they breathe like oxygen,” the President said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine expects support from the West, including the necessary defense and financial assistance, as well as strengthening sanctions against Russia.

“There is no notion of distance for the occupation, the most important thing is to stop any aggressor from the very beginning,” the President said.

“Ukraine is the first. It is on the border with Russia, which is going on the offensive today. If we fall, if Ukraine does not endure – Russia will move on. And then it will go to the Baltic states – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia. These are small states that, even if the three of them unite, will not be able to protect those values. And then the military of NATO member states will have to come here. And in order for the military of NATO countries, your families, not to see what we see, you need to help Ukraine,” he explained.

The Head of State noted that almost 100 Ukrainian servicemen die every day in battles with the Russian aggressor, but the Russian authorities do not care how many of their soldiers died in this war, and they do not even think about burying them.

“We have tens of thousands of black packages with people who are not taken away by Russia. These are their soldiers,” the President of Ukraine said.

He told how he presented orders to the families of servicemen who were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. According to him, there wasn’t happiness from receiving the award, but the tragedy and tears brought by the war in the eyes of the relatives of the Heroes.

“But we have no choice, because we did not start a war. We are on our own land, we have nowhere to go. And that’s why we are strong. And that’s why we’re united. That is why we are fighting for freedom. No one wants to lose their life, but people give their lives for the future. This banal phrase – they give their life for the sake of others – contains great pain, great suffering of the Ukrainian people and any people going through the war. That’s how wars end. And it is impossible to assess this pain,” the President is convinced.

According to him, this is not a war to the last Ukrainian, but “we simply do not have the right to give away the land and the people who live on this land.”

“Therefore, there will be a victory. Because this is our land, our people, we fight for them and pay a high price. There will definitely be a victory, because there is simply no other way out,” the Head of State is convinced.

The President stressed that without the wars for independence there can be no freedom and independence, and this should be remembered by the citizens of other free democracies, whose ancestors also fought bravely for the independence of their states.

“We need weapons and sanctions, and we give you freedom and independence for that. It seems to me that this is fair,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 23 May 2022.

Ukraine plans to set up a psychological assistance service to support war survivors. This was stated by First Lady Olena Zelenska during a speech at the 75th World Health Assembly, the highest governing body of the WHO.

“Yes, war is a tragedy. But we must find an opportunity to do good even in the midst of the horrors of war. Let us use this period as an opportunity to integrate psychological support into all areas of our peaceful life. I hope for your support. Let’s gain this victory together!” Olena Zelenska urged the attendees.

The President’s wife reminded that the WHO is committed to protecting the most crucial human rights – to life and health. These rights are currently being violated in Ukraine due to an armed attack by Russia.

“None of the Ukrainians, neither an adult nor a child, can be sure that they will wake up tomorrow. That the missile will not fly into his house. The doctor cannot be sure that his ambulance will not be bombed on the way to the patient. Today, there are health ministers from different countries. This is especially important because we cannot now ensure the life and health of Ukrainians on our own. And your countries are coming to our aid,” she said.

Olena Zelenska noted that the battles will end, every displaced Ukrainian will return, every family will be reunited, wounds will heal, and destroyed schools, orphanages and hospitals in Ukraine will be rebuilt. But the consequences of this war, unfortunately, will remain for years and decades. So today there is another task – the battle for the mental health of Ukrainian citizens.

After the things Ukrainians experienced in the occupation, at the front, in bomb shelters, under shelling, abroad, they need rehabilitation just as the physically wounded, the President’s wife is convinced.

That is why the Office of the First Lady, together with representatives of the Ukrainian government in cooperation with civil society and international partners, is already launching a nationwide initiative to enhance mental health and psychosocial support.

“We want to do it with you. Based on your best experience. We count on your expert support to build a truly efficient psychological care service in the world,” the President’s wife noted.

The First Lady expressed her sincere hopes that Ukraine would set an example of strengthening global support for the mental health and psychosocial well-being of war survivors. And it will do it quickly, so that “along with the victory in the war, we also gain this victory – over the grief, shock and stress of our citizens.”

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 23 May 2022.

After winning the war against Russia, Ukraine will become a powerful and safe state that will get rid of corruption and oligarchic influence and will be able to defend its territory and people. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while participating in the online format in the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Answering the question of the moderator – founder of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab about the vision of the future of Ukraine, the Head of State stressed that today, as the leader of a country at war, he thinks more about the present and losses in the war. He added that Ukraine pays dearly for freedom, independence and struggle.

At the same time, the President expressed conviction that our state will definitely win, as the Ukrainian people and army have already shown their strength and courage.

“It will be a strong state with concrete security priorities. We understand that anything can happen at any moment with such a neighbor, and, unfortunately, there can be war. The war may be repeated. I am convinced that we must create conditions so that people and businesses are not afraid to develop in our country,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President stressed that the territory of Ukraine is large, so a solid system of defense must be created.

“Our task is to establish the most advanced air defense system, the most advanced multisystem of security. Our goal is to have a security treaty with other countries that we trust and consider partners. This treaty must be full-fledged, preferably ratified by the parliaments of the strategic partner countries. So that any chances of the aggressor for the future invasion will be eliminated before entering our land,” the Head of State emphasized.

According to the Head of State, the security of both people and business must be guaranteed in Ukraine.

“We do not intend to revive certain corruption steps, corrupt institutions, oligarchic influence. All this will not be the case in Ukraine. And none of this is there now. Exactly such a state – powerful, popular, technological and safe, ready to defend its land and people at any moment,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 23 May 2022.

Ukraine proposes to create an organization of food-exporting states which would serve as a tool to combat hunger on the planet. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“Any response to the mass famine is overdue by definition. The famine should be stopped only preventively – when it has not yet begun. But now there is no such tool in the world. We propose to create an organization of responsible and democratic food-exporting states that can act with respect for human rights and global trade rules,” he said.

According to the Head of State, no matter what the turning points in history, humanity must have insurance against hunger.

“And Ukraine is ready to provide a platform for the activities of such a new organization – a definitely needed one,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

Answering the questions of the moderator – founder of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab, the President called on the international community to help Ukraine unblock ports to avoid the global food crisis.

“You should know that grain is partly stolen every day by the Russian military, and then exported by ship to certain countries. We need to react very quickly. We at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs work with the embassies of such countries, because if you understand where this grain comes from, where the Russian Federation transports it from, how can you buy it illegitimately just because it is sold to you almost for free,” said the President.

He called on other democracies to help Ukraine fight such actions by the Russian Federation at the diplomatic level, as it will be difficult for our state to do so on its own.

During his speech, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called for increased sanctions on Russia, without waiting for its next shot – the use of chemical, biological and, God forbid, nuclear weapons.

“Do not give the aggressor the impression that the world will not show enough resistance. Protect freedom and normal, useful for all peaceful order in the world immediately and in full! That’s what sanctions should be. Maximum. So that Russia and every other potential aggressor who wants to wage a brutal war against a neighbor knows exactly what this is leading to. And I think there are no such sanctions against Russia yet. And they must be imposed,” the President said.

In particular, according to him, there should be an embargo on Russian oil, a complete blockade of all Russian banks, abandonment of the Russian IT sector and the cessation of any trade with the aggressor.

The Head of State called on international companies to fully withdraw from the Russian market so that their brands, offices, accounts and commodities are not used by war criminals in their interests.

“Values must matter. Especially since everyone suffers losses when a full-scale war begins and global markets are destabilized due to someone’s neglect of values. For our part, we offer every company that leaves the Russian market to continue operating in Ukraine. You will get access not only to our market of 40 million consumers, but also to the common market of Europe. And at the same time, your brands, positions will only be enhanced due to the fact that you really support the protection of freedom,” the President noted.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the representatives of Ukraine in Davos are ready to inform about the details of the prospects that our country opens for business.

The Head of State also stressed that his proposals were aimed against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.

“We must not be afraid to set new precedents. This is exactly what the world has long had to learn at various turning points, for which it paid a high price. This was the price for the fact that the world only reacted, not acted preventively. So, now we can do it differently. Finally in the right way,” the President concluded.