Tag: President of Ukraine

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

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear guests.

Thanks for having me here. I think today’s event is very important. The world should know the truth.

Home. Home is comfort. A place where you are well and safe. Home is a worldview. A place where your wishes come true. Home is the future. A place where your children grow. Home is the universe. The place where the journey begins.

At our home, in my country, in Ukraine, there is a war. Hordes of butchers, rapists and murderers in Russian uniforms brought it. They look like human beings. But what they do on our land deprives them of the right to be called human.

Their home is really the residence of evil. This should be said directly and clearly. Because that’s the way the truth is told. From now on, war crime is Russia’s second name. And amending the name of once the Russian House in Davos is not just symbolic. It’s honest. It’s fair. For it’s exposing both Russia’s worldview and Russia’s universe.

Anybody can see it’s truth by themselves. Anyone can learn the names of those whom the so-called Russian liberators liberated from everything. From peace. From freedom. From life itself. Very often for fun and pleasure.

Still, I’m going to tell you a couple of life stories, real stories of our people. These are stories of Ukrainian children. Victims of war. Victims of genocide against the Ukrainian people.

On April 9, Russian troops shelled Vuhledar. It’s a city in Ukraine. Ten-year-old Veronica’s hometown. They had shelled it on the eighth. And on the seventh. And the day before. All the time, the girl and her family were hiding in the basement. The tank shell flew right into the ventilation window. In a moment, Veronica lost her father, her grandmother, her uncle, and his wife. The girl has been in a coma for several days. Doctors say, she’s got severe spinal cord and brain injuries. Veronica can walk already. She is working hard to exercise her paralyzed right arm.

And here is the story of ten-year-old Illya. His native city of Mariupol, the name of this city is now famous in the whole world, became a war zone from the very beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. He and his mother Natalia stayed in the city. At first, they had been hiding in their house basement. And then they lived there. One day they came under enemy fire. They ran to their neighbors for shelter. But luck betrayed them. The woman was wounded in the head. And the boy’s foot was crushed. Somehow, Natalia brought her son to safety.

Wounded and exhausted, they lay on the couch. Natalia was hugging Illya while her heart was beating. She was gone that night. The next day, the Russian military forcibly took the boy to occupied Novoazovsk. Then he was brought to Donetsk. Local doctors thought of amputating Illya’s foot. But he was lucky this time.

Meanwhile, Illya’s grandmother in Ukraine was looking for a way to get her grandson back. She quickly obtained custody. Then, she crossed the borders of the four countries to take him home. But first, the boy had to get a long-term inpatient treatment.

One day Ukrainian doctors said Illya’s leg was fully functional and he would be able to walk. He considers the day his second birthday. Ilyusha can already move his toes. He is very determined to recover. He gets very joyful when guests come to him. But sadness remains in his eyes. It is impossible to imagine what this boy had to survive. His pain cannot be forgiven.

These are just two stories. As of May 21, there were 660 more stories of wounded and killed children that we knew for sure. But it is impossible to say the exact number of kids who lost their health and lives to the Russian invasion. The war is still going on in Ukraine.

None of these stories are about the collateral damage. They are all about genocide. Russian soldiers kill Ukrainians because they are Ukrainians. The Russian army is destroying Ukraine because it is Ukraine. This is the purpose and the goal of the invasion.

Russian thugs in uniform seem to use the December 1948 UN Convention definitions of genocide as a source of their inspiration. Not a punishment warning.

In addition to murders, torture, and mutilation because of belonging to a certain group, reduction and prevention of childbirth are also on the list. You might have seen footage of the maternity hospital bombed in Mariupol. But it’s not the only one. Dozens of them were destroyed all over Ukraine. And there are thousands of damaged hospitals, schools and kindergartens.

Forcible transfer of children to other groups is also the sign of genocide. Well. According to Russian sources, as of May 21, the state sponsor of terrorism had deported over two hundred and thirty-two thousand children to its territory. Over 2,000 of them are either orphaned or separated from their parents. Meanwhile, the Russian parliament is preparing to simplify the Ukrainian children adoption by the Russian nationals. It’s not about humanism. It’s about a frenzy of hatred and destruction under the slogans of humanism.

Genocide is one of the vilest crimes known to mankind. It employs pathological sadists, gullible fools, and greatness-thirsty duffers. But the worst thing is that silent people endorse it. The people who lose their humanity because of fear of their own tyrant.

Davos is a place of strength. For half a century, a new world has been created here. If I were honored to create the Davos Forum slogan, I think, I would suggest “Respect. Synergy. Concord.”

But today a new world is being born in my country, Ukraine. We are defending from the brutal and ruthless force. We are resisting an empire that sees genocide and crimes against humanity as routine, not taboo. But we are fighting not just for ourselves. The fate of Europe and the world is at stake. Evil has to be stopped for the future’s sake. It always comes back if unpunished.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the initiative of Polish President Andrzej Duda to conclude a new good-neighborly agreement that would help maintain warm relations between the nations of the two countries. He said this during a meeting with media representatives following talks with Andrzej Duda in Kyiv.

“I do not want our nations to risk our relations Relations with Poland today are one of the highest priorities for Ukraine. I am sure that they are now the most powerful in the history of our nations. And I really want us to have agreements not for the sake of agreements, but concrete, substantive ones that can only improve our lives, enhance the relations of our societies,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President of Ukraine is convinced that such a document should first be worked on by specialists, after which the presidents of the two states will move to the political part, in particular to the coordination of certain issues.

For his part, Andrzej Duda noted that it would be symbolic to sign such an agreement between Ukraine and Poland by January 2023, marking the 160th anniversary of the January Uprising, during which Poles and Ukrainians fought against the domination of the Russian Empire.

“It is difficult for me to say now whether we will be able to work out new decisions by this time, but I am sure of one thing: today we are in a completely different situation, and this situation creates a new picture. First of all, it creates a new perspective,” he stressed.

The President of Poland suggested that the leaders of the two countries, together with experts, prepare an agreement that would accelerate the implementation of new prospects and opportunities.

“It would be a big mistake if we did not use this chance,” said Andrzej Duda.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda who is on a visit to Ukraine.

The heads of state talked in a vis-a-vis format. Then, talks between the Ukrainian and Polish delegations chaired by the presidents took place.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that today Poland is showing a historical level of support for Ukraine, our Armed Forces and citizens who were forced to leave their homes due to the Russian invasion.

“And today the President of Poland also said: Ukraine protects the rights and freedoms not only of its own, but also of every European country. Our friendly Poland and the whole European Union,” the President said during a meeting with media representatives following talks with Andrzej Duda in Kyiv.

According to the President of Ukraine, during the Russian aggression, the Ukrainian and Polish nations show strong ties at various levels.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure that we do not lose this friendship, this warm and strategic partnership,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

According to the Head of State, during the meeting with Andrzej Duda, in particular, the issue of strengthening the Armed Forces of Ukraine was discussed.

“We are grateful to Poland – they worked constantly, every day. And I want to note the special personal role of the President of the Republic of Poland in strengthening (the Armed Forces of Ukraine – ed.) and in the supply of weapons,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Also, according to the President of Ukraine, the current situation on the food market was discussed, in particular, the shortage of food products.

“Now we are thinking about unblocking the supply of our grain, etc. to European countries, Asia and Africa. Here we also work together with our Polish partners,” the President said.

In addition, the parties discussed topical issues of economic relations between Ukraine and Poland. Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the representatives of the governments of the two states to hold a meeting in the near future to discuss the mentioned issues.

“It is important today to talk about the reconstruction of Ukraine. This is a signal that we will definitely win, I’m sure of it. And to rebuild Ukraine, we need the unity of the countries of the European Union, the United States, and all our friends. And we see Poland among the leading countries that will be in the program of reconstruction of Ukraine,” the President said.

Also, according to him, Poland today plays an important role in Ukraine’s movement towards membership in the European Union, because it understands as no one that our country has actually been part of Europe for a long time already.

“We think alike, we believe alike and we defend our freedom and independence. But there are bureaucratic, technical things, and on this path we need powerful ambassadors. And Poland is one of such countries,” the President said, adding that Ukraine expects to receive EU candidate status in June this year.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked all Poles for their help to Ukrainians who had to flee the war, and noted that after the victory he would be happy to visit those Polish cities that stood out in support of Ukraine and our citizens in these difficult times.

For his part, Polish President Andrzej Duda stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine is not over, it is a given, people are still dying.

“Everything that is happening today in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions – a normal person cannot imagine it. Hundreds of people give their lives every day. This is the scale of the war, which Europe and the world have not seen for a long time,” he said.

Andrzej Duda is convinced that the end of the war requires support for Ukraine by the international community, not only humanitarian, but also military assistance.

“Ukraine needs weapons. Ukrainians have great morale and determination, but they need modern equipment to defeat such an enemy,” said the President of Poland.

He also stressed the importance of coordinated, strong sanctions pressure on Russia. It is necessary to isolate it at the international level and stop doing “business as usual”. In addition, according to Andrzej Duda, sanctions are needed that will affect Russia’s image, including expulsions from international organizations, sports associations, etc.

“We must find a way to create a situation where the war will completely cease to be beneficial to Russia, and will be a threat to Russia itself,” he said.

The Polish leader also stressed the need to already think about rebuilding Ukraine after the war.

At the end of the meeting, the President of Ukraine presented Ukrainian vyshyvankas to Andrzej Duda and the First Lady of Poland Agata Kornhauser-Duda.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the signing of Decree № 355/2022 on the establishment of the honorary title “Rescuer City”, and the first to receive this title was the Polish city of Rzeszów. The Head of State said this in a speech in the framework of joint participation with President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda in the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

“Before this speech, I signed a decree noting the special role of the Polish city of Rzeszów. I have introduced a special honorary title of “rescuer city” for the partner cities of our state, which today do the impossible to help us, to help our people, to help our army. On behalf of the entire Ukrainian people, I would like to express great gratitude to the city of Rzeszów, the first rescuer city,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President noted that almost all Ukrainian cities are sister cities of those in Poland. Our nations are also brothers, and our countries are sisters.

“We are relatives. And there should be no borders or barriers between us. The Ukrainian and Polish nations have not been mentally separated for a long time. So we agreed to implement this in the near future in the relevant bilateral agreement. First on joint border and customs control, and later on the conditional border when Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union,” the Head of State stressed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also thanked Andrzej Duda for his readiness to visit the European capitals together with President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputová in order to lobby for Ukraine’s membership in the EU.

The Head of State also thanked Polish cultural figures, sportsmen, clergy and ordinary people who support Ukrainians: organize big concerts, take part in competitions with the Ukrainian ribbon, or come from Poznań to Bucha just to bake bread.

The President noted the decision of the Polish Sejm, which grants Ukrainian citizens, who were forced to move temporarily to Poland due to the aggression of the Russian Federation, almost the same rights and opportunities as Polish citizens have: legal residence, employment, education, medical care, social guarantees.

“This is a great step, a great gesture of a great soul, which only a great friend of Ukraine is capable of. And this step will not remain unilateral. I believe that in the near future we must submit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a similar – mirror – bill. God forbid that Polish citizens will ever need all these advantages in such conditions, in conditions of war. But these laws are of great symbolic significance. They show that Ukrainians and Poles are native and equal. And I am sure that the parliamentary corps of Ukraine will support this law – quickly and, I am sure, by a majority of votes,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

“The unity of our nations must remain constant. Neither now nor in the future does anyone have the right to break this unity. Neither our politicians, nor hostile agents, nor even members of the jury at Eurovision. The Ukrainian and Polish nations gave each other 12 points – today and forever,” he added.

For his part, Andrzej Duda assured in his speech that Poland will never leave Ukraine alone. He stressed that the free world today has the face of Ukraine.

“I believe that this new friendship between millions of Ukrainians and Poles will lead to the fact that we will be good neighbors forever. This is a great historical chance,” said the President of Poland.

He also thanked the Ukrainian people for their courage, love of freedom, heroic resistance and protection of their Homeland and the whole of Europe from Russian barbarism and imperialism.

Andrzej Duda expressed confidence that Ukraine will receive the status of a candidate for EU membership, and later will definitely become a member of the European Union.

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

Dear Chairman, presidium.

Dear people’s deputies of Ukraine,

Dear guests.

Andrzej.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Guest in the house, God in the house. This is a Polish proverb with which I greet in Kyiv our guest, friend and brother, President of Poland Andrzej Duda. This folk wisdom tells that each of your guests is a grace of God. And this is the worldview according to which the Poles from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Russia’s war against Ukraine, sheltered millions of our citizens – citizens of Ukraine. Our women, our children, the elderly and everyone else whose door was knocked on on February 24 by completely different guests. Guests whom we never wanted to have and who have other proverbs and other folk wisdom.

Russia has been proving this “otherness” for 88 days. 88 days of madness: their missiles, bombs, projectiles fly into houses, schools, hospitals, museums, theaters, temples, even cemeteries.

At the same time, without realizing it, on February 24, Russia destroyed something else as well. A kind of “repository” of past contradictions between Ukraine and Poland. They no longer exist. In a day it became clear that all these contradictions have no force when there is the force of such a threat. Threat to the survival of our nations – Ukraine, Poland, the nations of Europe.

Andrzej and I sought a true understanding between our nations, and together we dismantled this “repository.” We planned to build a Memorial of Reconciliation on the common border of Ukraine and Poland. But those who want other memorials, dedicated not to peace at all, have crossed Ukrainian borders.

February 24 changed everything. It changed our nations. Changed our countries. Although this is not accidental. I do not know whether our astronomers Drohobych and Copernicus studied this phenomenon, but the stars are always formed in such a way that during the most difficult periods of eclipse Ukrainians and Poles unite and stand side by side, despite past quarrels and “nebulae”.

We are defending a common universe for us called freedom and independence, at a time when someone is committing barbarism of a cosmic scale.

Today the understanding, interaction, friendship and brotherhood of Ukraine and Poland reach the same scale. On February 24, we began writing a new volume of our history. Our common history – it is important. The unity of our nations must last forever. It must never again be dishonored by enmity.

St. John Paul II called the incitement of hatred between us a blatant anachronism unworthy of our two great nations. In various letters to our nations, the Pontiff said: “The new millennium requires that Ukrainians and Poles not remain enslaved by sad memories of the past. By committing to a better future for all, let them look at each other with a look of reconciliation. Our two nations have experienced so much bitterness and pain over the past few decades. Let this experience serve as purification. Let everyone be willing to put what unites above what divides. Look for something that cures. So that together they may build a future based on mutual respect, brotherhood, fraternal cooperation and true solidarity.”

Learn to appreciate, distinguish, choose.

Ukraine and Poland have chosen one path. This path. On it we learned to distinguish enemies and appreciate friends. Appreciate each other and most importantly – respect. The time that Jerzy Giedroyc and Bohdan Osadchuk dreamed of has come. About which Juliusz Słowacki, whose monument stands in Kyiv, and Taras Shevchenko, whose monument stands in Warsaw, wrote.

Today, half a word is enough for Polish President Andrzej and I to understand each other. Our parliaments, our governments and our nations in general understand each other as never before. And it doesn’t matter whether it is Cyrillic or Latin, it doesn’t matter how we write the words “freedom” and “independence”. It is important that Ukrainians and Poles say these things in the same way. And are equally ready to defend them.

Ukraine is already doing this. On the very frontline. It defends not just itself but the whole of Europe. Poles know this, appreciate, respect and help Ukraine – not out of courtesy, but as brothers and allies who remember Lech Kaczyński’s words about who could be next. This does not mean fear. This means readiness to face the enemy and repel him.

That is why, for example, we have the same perception of the sanctions policy against the Russian Federation. We know that half-measures cannot be used when aggression needs to be stopped. Now.

Poland is one of the leaders not only in supporting our state, but also in defending and promoting the sanctions that are absolutely necessary to force Russia into peace. The absolute majority of Poles support the embargo on energy resources from Russia. This is just one manifestation – but how important it is – of our common vision of the political front in this war. I believe that Poland’s leadership will help establish at the European level what our nations already understand.

The unity of our nations must remain constant. Neither now nor in the future does anyone have the right to break this unity. Neither our politicians, nor hostile agents, nor even members of the jury at Eurovision. The Ukrainian and Polish nations gave each other 12 points – today and forever.

I want to thank all Poles for their support. I want to remember everyone from this rostrum. So that every voivodeship, powiat and gmina hears this. Whose support and help is felt in every region, every city, village, in every community of Ukraine.

Thank you, Warsaw, Kraków. Thank you, Łódź, Poznań, Wrocław. Thank you Gdańsk, Bydgoszcz, Toruń. Thank you, Lublin, Katowice, Opole, Szczecin. Gorzów Wielkopolski, Zielona Góra. Thank you, Rzeszów, Białystok, Olsztyn, Kielce. These are sister cities of our cities – Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih, Cherkasy, Luhansk, Donetsk, Sumy, Izyum, Starobilsk, Mariupol.

Almost all our cities are sister cities of those in Poland. Our nations are also brothers. Our countries are sisters. We are relatives. And there should be no borders or barriers between us. The Ukrainian and Polish nations have not been mentally separated for a long time. So we agreed to implement this in the near future in the relevant bilateral agreement. First on joint border and customs control, and later on the conditional border when Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union.

And I am sure that all the necessary decisions will be made first for the status of a candidate for Ukraine, and then for full membership. In particular, thanks to Poland’s many years of protection of Ukrainian interests on the European continent.

And I am grateful for your willingness – for your willingness personally, Andrzej – to pay a visit to European capitals together with President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputová to lobby for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union in countries – as they say, “skeptics”. In fact, they are not skeptics, but future optimists. This is how I see our common very important task in this direction.

Separately, I thank the Polish Sejm for the recently adopted law on assistance to the citizens of Ukraine. This is a completely unprecedented decision, according to which our citizens, who were forced to move temporarily to Poland due to the aggression of the Russian Federation, will receive almost the same rights and opportunities as Polish citizens. Legal residence, employment, education, medical care, social guarantees. This is a great step, a great gesture of a great soul, which only a great friend of Ukraine is capable of.

And this step will not remain unilateral. I believe that in the near future we must submit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a similar – mirror – bill. God forbid that Polish citizens will ever need all these advantages in such conditions, in conditions of war. But these laws are of great symbolic significance. They show that Ukrainians and Poles are native and equal. And I am sure that the parliamentary corps of Ukraine will support this law – quickly and, I am sure, by a majority of votes.

In addition, before this speech, I signed a decree noting the special role of the Polish city of Rzeszów. I have introduced a special honorary title of “rescuer city” for the partner cities of our state, which today do the impossible to help us, to help our people, to help our army. On behalf of the entire Ukrainian people, I would like to express great gratitude to the city of Rzeszów, the first rescuer city.

I also want to thank Polish cultural figures, sportsmen, clergy and ordinary people who support us – organize big concerts, take part in competitions with the Ukrainian ribbon, or come from Poznań to Bucha just to bake bread.

I believe that soon Ukrainians and Poles will gather at one big table to share this bread. Share the feelings – the most important feelings – of peace. Share the taste of victory. Victory of Ukraine. Joint victory. And raise a toast to your and our freedom. Without a free Ukraine, there can be no free Poland. I know historians often argue about who was the first to say this, who was the author of this phrase. We have resolved this dispute – this is the will of the Ukrainian and Polish nations.

Thank you brothers!

Together until the end.

Niech żyje Polska!

Glory to Ukraine!

 

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

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva met with Chairman of the Interparliamentary Relations Group with Ukraine in the Italian Parliament Ugo Cappellacci and Member of the Foreign Affairs Commission Matteo Perego di Cremnago.

Ihor Zhovkva thanked the leadership of the Italian Republic, parliamentarians and the entire Italian people for their clear and unequivocal support for Ukraine after the beginning of Russia’s armed aggression, which was shown not only by political statements, but also by concrete actions, including significant assistance.

“We appreciate the care and support that Italy has provided to Ukrainian citizens who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the aggressor’s invasion,” said Ihor Zhovkva.

Ugo Cappellacci reaffirmed that Italy would continue to support Ukrainians in their defense of their country and European democracy in general. The parliamentary delegation was greatly shocked by the terrible consequences of the war in the city of Bucha, which the parliamentarians visited.

Ihor Zhovkva informed his interlocutors about the President’s initiative of patronage over the affected Ukrainian cities and regions. In this regard, it was noted that the Italian government is considering the possibility of joining the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President expressed expectation that Italy would clearly support the sixth package of EU sanctions, primarily on the oil embargo and the disconnection of all Russian banks from SWIFT. The parliamentarians said that Italy continues to actively seek and establish alternative ways to supply energy to the country to strengthen its energy independence.

Recent European integration steps of Ukraine were also discussed during the meeting. “Ukraine has promptly completed its part of the job to obtain the status of a candidate for EU membership, now the ball is in the court of the European Union,” said Ihor Zhovkva.

The participants agreed that the unanimous position of the EU member states on granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union in June 2022 would be an important symbolic and political step in recognizing the European prospects of the Ukrainian people.

 

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

On Europe Day, Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak met with the heads of diplomatic missions of the European Union member states and the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak noted the importance of resuming the work of diplomatic missions and stressed: “This is a powerful signal for Ukrainians, a demonstration of faith in our country and its victory.”

The Head of the President’s Office informed his interlocutors about the situation at the front, where the Ukrainian people are bravely defending their land from the Russian aggressor. Andriy Yermak noted that the Ukrainian state seeks to end this war as soon as possible. But this requires appropriate conditions, including practical defense support from our partners, which will help not only repel the aggressor’s pressure, but also to liberate the temporarily occupied territories.

“Ukraine aims to return its territories,” he said.

The Head of the Office of the President paid special attention to the need to strengthen the coordinated sanctions pressure of the international community on Russia, in particular, the approval of the sixth package of sanctions and the start of work on the seventh package. “Russia must feel the impact of sanctions as soon as possible,” said Andriy Yermak.

He also emphasized the continuation of work on the creation of an international legal mechanism to compensate Ukraine for the damage caused by Russia as a result of the war. He also spoke about the coordination of work on the investigation of crimes against children committed by the aggressor country and the facts of illegal forced deportation of young Ukrainians.

“All citizens forcibly deported to Russia, including children, must return home,” the Head of the President’s Office said.

Andriy Yermak informed European diplomats about the work already underway on a comprehensive plan for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and welcomed signals of the readiness of a number of EU member states, as well as the EU itself, to join its implementation.

During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on the most pressing issues, including key practical areas of assistance to our country, new challenges posed by Russian aggression, as well as prospects for the security situation in the region.

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

The world community must help Ukraine unblock seaports, otherwise the energy crisis will be followed by a food crisis and many more countries will face it, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Russia has blocked almost all ports and all, so to speak, maritime opportunities to export food – our grain, barley, sunflower and more. A lot of things,” the Head of State said during a meeting with media representatives following negotiations with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa in Kyiv.

According to the President of Ukraine, currently the Russian Federation has blocked 22 million tons of food products. The aggressor country is gradually stealing it and trying to sell it.

“There will be a crisis in the world. The second crisis after the energy one, which was provoked by Russia. Now it will create a food crisis if we do not unblock the routes for Ukraine, do not help the countries of Africa, Europe, Asia, which need these food products. You can unblock them in different ways. One of the ways is a military solution. That is why we turn to our partners with inquiries regarding the relevant weapons,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.

For his part, the Prime Minister of Portugal noted that his country has already sent military aid to our country. These are non-lethal and lethal weapons in accordance with Ukraine’s requests. And the provision of such assistance continues.

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

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects that the result of the second meeting of the partner countries in the composition in which they met at Ramstein Air Base, scheduled for May 23 in online format, will be the provision of Ukraine with the necessary weapons to defend its territories.

“To be honest, we have high expectations. I would call it a long-awaited process. We are grateful for the great military support provided by various states. We expect a positive result on the supply of MLRS. I have no secrets, we appeal to all countries – from the United States to every European country – regarding MLRS, thanks to which Ukraine will be able to take over the initiative and liberate its territory,” said the President, answering questions from media representatives following talks with Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa in Kyiv.

To those countries that are afraid to provide Ukraine with MLRS because they believe that our state will attack Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded that the war is currently underway on Ukrainian territory, and Donbas has not ceased to be part of Ukraine after Russian passports were issued there.

“These are our territories, and we are going step by step to liberate them. We cannot pay the price of tens, hundreds of thousands of people. So we ask you to help us. In some countries it is just stored (this weaponry – ed.), and for us it is survival, I mean these MLRS,” the Head of State stressed.

According to him, the Ukrainian side knows that the Russian Federation at various levels threatens certain states, trying to prevent the transfer of these systems to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the countries not to be afraid and to unite, because that is what Russia is really afraid of.

“It is afraid of a strong union, that the EU and the United States will act as one organism. This is very important for us as well, because Ukraine is a fist in this single organism today. That is why we really need your material help,” the Head of State concluded.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic António Costa, who is on a visit to our country.

The Head of State noted that this was the first visit of the Portuguese Prime Minister to Ukraine. He called it symbolic that António Costa visited our country on Europe Day, because today the Ukrainian people are defending the independence and freedom that are common to all Europeans.

“Today, during the meeting, I once again felt such a closeness of values ​​and a common understanding by our nations of the future of Europe. Portugal has been helping Ukraine since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of our land. I am grateful to your country and to you personally, Mr. Prime Minister, for your defensive, political and humanitarian assistance, as well as for the great support for our citizens, forcibly displaced Ukrainians who fled the war and are now on the European continent in various countries, in particular in Portugal,” said the President, addressing António Costa during a joint meeting with media representatives following the talks in Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also praised Portugal’s readiness to provide financial assistance to Ukraine.

“Relevant agreements on the provision of financial assistance by Portugal today will be formalized at the governmental level,” the President said.

In addition, according to him, a wide range of important issues related to the defense of Ukraine was discussed during the meeting, including further defense assistance. Attention was also paid to the issue of prosecuting Russian war criminals.

“We agreed to further increase the sanctions pressure on the aggressor. The key issue now is the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which must include an embargo on Russian oil, oil blends and petroleum products. We appreciate Portugal’s understanding that Russia is using all this to put pressure on Ukraine and a united Europe,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The interlocutors also discussed Ukraine’s European integration.

“We hope that the state vote of Portugal will be in support of our country on the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union during the consideration of this issue at the European Council in June,” said the President.

Special attention was paid to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects Portugal to be actively involved in this process.

For his part, António Costa reaffirmed readiness to join the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war. He noted that his country could be responsible for rebuilding schools and kindergartens that were destroyed during hostilities. According to António Costa, Portugal has significant experience in designing and building educational institutions, which it will be able to use in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic noted the resistance of the Ukrainian people to the barbaric and completely illegal invasion of Russia and the example of courage that Ukrainians have shown to the world.

He noted the closeness of the people of Ukraine and Portugal, in particular due to the great contribution of the Ukrainian community to the development of the Portuguese economy in recent decades.

António Costa assured Ukraine of his country’s support in winning the war and establishing peace throughout Europe.

The Portuguese Prime Minister also said that his country is looking forward to the European Commission’s report on the prospects of Ukraine’s integration with the European Union and is ready to share its own experience of gaining EU membership.

António Costa spoke in favor of international sanctions and increased investment in alternative energy sources and ways to supply energy to Europe to overcome dependence on Russia.