Tag: President of Ukraine

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 8 March 2022.

Today Ukraine is fighting for its freedom and independence, but the success of our struggle depends not only on our state, but also on all countries of the civilized world. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview for ABC News.

“As for how much we can endure, a lot of things depend not only on us. We will endure. And even if they enter all the cities, there will be a guerrilla war. No one will give up our freedom and independence. Today it is here, tomorrow it will be the Baltic countries, the day after tomorrow – Poland, then – Germany,” said the President of Ukraine.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a conversation with US President Joseph Biden, he discussed support for Ukraine in the sky.

“We want parity in the sky, at least so that there is a balance. We cannot give the advantage only to the Russian Federation, because it bombs us, shoots us, throws bombs, launches missiles, combat helicopters, fighters, planes – many things. We do not do that because we do not have the sky, we do not control it,” said the President.

He noted that Ukraine had asked the United States and other countries to provide Soviet-made military aircraft based in Poland.

“We have studied this issue, we know where these Soviet-made aircraft are located, in which countries. We asked them. And now a lot depends on the United States of America in this issue,” the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the US President could make additional efforts to resolve this issue.

“I am convinced that the President can do more. I’m sure he can. And I want to believe that he is able to do it,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He stressed that Ukraine today is a place of freedom in the heart of Europe, and our country needs protection of all countries that share such values.

“It seems to everyone that we are far from America, from Canada or somewhere else. No. We are freedom. And when someone crosses the borders of these rights and freedoms, we must be protected. Because at first it will be us, and then it will be you. It is always like this. Appetite comes with eating and it is getting stronger,” the President said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 8 March 2022.

Deputy Prime Minister – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk informed that the functioning of the humanitarian corridor from Sumy affected by the shelling of the Russian troops had been agreed on as of today.

“This fact was officially approved by the Russian Ministry of Defense in a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Hence, both the Red Cross and we, as the party with which the opening of the humanitarian corridor was agreed, have documental approval,” she said.

Iryna Vereshchuk noted that one route for the humanitarian corridor for evacuation of people was established: Sumy, Holubivka, Lokhvytsia, Lubny, Poltava. No other routes were agreed.

However, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ukrainian party has information that the Russian side is planning manipulations with the route, not agreed upon and dangerous, to force people to go the other way.

“We call on the Russian side not to resort to manipulative actions and to fulfill the promise, which is documented,” Iryna Vereshchuk emphasized.

Under this route, the evacuation of civilians from the city of Sumy to the city of Poltava is planned, including foreign students – citizens of the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China. It is also a question of delivery of the corresponding humanitarian cargoes by the humanitarian corridor to the city of Sumy. In particular, food and essential medicines. The convoy of humanitarian goods will move to the city of Sumy along the route: Lokhvytsia, Andriyashivka, Romny, Nedryhailiv, Sumy.

“The Ukrainian side is ready to fully ensure all the way along the agreed route. We informed both the Red Cross and the Russian side of our readiness. It was agreed to start the silence regime on the route at 9 am Kyiv time. We announce the beginning of the silence regime. The time frame of the humanitarian corridor is from 9 am to 9 pm,” Iryna Vereshchuk said.

It was agreed that at 10 am the first column should start moving from the city of Sumy. Civilians will also follow the convoy in their own vehicles.

Iryna Vereshchuk emphasized: all obstacles to the movement of the relevant convoys must be removed along the entire route – both for people leaving the city of Sumy and for humanitarian goods delivered to the city of Sumy.

“A real ceasefire along the route of the humanitarian corridor will be the basis for informing the public about the possibility of evacuation,” she said.

According to her, the Ukrainian party has also sent to the Russian side and the Red Cross the developed routes for humanitarian corridors: Volnovakha – Zaporizhzhia, Mariupol – Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv and Kyiv region in the direction of Western Ukraine, as well as Kharkiv and Kharkiv region in the direction of Western Ukraine.

“We call on Russia to agree on these routes without delay, to inform the International Committee of the Red Cross and to ensure a stable ceasefire on these routes,” Iryna Vereshchuk noted.

She also appealed to the citizens not to trust unofficial media sources and reports from the Russian Defense Ministry.

“Trust the Ukrainian authorities. Listen, read the official media. Everything will be Ukraine!” the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine stressed.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 7 March 2022.

During the third round of talks in Belarus, the delegations of Ukraine and Russia clarified the details of the functioning of humanitarian corridors to provide more effective assistance to people in the cities most affected by the Russian shelling. This was stated by Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office Mykhailo Podoliak after the meeting.

“We have received some positive results in terms of logistics of humanitarian corridors. They will be amended, and we will receive more effective assistance to people who are currently suffering from the aggression of the Russian Federation,” he said.

Intensive consultations will be continued on the basic, political bloc of settlement, in particular on the ceasefire and security guarantees.

“There are no results that significantly improve the situation yet,” Mykhailo Podoliak said.

“However, I emphasize once again that the consultations will be continued and we will get the result,” the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office summed up.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 7 March 2022.

Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova received the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award for President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was presented by Chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Frederick Ryan.

Frederick Ryan stressed that this high award honors the leadership of the President of Ukraine and the steadfastness of millions of Ukrainians who defend their right to choose their own future and inspire the entire civilized world to fight for the values of freedom and democracy to which Ronald Reagan dedicated his life. It was President Reagan who gave a decisive impetus to the destruction of the Soviet “evil empire” and paved the way for freedom and democracy for its enslaved nations in the former Soviet Union.

Today, the Kremlin regime is trying to rebuild the wreckage of the Soviet empire having started a brutal and bloody war in central Europe. Just as more than three decades ago, the “evil empire” has no chance of existence. Ukrainians, with their blood and desperate struggle, fiercely repel the aggressor, showing courage and will. Frederick Ryan quoted famous words by President Reagan: “Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today’s world do not have.”

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 6 March 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the people through the Global Citizen platform to promote the decision to protect the Ukrainian sky from Russian attacks, civilians from bombing, and Ukrainian cities from destruction.

“The world must react firmly and, most importantly, quickly. The world must stop Russia’s authorities. Stop Russia. It must stop rocket attacks and daily bombings,” the Head of State stressed in his address.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the whole world knows what terrorism, hostage-taking, and plane bombing are, but now the world community is facing a much larger manifestation of terrorism.

“Now you see something worse – not an individual terror anymore, not some marginal terrorist organization. You see a terrorist state. A state, which deliberately destroys the cities of Ukraine with cruise missiles, air bombs and artillery. A state that allows itself to fire from tanks at nuclear power plants. No other terrorist has done this before,” the President said.

The Head of State expressed his conviction: if Western politicians are afraid to make an important decision to close the sky over Ukraine for Russian aviation, they must provide us with means of protection in the sky.

“Give us, Ukrainians, planes that we can use to protect us, our children, our friends, our parents, our cities, our memory, our architecture. Give Ukraine air defense to ensure that no nuclear power plant is blown up and that Ukraine and the whole of Europe are not destroyed,” he urged.

In order for everyone to understand the importance of making such a decision, Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested imagining a situation in which hospitals, schools, other civilian institutions and residential neighborhoods anywhere in the world are subjected to such devastating attacks and bombing.

“What would you do if terrorists completely destroyed them with missiles, missile strikes, air bombs? As it happens in our country, in Ukraine. In our Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol, Odesa and other cities?” the President asked, noting that today it happens every day in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the public around the world to join the rallies in support of aid to Ukraine and the adoption of a decision that would save our country.

“We know that ordinary civilians around the world hear us, understand us much better than any politician. Politicians always lag behind people. So please speak up! Talk about Ukraine, take to the squares of your cities, support us, show your strong position, show your support for Ukraine!” he said.

The Head of State also stressed that by helping Ukraine, the world also helps and protects itself, because terrorists and terrorism know no boundaries.

“You can’t just tolerate terrorists killing. You can’t make all the concessions. It is impossible. These are terrorists. We must help the victims of terror, we must help ourselves, because you know – terror knows no borders, there are no borders for terrorists. And terror is always looking for new victims,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.

He called on citizens around the world to unite and be strong.

“Mankind should put forward demands to terrorists, not the other way around. Ukraine must have the right to its own protection, protection of its own life. With your help in our sky. Or with the planes that you have, but they are on the ground. And for us they will be the salvation. Salvation in the sky, so that life remains on our land. We must choose life right now,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.

Global Citizen is a social action platform aimed at solving global problems, including overcoming world poverty through collective efforts.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on

After the rocket attack by Russian troops on Vinnytsia, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again called on Western countries to close the airspace over our country for Russian aircraft and missiles.

“I’ve just heard the report on the missile strike at Vinnytsia. 8 missiles. Against our city, against our peaceful Vinnytsia, which has never posed a threat to Russia. In any way. A brutal, cynical missile strike has completely destroyed the airport,” the Head of State emphasized in his urgent address.

The President stressed that the invaders continue to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure and residential buildings.

“We repeat everyday: “Close the sky over Ukraine!”. Close it for all Russian missiles, Russian combat aircraft, for all these terrorists. Make a humanitarian air zone. Without rockets, without air bombs. We are people and it is your humanitarian duty to protect us, protect people. And you can do it,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged.

“If you do not do that, if you at least do not give us aircraft for us to be able to protect ourselves, there can be only one conclusion: You also want us to be slowly killed. This is also the responsibility of the world’s politicians, Western leaders,” the Head of State added.

6 March 2022.

 

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 6 March 2022.

Special funds are being formed in Ukraine, the task of which is to rebuild our country after the destruction caused by the Russian aggressor. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his address.

“We have been fighting for 11 days. For freedom. For our state. We withstood. We already understand how we will rebuild our country. We are already forming special funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” he said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in particular, the Fund for the Restoration of Destroyed Property and Infrastructure, the Fund for Economic Recovery and Transformation, the Public Debt Service and Repayment Fund and the Small and Medium Business Support Fund are being established.

“And many other programs to support our people. Heroes who fight for our state. And this is just the beginning. And now we still need strength,” the President stressed.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 5 March 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with representatives of both chambers and both parties of the US Congress in the format of an online conference.

In total, more than 200 politicians joined the conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hear first-hand about the situation in Ukraine and ask questions.

The President spoke about the situation in the country, the course of hostilities. In particular, he focused on war crimes committed by the Russian army: the shelling of schools, residential buildings, kindergartens, churches. The Head of State noted that the Babyn Yar memorial was damaged by rocket fire, as a result of which civilians died.

Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the issue of threats to the environment of Ukraine and Europe. According to him, the invaders pose a threat to chemical and nuclear facilities. They have already captured two nuclear power plants and are moving in the direction of the third – South Ukraine NPP.

“Cynicism is of such scale that they did not let firefighters into the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. We could not negotiate with uneducated people who are in the Middle Ages,” the President said.

He added that there are 15 nuclear units on the territory of Ukraine, each of which could potentially become the new Chornobyl.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy told congressmen that Ukraine needs security in the sky to protect civilians and critical infrastructure. This can be ensured by closing the airspace over Ukraine or supplying our country with Soviet-made aircraft from the countries that still operate them.

The President also called for further sanctions against Russia. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, additional effective sanctions would be an embargo on imports of all Russian products and deprivation of MFN status.

During the conversation, the congressmen asked Volodymyr Zelenskyy their questions and promised to provide all possible assistance to Ukraine.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 4 March 2022.

During the teleconference, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed residents of European cities who took part in a rally in support of Ukraine.

Rallies in support of our state and against the Russian invasion took place in Frankfurt, Prague, Lyon, Tbilisi, Vienna, Bratislava and Vilnius. In total, about 200,000 people took part in them.

Speaking directly from the Office of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that he dedicated the first minute of his speech to honoring the memory of all the perished Ukrainian servicemen, special service officers, police officers, reconnaissance officers, firefighters – “those who gave their lives, who are now among us, but we don’t see them anymore.”

“I want to dedicate a second minute to silence as well – in honor of our civilians: adults and children, dozens and hundreds of those who gave their lives but did not know about it. Gave lives and received eternal peace. I ask you to honor their memory in silence,” the President said.

The President dedicated the third minute to the people of Europe.

“Don’t be silent. Come to the streets. Support Ukraine. Support our freedom. Because this is a victory not only over the Russian military, it is a victory of light over darkness. This is the victory of good over evil. The victory of freedom over what is happening today in our country, on the territory of Ukraine. Do not be silent, support Ukraine. Because if Ukraine does not survive, the whole of Europe will not survive. If Ukraine falls, the whole of Europe will fall. And if we win – and I am confident in our people, I am confident in you – it will be a great victory of democracy, values, victory of freedom,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Then moments of silence will turn into years of prosperity. Europe, be as strong as the people of Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!” the Head of State emphasized.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 4 March 2022.

In the framework of the agreements reached during the Ukrainian-Russian talks on March 3, ways are being elaborated to resolve humanitarian issues, including the evacuation of people and the delivery of food and medicine to the victims of the shelling of the cities. Mykhailo Podoliak, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine spoke about this at a briefing in Lviv.

According to him, a working group has been set up, which includes representatives of Ukraine and Russia, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross as a mediator. They discuss how it is logistically possible to evacuate people from the affected settlements, as well as how to bring food and medicine there.

“I think that today, we will have a clear understanding, for example, as regards Mariupol, what will be the corridor there. Because about 200,000 people there want to be evacuated. In Volnovakha, about 20,000 people want to leave,” Mykhailo Podoliak said.

He stressed that the Ukrainian side has routing in all directions. This tripartite group is being finalized.

For his part, leader of the Servant of the People faction Davyd Arakhamia expressed hope that the agreements reached during the March 3 talks on the evacuation of civilians and the creation of humanitarian corridors will be observed.

According to him, the Russian side takes this negotiation process seriously and even speeds it up, as the current situation is very damaging to Russia’s image in the eyes of the world.