Tag: President of Ukraine

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 2 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mark Rutte discussed in detail concrete steps to de-escalate the situation around Ukraine’s borders and achieve a peaceful settlement. This was announced by the President of Ukraine during a conversation with media representatives following the talks in Kyiv.

The President welcomed Mark Rutte to the Ukrainian capital and noted that this was the first visit of the Dutch Prime Minister to our country in the last 17 years. And it is happening at a time when Ukraine especially needs the support and solidarity of all friends and allies.

“We spent most of our time today on the issue of security in Ukraine and security on our borders, which affects the economy of our country. We also discussed possible sanctions from the European Union and the Netherlands in case of escalation,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President expressed gratitude to the Netherlands and personally to Mark Rutte for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the readiness to cooperate in order to deoccupy Crimea.

“The Netherlands is our important partner within the EU and the Alliance, one of the key trading partners in Europe and the second largest investor in the Ukrainian economy. So it is not surprising that our bilateral agenda is as rich and meaningful as possible. This is evidenced by the Joint Statement adopted as a result of our talks,” the President of Ukraine stressed.

According to him, during the meeting they discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation on European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.

“We are also interested in developing trade, economic and investment cooperation. Our trade turnover has crossed the $ 2.5 billion mark, but we strive to do much more and we are able to do more. I invited large Dutch companies to discover Ukraine and create new success stories in the promising areas. These are alternative energy, river transport, water resources management, waste management, agriculture, irrigation and reclamation, and more,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The Head of State also said that he would continue talks with Mark Rutte to investigate the downing of Flight MH17.

“We will discuss all the details. The European Court of Human Rights has recently started hearing the relevant case, and our states will continue to work closely in this direction, in particular within the Joint Investigation Team to investigate this tragedy,” the President said.

“I am convinced that there are many new pages of success ahead in the partnership between Ukraine and the Netherlands. And these talks have clearly shown that we are determined to open them jointly for the benefit of our states and peoples,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.

For his part, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands stressed that today every effort should be made to de-escalate the situation near Ukraine’s borders, including through diplomacy.

“The only solution for the de-escalation is diplomacy, a dialogue that must continue between Russia and the United States, between Russia and NATO, and, of course, between the countries of the Normandy format – Ukraine, Germany and France,” said Mark Rutte.

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands thanked the President of Ukraine for his cooperation in investigating the downing of MH17.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 2 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mark Rutte met in Kyiv today during the working visit of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine.

The leaders highlighted the upcoming 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and stated their commitment to develop and further deepen the comprehensive bilateral partnership in all areas of mutual interest.

The two leaders recalled that relations between Ukraine and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are based on shared values and principles of freedom, democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights. They reconfirmed their strong commitment to international law and the core principles on which European security is built, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and the freedom of States to choose or change their own security arrangements.

Prime Minister Rutte reiterated unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and current military build-up near Ukrainian state borders.

President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Rutte underlined the importance of a peaceful solution. Dialogue and diplomacy taking place in different formats, like in OSCE and NATO, play a crucial role in this process.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining pressure on Russia to end the temporary occupation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, including in the format of the International Crimea Platform.

President Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation of the support provided by the Dutch side in rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen injured in the course of the ongoing armed conflict. Prime Minister Rutte announced that the Netherlands will extend this support, in order to provide additional injured Ukrainian servicemen with rehabilitative care within this programme.

The leaders committed to continue the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for 298 victims of the downing of Flight MH17 and their loved ones. In this regard President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Rutte also underlined the importance of the recent oral hearing in the proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights against the Russian Federation for its role in the downing of Flight MH17 as an important milestone towards establishing justice.

In line with the joint statement following the 23rd EU-Ukraine Summit, the leaders acknowledged the European aspirations of Ukraine and welcomed its European choice, as stated in the Association Agreement and in the context of its entry into force in September 2017, after the December 2016 decision by the EU Heads of State or Government. The leaders recalled that the effective implementation of the Association Agreement and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) which, linked to the broader process of regulatory approximation and related necessary reforms, contributes to establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations between Ukraine and the EU leading to Ukraine’s further gradual economic integration in the EU Internal Market, as envisaged in the Association Agreement.

They noted the importance of further enhancing cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the area of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and of Ukraine’s increased convergence with Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The leaders welcomed recent EU support provided to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and underlined their commitment to explore further cooperation, including in the area of professional military education. They recalled their joint commitment to promote the principles enshrined in the Association Agreement, including Article 7(2). In this context, they noted Ukraine’s increased alignment with the EU’s positions and statements. The leaders acknowledged the substantial progress made by Ukraine in its reform process and agreed on the need to further enhance these efforts.

The two leaders stressed the importance of working together against any potential efforts by third parties to use energy as a weapon, as well as the importance of the long-term continuation of gas transit through Ukraine. They underlined their common objective of strengthening energy security and the green transition in Ukraine and the EU as well as expressed their support for the progressive integration of Ukraine with the EU gas and electricity markets.

Prime Minister Rutte expressed his support to maintaining Ukrainian efforts aimed at fostering systemic transformation of the country and strengthening its resilience. Prime Minister Rutte was encouraged by the vibrant civil society, which plays a vital role in the reform process in Ukraine. In support of the important ongoing reforms Prime Minister Rutte announced that the Netherlands will increase its financial contributions to Ukrainian NGO’s, as well as to UNDP activities in support of Security and Justice in conflict affected eastern Ukraine.

In light of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, Prime Minister Rutte stands by decisions taken at the Bucharest Summit and subsequent summits. Prime Minister Rutte firmly supports Ukraine’s right to decide its own future and foreign policy free from outside interference. Ukraine’s status as Enhanced Opportunities Partner gives further impetus to strengthening the already wide-ranging NATO-Ukraine cooperation, including in the Black Sea region. Prime Minister Rutte highly values Ukraine’s important contributions to Allied operations. These efforts demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment and capability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security. Prime Minister Rutte commends Ukraine for the significant reforms already implemented and will continue to encourage and support Ukraine in these efforts, including in the security and defence sector, with regard to civilian control and democratic oversight.

Following the cyberattack against Ukraine on 14 January, the Netherlands stands ready to provide technical cyber assistance to Ukraine. The two leaders expressed their interest in advancing cooperation on cyber issues as well as on other matters of mutual concern in the face of the contemporary challenges, including hybrid threats and fight against disinformation.

The two leaders highlighted opportunities for enhancing cooperation in the areas of circular economy, water and waste management, renewable energy, IT, space technologies and inland waterways.

The leaders noted the potential for further bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture, particularly by stimulating innovation. They stressed the importance of holding a meeting of the Ukrainian – Dutch Working Group on Agriculture as soon as the epidemiological situation allows. Prime Minister Rutte furthermore expressed that the Netherlands intends to organize a mission for Dutch companies that are interested in doing business in Ukraine.

The leaders expressed their interest in advancing bilateral cooperation in healthcare, particularly in order to secure equitable access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines. In this light, The Netherlands will donate approximately 400.000 Euros to the Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan (OCHA), for its response to the pandemic in Eastern Ukraine. The leaders also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Philips Medical Systems aimed at improving quality of medical services in Ukraine.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine’s borders, which will be an important signal of de-escalation. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the meeting with the media following the talks with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson in Kyiv.

“Nobody needs a war. But we do not invite anyone with weapons to our land. I can say for sure that the state has changed, society and the army have changed. And now there will be no occupation of any city or territory. And there will be, unfortunately, a tragedy if the escalation against our state begins. That is why I openly say: this will not be a war between Ukraine and Russia – this will be a war in Europe. Full-scale war, because no one will give up their territories and people anymore,” the President said, answering journalists’ questions.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that it is currently difficult to predict Russia’s further actions, so both the world community and Ukraine must prepare for any developments and take measures to reduce risks.

“Reducing risks is a powerful, armed army that is not advancing. We are defending ourselves. We are defending our state. I think this is fair, because this is our land and our sovereignty. We protect our history, language, traditions. And most importantly – we protect our people. And we will do it,” the Head of State stressed.

The President noted that he expects Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s borders.

“Actually this is the only truthful answer from Russia to the question of whether they are going to continue the escalation. No words are needed, just such a powerful and important step. It is psychologically important not only for the people of Ukraine, but also for the Russians, many of whom definitely do not want to fight against Ukraine and die,” he said.

At the same time, according to the Head of State, today, despite some reduction in tension, it is too early to say that the Russian Federation has withdrawn troops.

“Now we see a certain force rotation, but I want to answer frankly: I will be able to say for sure that Russia has withdrawn its troops when it withdraws its troops,” the President concluded.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

Ukraine invited the United Kingdom to join common mutually beneficial projects in the fields of infrastructure and energy. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives following talks with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson in Kyiv.

The President noted that the Agreement on Political Cooperation, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership signed the year before last is working successfully, which is proved by a 60% increase in bilateral trade between Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

“We strive to expand partnership in all areas. We agreed to start negotiations on further trade liberalization. In addition to funds for the Ukrainian Navy, the United Kingdom is allocating almost 2 billion pounds for the implementation of joint specific and mutually beneficial projects with Ukraine in other areas,” said the President.

In particular, according to him, the United Kingdom was invited to join projects in the fields of infrastructure and energy.

The Head of State noted that 30 years ago Ukraine and Great Britain established diplomatic relations, which have always been full of friendship, respect and content.

“And today our nations are united for the sake of peace in Ukraine, Europe and the world, in order to prevent a new war,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing hope that this year the word of the year will be “peace.”

For his part, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom announced the allocation of an additional 88 million pounds of funding to support the stability and energy independence of Ukraine.

“This funding is to support the efforts of the President and the authorities to build a prosperous Ukrainian society free from malicious influence,” said Boris Johnson.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the key issues in the talks with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson were the existing historical challenges facing the two countries, Europe and the whole world. The Head of State made this statement during a meeting with media representatives following the talks in Kyiv with Boris Johnson, for whom this is the first visit to Ukraine as the head of the British government.

“Prime Minister Johnson assured me of full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, readiness for further cooperation to deoccupy our peninsula and return all our Ukrainian territories, including within the Crimea Platform,” he said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during the meeting the parties discussed a set of steps to deter the Russian Federation.

“My opinion is well known. Any measures are effective before, not after. Prevention is better than resuscitation. This is evidenced by the recent decision of the British government to draft a law that will strengthen and expand sanctions for aggression against Ukraine,” the President stressed.

The President also thanked the United Kingdom for supporting Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

In the context of strengthening the defense capabilities of our state, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is building a strong, capable army. In particular, a decision has already been made to increase the number of the Armed Forces by another 100,000 servicemen.

“We appreciate the assistance and practical help from the UK on this path. This is 1.7 billion pounds for the Ukrainian Navy, the construction of modern Ukrainian naval bases, a package of security assistance and weapons, when Her Majesty’s Air Force transport planes delivered thousands of modern anti-tank missiles to Ukraine,” said the President.

According to him, at the meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, an agreement was reached on joint actions to ensure peace, security and stability in the Black Sea region, as well as to intensify cooperation in the field of cyber defense and cyber security.

For his part, Boris Johnson said that the escalation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine would be a political, humanitarian and military catastrophe for Russia and the world. Therefore, he is convinced that the Russian Federation needs to take a step back and choose the path of diplomacy.

The Prime Minister stressed that the United Kingdom has in recent years provided and continues to provide assistance to Ukraine to strengthen its security and defense.

“Alongside other countries, we are also preparing a package of sanctions and other measures to be enacted the moment the first Russian toecap crosses further into Ukrainian territory. We have done all this as a demonstration that we will always stand up for freedom, democracy and Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of aggression,” the British Prime Minister said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Boris Johnson met President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on February 1, 2022 to discuss ongoing Russian hostile activity, including military build up.

The Prime Minister emphasised the United Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, which threatens regional peace and security and undermines the global order. The two leaders emphasised that it is the right of every Ukrainian to determine their own future.

The leaders warned that any further Russian incursion in Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake and have a stark humanitarian cost.

Ukraine and the United Kingdom agreed to work together to strengthen Ukraine’s security and the ability to defend itself. The leaders also expressed their commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security and support its efforts towards the green transition. The Prime Minister announced £88 million of new funding to aid efforts to build Ukraine’s resilience and reduce reliance on Russian energy supplies.

The leaders reaffirmed their desire to deepen the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the UK in all areas of mutual interest, and to continue their engagement, particularly in the framework of the Ukraine-UK Strategic Dialogue.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with President of Romania Klaus Iohannis.

The heads of state exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Romania, which is being celebrated today. Mutual readiness for further comprehensive development of bilateral cooperation was confirmed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the interlocutor about the current security situation in Donbas, in the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as along the state border of Ukraine.

The Presidents discussed the security situation in the Black Sea and practical initiatives of our state aimed at strengthening cooperation with partner countries in the region.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Klaus Iohannis exchanged views on Ukraine’s implementation of the European integration strategy. The Ukrainian head of state stressed the importance of providing a European perspective to Ukraine and expressed hope that Romania would support this ambitious goal.

The Presidents also discussed the state of implementation of joint infrastructure projects, including the construction of a bridge over the Tisza River.

Special attention was paid to Ukrainian-Romanian cooperation in the field of education. The leaders praised the preparations for the conclusion of the Protocol on Cooperation in Education between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of National Education of Romania.

In addition, they reaffirmed mutual commitment to promote the preservation of the cultural heritage of Ukraine and Romania, in particular through the implementation of relevant projects by both countries.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Klaus Iohannis to pay a visit to Ukraine at his convenience.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

Today, diplomatic support for Ukraine and the amount of military-technical assistance provided by partners are the largest since 2014. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his speech at the opening ceremony of the seventh session of the Verkhovna Rada of the IX convocation.

The Head of State stressed that foreign support for Ukraine now unites almost the whole world, and Ukrainians must be united in domestic politics.

The President said that last week he had talks with the leaders of the European Council, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, France and the United States, ambassadors of the G7, representatives of the UN, NATO, the EU, the IMF and the OSCE.

“In total 80 representatives of foreign countries and international organizations. They are united in supporting our state,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Also, according to him, thanks to unity, the Normandy format was unblocked, which gave hope for de-escalation and peaceful settlement in Donbas.

“For the first time since 2019, all four parties have agreed on a joint final statement. We are actively working to agree on the date of the next meeting of advisers in Berlin in the coming days, where, I hope, there will be an agreement on a meeting of the leaders of the Normandy Four,” said the President.

He also reminded that with a view to continue the joint initiative with President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, a meeting of ministers of the two countries was held in Kyiv recently, during which mutually beneficial agreements were reached in trade, investment, transportation and transit of goods.

The President added that the Prime Ministers of Great Britain, Poland, the Netherlands and the President of Turkey will arrive in Kyiv this week.

“Such an intensity of visits is a serious factor in stabilization… No one decides our fate behind our backs – everyone comes to us. Our partners are ready to lend us a shoulder. This is very important, and we are grateful to our partners for that,” the Head of State stressed.

According to him, Ukraine, Great Britain and Poland are creating a new format of political cooperation in Europe. The signing of a Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Turkey is also being prepared.

“Diplomatic support for Ukraine since 2014 is the greatest, unconditional and ongoing. Military-technical assistance to Ukraine since 2014 is the largest, invaluable and ongoing,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

At a solemn sitting on the occasion of the opening of the seventh session of the Verkhovna Rada of the ninth convocation, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed representatives of the three branches of government and society with a call for unity for the sake of the future of our country.

In his speech, the Head of State noted that we have often heard about unity, seldom achieved it and are in dire need of it.

“The unity of all, always and in everything. First of all, in the perception of our present, and most importantly – our future: the future of our state, the future of our generations,” said the President.

In particular, according to him, in the struggle for life and health, unity was demonstrated by 15 million Ukrainian citizens who received two vaccinations. As a result, the course of the disease is milder, fewer people are hospitalized and fewer people die.

“The unity of power yesterday during the adoption of the budget is twice the salary for doctors. The unity of power today is the normal passage of new waves (of coronavirus incidence – ed.), sufficient supply of beds, oxygen, billions of hryvnias of “eSupport” and millions of citizens who have used it,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy and thanked parliamentarians for supporting this program.

The Head of State stressed that today unity is needed both in deeds and in public statements – in the information field, in the “understanding of the media of its responsibility.”

“At a time when the media field is a new battlefield, news is a new weapon, and any messages, especially those based on anonymous sources, have a real and great impact on the mental health of our people, on our state, and especially the economy,” said the President.

In this context, Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked citizens and business representatives who were united and did not give in to the “panic virus”.

“Our economy is stabilizing, everything is under control in the financial system, budget revenues in January were overachieved by 7 billion. The hryvnia is feeling better – yesterday it strengthened by 30 kopecks, we are gradually returning to a stable and planned exchange rate,” the President said.

In addition, as the President noted, the international financial markets have been experiencing positive dynamics on Ukrainian bonds for almost a week.

“Their quotations return to their previous level, so the financial world is optimistic about the future in Ukraine,” he said.

Also, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the country has sufficient reserves of gas and coal. For the first time in 30 years, all nuclear power units are operating, so our country is using the full potential of nuclear energy.

Ukraine’s gold and foreign exchange reserves remain at a record level, which protects the national currency from sharp fluctuations and strengthens economic immunity, the President said.

In addition, there are signals of readiness to provide financial support to Ukraine from international partners.

“For them, I thank the European Union, I thank the leaders of European countries, the United States, Canada and all those who will soon be ready to announce such decisions,” said the President.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 31 January 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis.

The President thanked for the financial support to Ukraine from the European Union, in particular for the new macro-financial assistance program worth 1.2 billion euros. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the decision to allocate this aid was a timely signal for the financial markets, which already helps maintain the stability of the Ukrainian economy.

“Our strategy worked: to talk not about war, but about the economy. Today is the first day when we have not spent a single dollar of our reserves to support the hryvnia exchange rate,” the President stressed.

The parties agreed that the first tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of 600 million euros will be paid without additional conditions immediately after the completion of all necessary procedures.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy especially thanked for the funding for Ukraine provided by the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership, which, among other things, will be aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises.

During the discussion of trade relations between Ukraine and the EU, the Head of State raised the issue of starting official negotiations on granting additional trade preferences to Ukraine as soon as possible, which will include updating current tariffs and quotas for Ukrainian exporters.

The importance of ensuring proper progress in concluding an agreement on the so-called industrial visa-free regime, which will open additional markets for domestic industrial producers, was emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the Executive Vice President of the European Commission for his personal active position in support of Ukraine in the current difficult conditions.

“Your visit in these difficult times is another sign of the EU’s unquestionable support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the President stressed.