Tag: President of Ukraine

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 October 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is satisfied with the quality of dialogue that has been achieved recently in cooperation between Ukraine and Israel. The Head of State said this during communication with media representatives after a meeting with President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Chairman of ECOWAS Umaro Sissoco Embaló in Kyiv.

“I’ll tell you honestly, I’m satisfied with the last few days. We started working. I won’t give details, because our intelligence was working, but I want to say: after a long pause, I see these steps forward,” Zelenskyy said, answering journalists’ questions.

At the same time, the President said that Ukraine expected closer cooperation with this country from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion, because Israel is a state that knows in detail what war and tragedy are, and Israeli society fully supports Ukrainians.

“We need Israel’s help and political leadership. And, as I said, it has started in recent days,” the Head of State said.

Zelenskyy said that the issue of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Israel has been discussed a lot, because there is a great desire for relations between the two states to be as warm as between societies. Zelenskyy noted a positive track regarding Israel.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 October 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with U.S. President’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, British Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser Timothy Barrow and French President’s Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne.

Andriy Yermak informed the interlocutors about the situation on the frontline, as well as about the intensified shelling of Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure facilities by Russia with the use of missiles and Iranian kamikaze drones.

In this context, the urgent need to urgently receive from the partner states a sufficient number of air defense means to be able to effectively counter Russian missile terror was emphasized. The opinion was expressed that the development of an effective air defense system in Ukraine should become one of the elements of security guarantees.

The interlocutors separately discussed a block of issues related to the development of security guarantees for Ukraine in the context of the elaboration of the position document by the Yermak-Rasmussen International Expert Group.

During the negotiations, there was a thorough exchange of views regarding the latest provocative statements by the Russian side about the alleged intentions of Ukraine to use a “dirty bomb”. It was emphasized that such accusations are completely groundless and that they are part of a disinformation campaign conducted by Putin’s Russia against our state.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine spoke about measures to respond to such accusations by the Kremlin. The representatives of the USA, Great Britain and France were informed about the readiness to receive a delegation of IAEA experts who will be able to convince themselves of the groundlessness of the Russian accusations. The interlocutors highly praised Ukraine’s efforts to involve the Agency in solving this situation.

The parties agreed that the democratic world should do everything possible to prevent Russia from using nuclear weapons or a “dirty bomb” against our country.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with influential representatives of the world’s Jewish communities, which was dedicated to the importance of protecting universal values, guaranteeing security and peace, and preserving historical memory.

In particular, the former Soviet political prisoner, minister and deputy prime minister in the governments of Israel, chairman of the executive board of the Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky took part in the meeting. President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder, ex-US Senator from Connecticut Joe Lieberman, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv, President of the Union of Jewish Religious Organizations of Ukraine Yaakov Dov Bleich took part in the meeting in a video call format.

The Head of State thanked the participants of the meeting for their constant attention and support for Ukraine, especially in the current difficult time.

“Your voice sounds weighty and always matters to public opinion. Therefore, I ask you to continue to spread the truth about the terror that Russia has brought and about the help we need,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President noted that the people of Ukraine and Israel have a lot in common, they are united by historical memory, including the tragic pages of history, as well as the desire to guarantee security for people and their states. Therefore, today, at the time of heinous Russian aggression, Ukraine hopes for more decisive support from the State of Israel.

“Today we are fighting such a heinous phenomenon as rashism, and it cannot be overcome without a united position of the free democratic world. If Israel does not give a clear political assessment of the Russian Federation, new phenomena such as the alliance between Russia and Iran will emerge. They have already launched hundreds of Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones against us. Then we will fight against it post factum with the whole world,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted and emphasized the need to act more decisively and in unity already now.

Natan Sharansky expressed solidarity with the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people, who today defend their future and the future of the entire free world. Therefore, it is the duty of all democratic countries without exception to support this struggle.

He emphasized that this is why the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center is implementing a project to collect evidence of crimes against humanity on the territory of Ukraine.

The Head of State noted that at this time it is extremely important to pay even more attention to the protection of historical memory and informing about the conclusions humanity has drawn from the large-scale tragedies of the XX century.

In view of this, the parties discussed the continuation of the construction project of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center.

“We have not forgotten and must implement this project. But for this we have to defend our state today,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President of Ukraine thanked the supervisory board of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center and everyone involved for continuing work on the project.

For his part, Natan Sharansky, as the head of the supervisory board of the Memorial Center, emphasized the importance of remembering all the lessons of the Holocaust and preserving the memory of the heroism of Ukrainians.

Former US Senator Joe Lieberman thanked Volodymyr Zelenskyy for supporting the Babyn Yar Foundation.

“From the very beginning, we understood that it should be not just a museum in Kyiv, but such a living institution that would be engaged in advocacy and defense of rights considering what is happening in the world today,” he said.

President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder noted that today the main question for American society, for American Jews, is what they can do to help Ukraine, in particular, in the matter of preserving the memory of Babyn Yar.

“We are willing to work with the Ukrainian state, defend its interests to provide greater and faster support to your government and your army,” the President of the World Jewish Congress emphasized.

Member of the supervisory board of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center, businessman and philanthropist Viktor Pinchuk, who was also present at the meeting, noted that, unfortunately, today the world has witnessed a new genocide – in relation to the Ukrainian people. Therefore, these crimes must be recorded, and civilized countries, in particular Israel, must help Ukraine stop this genocide and terrorism.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 25 October 2022.

Germans and Ukrainians stand side by side!

We are connected by shared European values – freedom and democracy – and by a deep sense of solidarity in this time of war, caused by the brutal and illegal aggression of Russia against Ukraine.

Municipal partnerships are at the heart of our bilateral cooperation and an indispensable part of a vibrant Europe of civil societies, good governance and local democracy.

After the end of the Second World War, municipal partnerships helped to unite a divided Europe and promote peaceful cooperation. As Russia has brought war back to our continent, municipal partnerships have opened a new chapter of strength: German towns and cities have shown immense solidarity by giving refuge to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s brutal aggression, municipal partnerships have provided a strong bridge to deliver aid and essential supplies, give advice and exchange experiences, and they have already started to make a contribution to the economic recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

As Presidents of Ukraine and Germany, we are grateful for the wealth of existing municipal partnerships and call for more towns and cities in Germany and Ukraine to join in new partnerships!

Municipal partnerships provide a concrete channel for solidarity in the face of war, they lay the foundation for a united future, and they send a clear signal to Moscow: Your war will not divide us – it will bring us closer together, as Germans and Ukrainians, as Europeans!

To lend visible and lasting support to our appeal, we, the Presidents of Ukraine and Germany, take on Patronage of the German-Ukrainian Municipalities Network. We encourage local governments and civil society leaders to join the Network and reach out to each other for the creation of new partnerships.

We are grateful to the German Association of Municipalities and to the German Federal Ministry for Development for administrative and financial support as well as to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, which plays an important interlinking role between different levels of Ukrainian authorities in terms of the economic recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

We believe that European integration starts on the municipal level, and we therefore urge all German actors of the German-Ukrainian municipal partnerships to contribute to the future EU membership of Ukraine. Sharing of the best EU practices and supporting the alignment with EU standards can strengthen Ukraine’s European path.

In order to encourage active participation of German actors in the reconstruction of Ukraine, Federal President Steinmeier takes the opportunity of his visit to the Chernihiv region to assume symbolic patronage of the various German development and reconstruction efforts in the Chernihiv region. The President thereby wants to encourage new German-Ukrainian civil-society and municipal partnerships as well as German economic engagement and investment in the region, which has especially suffered due to the Russian invasion.

We thank all the passionate and committed men and women in both our countries who put so much energy into the German-Ukrainian friendship. The network of German and Ukrainian municipalities is essential for building and strengthening Europe – together.

We stand together and we will prevail together.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 25 October 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting in Kyiv with Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is visiting our country.

The Head of State thanked Frank-Walter Steinmeier for cooperation in the field of security, economy, social development, energy, for humanitarian interaction and cooperation at the international level, in particular in the European Union and UN structures.

“Germany’s contribution to Ukraine’s movement towards peace and restoration of our territorial integrity is significant. Today, we held important negotiations with Mr. President, which fully correspond to such relations between our states,” stated Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with media representatives following the meeting with Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Kyiv.

The President of Ukraine also thanked Germany for providing the modern IRIS-T air defense system, which has proven itself very well in protecting the sky and saving people. He expressed hope for continued support in this area.

“It’s really a priority today, we all feel it. I hope we can get some more relevant systems in the near future. I informed Mr. President about our other defense needs – they are also a priority for our protection, for the protection of all Ukrainians and the liberation of our land. In particular, this applies to artillery systems, armored vehicles, and other weapons,” the Ukrainian Head of State said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Frank-Walter Steinmeier also discussed the financial and further political support of Ukraine and focused on reconstruction issues in detail.

“I am grateful to Germany for a clear signal to the political and corporate world that the reconstruction of Ukraine and investments in our country are the reconstruction and development of a future member of the European Union. I am also thankful for Germany’s willingness to continue helping us maintain energy resilience,” said the Head of State.

The President of Ukraine thanked Germany and all our partners who support the preservation and expansion of the grain export initiative.

“About 9 million tons have already been exported, and this means that tens of millions of people around the world in various countries have been saved from the threat of famine provoked by the Russian Federation. I consider Russian attempts to slow down the supply of food to African and Asian countries by creating an artificial queue of ships absolutely disgraceful. More than 170 ships were recorded in such a queue,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Separately, he thanked Frank-Walter Steinmeier for supporting cooperation between the First Ladies of Ukraine and Germany.

The Head of State also appealed to the President of Germany with a request to facilitate the Bundestag’s recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, which, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is particularly important this year.

He also announced that today, for the first time in the history of bilateral relations, the Presidents of Ukraine and Germany approved a joint statement that establishes the personal patronage of Frank-Walter Steinmeier over the restoration of the Chernihiv region.

The issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine were discussed separately.

“Already this year, we will implement all the recommendations of the European Commission regarding Ukraine’s acquisition of membership in the European Union. I believe this work should be properly assessed by the EU even before the next package in the framework of the enlargement policy is published,” said the President of Ukraine and once again thanked Frank-Walter Steinmeier for meaningful negotiations, today’s visit and support for our country.

The Federal President of Germany noted that it was important for him to come to Ukraine at a time when it is suffering from Russian missile and drone attacks, and to demonstrate Germany’s solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people.

He said that today he had the opportunity to visit Koryukivka in the Chernihiv region, which suffered from the Russian invasion, and to talk with local residents who experienced the occupation.

“I am extremely grateful to you, Mr. President, for being able to see the situation through the eyes of Ukrainians. I was able to talk to many people today and I want to say that I admire the courage and indomitability of Ukrainians, their willingness to fight,” said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

He said that the so-called winter package was handed over to Ukraine, which includes mobile generators and machines for processing wood for heating.

The Federal President of Germany emphasized that the reconstruction of Ukraine must begin now, without waiting for the end of the war. So it’s good that the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine was held in Berlin today.

In the context of accelerating reconstruction, Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted the importance of establishing partnerships between German and Ukrainian cities, and the cities of Waldkirchen and Koryukivka will be an example of such municipal partnership and solidarity. He urged as many communities of Ukraine and Germany as possible to build such partnerships, which would demonstrate to Russia the inseparability of the ties between the two countries.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier also reminded that Germany is already transferring modern IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine.

“I promised the President that soon the Mars II systems and Panzerhaubitze 2000 will be handed over to Ukraine,” said the President of Germany.

He also emphasized the continuation of political support for Ukraine, in particular in the movement towards membership in the European Union.

“Many people want an end to the war, a truce. But, as Mr. President said, Ukraine wants to achieve a just peace. I share this opinion: there will be no true peace without justice, and an unjust peace can only cause a new war,” said the Federal President of Germany.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 25 October 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a fruitful conversation with the newly appointed Minister of Enterprises and Production of the Italian Republic Adolfo Urso.

The parties discussed a wide range of issues of Ukrainian-Italian cooperation. Special attention was paid to the practical aspects of the support for Ukraine by the new Italian government, as well as further contacts between the leaders of the two states.

Andriy Yermak, on behalf of the President of Ukraine, thanked Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who today in her speech before the Italian Parliament once again expressed firm support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.

The parties noted the importance of establishing contacts between the ministers of foreign affairs and defense of the two states as soon as possible for coordinating efforts and strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and Italy.

The interlocutors separately discussed the issue of defense assistance to our country by the Italian Republic. They agreed to enhance Ukrainian-Italian economic cooperation, which would be a powerful signal to the world community about the importance of developing cooperation with Ukraine even in the conditions of ongoing Russian aggression.

Andriy Yermak and Adolfo Urso agreed on the importance of joint promotion of Ukrainian products on the European and world markets. They emphasized that Made in Ukraine, as well as Made in Italy, should become a well-known brand in the world.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 25 October 2022.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva is on a working visit to the Republic of Croatia on October 24-26.

During the meeting with Minister of Defense of Croatia Mario Banožić the interaction of the two countries in the military-technical sphere was discussed in detail.

The Deputy Head of the President’s Office thanked the Croatian side for the important practical assistance provided to our country in the first days of the full-scale invasion of Russia, and also expressed hope for the continuation of relevant efforts aimed at strengthening resistance to Russian military aggression.

Ihor Zhovkva informed the interlocutor about the course of the military operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular in the context of the liberation of temporarily occupied territories in the east and south of our country.

During a meeting with Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Croatia Dino Mihanović, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President expressed gratitude to the Croatian government for supporting our country in the struggle against full-scale armed aggression.

“Ukraine highly appreciates the firm support of Croatia and the corresponding personal efforts of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in providing assistance to our state,” said Ihor Zhovkva.

He also noted that the holding of the first parliamentary summit of the Crimea Platform in Zagreb is another proof of the continued support of the Croatian side for Ukraine’s efforts to liberate the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation.

The interlocutors paid the main attention to the prospects of strengthening the EU’s sanctions pressure on the aggressor country, the importance of speeding up the supply of weapons to Ukraine, as well as the practical steps of our country regarding the implementation of the strategic course for joining the EU.

Separately, during the meeting, Ihor Zhovkva and Dino Mihanović discussed the possibilities of Ukraine’s further cooperation with NATO.

During the meeting with Foreign and European Policy Advisor to the President of Croatia Neven Pelicarić and Defense and National Security Advisor to the President of Croatia Dragan Lozančić, a wide range of issues of the Ukrainian-Croatian dialogue were discussed.

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President thanked for the significant humanitarian assistance provided by Croatia. He expressed hope for the effective support in demining the territory of Ukraine, in particular in view of the significant relevant experience of the Republic of Croatia.

The interlocutors also discussed the issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.

In addition, Ihor Zhovkva took part in a discussion program in the framework of the first parliamentary summit of the international Crimea Platform, organized by the office of the Crimea Platform and the expert network of the Crimea Platform, regarding the reintegration of Crimea and holding Russia accountable for international crimes.

In his speech, Ihor Zhovkva spoke about the work of the Ukrainian side with the aim of de-occupying Crimea, in particular about the formation of its reintegration policy and the key role of the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the establishment of the international Crimea Platform in this.

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

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha met with Bundestag member of the Federal Republic of Germany Roderich Kiesewetter, who is the Spokesman for the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) faction on crisis prevention and security policy and a member of the Bundestag’s foreign policy committee.

Andriy Sybiha thanked the interlocutor for the second visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, as well as for the consistent comprehensive support of the CDU/CSU faction and Roderich Kiesewetter personally to our country in the conditions of ongoing Russian aggression.

The German side was informed in detail about the situation at the front and missile terror against critical civilian infrastructure.

“It is necessary to deploy an air shield over Ukraine as soon as possible,” the Deputy Head of the President’s Office emphasized.

In this regard, he thanked Germany for the transfer of the first IRIS-T air defense system and emphasized the need for the further supply of highly effective German air defense equipment. It was separately noted that in order to liberate its lands, Ukraine expects modern heavy weapons and equipment from Germany.

The parties strongly condemned Russia’s latest provocative actions and statements regarding the so-called dirty bomb. Andriy Sybiha reported that our country has urgently officially appealed to Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi with a request to immediately send a mission of the Agency experts to peaceful objects in Ukraine, which have become the subject of Russia’s cynical manipulations.

The Deputy Head of the President’s Office emphasized that an important prerequisite for the success of our country’s efforts in confronting the aggressor is the recovery of the economy. In this context, the interlocutors discussed preparations for the Berlin international expert conference on the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine, which will be held on October 25, 2022, and exchanged visions of its results.

Andriy Sybiha called on the German side to actively participate in the program of regional and industry patronage initiated by the President of Ukraine, as well as to continue the development of regional and city partnerships between the two states.

In view of the commemoration this year in Ukraine and the world of the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor in 1932-1933, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President expressed hope that the German Bundestag would recognize this tragedy as an act of genocide of the Ukrainian people. Roderich Kiesewetter assured of the further active support of the CDU/CSU faction and him personally for the steps aimed at repelling Russian aggression and restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

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

The first ladies of Ukraine and Germany held a working meeting within the framework of Olena Zelenska’s visit to Germany and presented the joint project Better Time Stories. The first ladies said that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, they are in constant contact and implement many joint projects.

Zelenska thanked her colleague, in particular, for her contribution to providing humanitarian aid for Ukraine in the field of child protection: the first lady of Germany, Elke Büdenbender, facilitated the arrival, treatment and shelter of children with cancer from Ukraine in Germany. In particular, on March 23, 2022, on the joint initiative of First Lady of Poland Agata Kornhauser-Duda and First Lady of Germany Elke Büdenbender 36 children from the orphanage in Stepove, Mykolaiv region were taken by Polish government and transport planes from Poland to the Bonn/Cologne airport. On July 7, 2022, the first ladies of Poland and Germany, Agata Kornhauser-Duda and Elke Büdenbender, jointly visited these children and got acquainted with the conditions of their living in the Christian Youth Recovery Center.

Zelenska also thanked for caring for Ukrainian citizens who found protection in Germany from the war unleashed by Russia. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, as of October 2022, 1,002,763 refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Germany, the vast majority of whom are women and children. Registered persons are guaranteed free medical care, social benefits, payment for housing and compensation for the costs of its arrangement, education, etc.

“Ukraine is grateful to the Berlin Senate for supporting the pilot project to open a German-Ukrainian school in Berlin. It is important for us that such conditions of education for children are created in Germany, which would support communication and continuation of education of Ukrainian children according to the Ukrainian educational program. We hope that such an approach will be implemented in other German states as well,” Zelenska said.

During the talks with Ms. Büdenbender, she also raised the issue of Germany providing Ukraine with anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense equipment, as well as combat weapons.

“I am forced to raise the topic of providing weapons to Ukraine. This should not be a topic of protocol communication between first ladies. However, in the situation which Ukraine appears, we are forced to use every chance to be heard. It is about saving lives and about human rights. We must close the sky and stop this deliberate missile terror of Russia,” Zelenska added.

Together with the First Lady of Germany, Zelenska took part in the presentation of the Better Time Stories project. This is a non-profit initiative to support Ukrainian children who were forced to leave their homes because of the war. The goal of the project is to help the youngest children (aged 3 to 7 years) overcome sadness, integrate into the environment of the new host country and keep in touch with relatives who stayed at home, thanks to books.

As part of the book project, Ukrainian children who are forced migrants in European countries can receive a set of five illustrated books with available audio versions in the original and translated ones (in Ukrainian and the language of the host country) and with the possibility of recording an individual audio version for each child by their father or other relatives who remained in Ukraine.

The project was initiated by the company Interactive Kids Story (iKs), founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Andriy Shmyhelskyy, Princess of the Netherlands Laurentien’s Number 5 foundation and First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The initiative is implemented in four countries: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. A gift pack of 5 bilingual books for children aged from 3 to 7 can be ordered at bettertimestories.com.

The official international presentation of the project took place on September 29 in The Hague (the Netherlands). In addition to Olena Zelenska and Elke Büdenbender, First Lady of Austria Doris Schmidauer and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands acted as patrons of the project.

“The value of the project is that people who are separated by war, who have not seen each other for a long time and miss each other, can become closer thanks to the book and the voice. The value is to feel a loved one next to you again, to spend time with them doing a cozy family thing – reading. And the value is also in the fact that the project brings cultures together, because in it the books are translated into two languages: Ukrainian and the language of the host country,” Zelenska said.

During the second day of her visit to Germany, Zelenska also met with the president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, Juergen Boos. Zelenska expressed her gratitude to the management of the Frankfurt Book Fair for the comprehensive support of the representation of Ukraine at this prestigious international event, in particular, for the free provision of a stand with an area of 100 square meters, information and technical support.

“This makes it possible to familiarize the professional publishing community, and later readers from different parts of the world, with Ukrainian literature, which in the context of the Russian Federation’s war against our country and the invaders’ efforts to destroy Ukrainian culture and identity becomes of special importance and significance for Ukraine,” the first lady said.

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

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a video conference with representatives of international human rights organizations regarding access to places of forced detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russia and securing their rights.

The conference was also attended by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and deputy heads of the President’s Office.

Yermak said that today thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are being held by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the territory of the Russian Federation. The occupiers keep Ukrainian prisoners in terrible conditions and resort to brutal physical and psychological torture.

The head of the President’s Office said that today, the most egregious violations of human rights are taking place in Europe since the Second World War.

“Ukrainian prisoners are held without mandatory access to them by representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Russia continues blocking the UN mission to establish the facts of the terrorist attack against Ukrainian prisoners of war, defenders of Azovstal, in Olenivka. About 50 of our soldiers were mercilessly killed. And it is very likely that other crimes are hidden in this place,” Yermak said.

According to the head of the President’s Office, each of the places of forced detention of Ukrainians is evidence of Russia’s cynical and impunity abuse of the Geneva Conventions and all international law.

The head of the President’s Office said that after Russia started a war against Ukraine, the traditional methods of diplomacy have become a thing of the past, and the world must realize this reality.

Yermak called on the representatives of the international human rights community, the structures of the UN, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE to take immediate action to stop crimes against Ukrainian prisoners. “I appeal to everyone whose direct human rights mandate should not allow us to stand aside and passively watch as Russia continues committing the most brutal international crimes of our time,” he said.

Yermak said that international organizations should move to active non-standard actions, changing the established rules of their activities in accordance with modern conditions. According to the head of the President’s Office, the system of international security that has existed in the world until now will be changed after this war.

“Today, the entire community must act as a united front to defend the very principle of human rights protection in the 21st century. Otherwise, we will have nothing to say. Otherwise, this very principle and many institutions will not be able to say something for some time. Every war ends, but what do we say after it to all these thousands of people?” he said.

The head of the President’s Office suggested that representatives of international organizations consider the plan, which provides for specific steps to protect the rights of Ukrainians who are in Russian captivity.

“I propose to immediately bring the issue of the Olenivka detention camp, access to Ukrainian prisoners of war and the protection of their rights to the global level and adopt a joint declaration in which we strongly condemn war crimes, crimes against humanity and Russia’s genocide against Ukrainians,” Yermak said.

Also, the head of the President’s Office proposed that a joint mission, which representatives of international organizations can join, is sent to the contact line. This mission should remain on the contact line until Russia provides access to the places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners.

“I can guarantee you on behalf of Ukraine that we will provide all guarantees for your safety and the safety of your representatives. This will take place on the territory controlled by the government of Ukraine,” the head of the President’s Office said.

In addition, he made a proposal to prepare and publish relevant thematic reports of international organizations, which will be based on personally seen information or eyewitness testimony.

Yermak said that trust in international organizations will depend on the direct result of their activities.

“If we unite, if we imagine that there might be someone from our family there, in Olenivka, then, I am sure, we will be able to find completely alternative, non-standard approaches. I urge you to do so,” he said.

Yermak thanked the people of those countries that supported Ukraine during the Russian aggression.

“Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for itself. It is fighting for the whole world. For freedom, for the values of the democratic world. We will definitely win, and it will be our joint victory,” he said.

Also, the head of the President’s Office proposed holding weekly briefings by the human rights ombudsman. Representatives of partner countries can join these briefings so that the international community can get unbiased information about the situation with Ukrainian prisoners.

Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, said: Ukraine proposes that a new mechanism for the implementation of a humanitarian mission to monitor the state and the conditions of detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war and compliance with the norms of the Geneva Convention is created.

“We draw your attention because it concerns our citizens. We come up with new initiatives. It depends on you whether the international community can really influence the aggressor state,” Lubinets said.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova said that Ukraine raises issues that require the international community to find non-classical solutions.

For her part, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, expressed her readiness to participate in the collection of information about crimes committed against Ukrainian prisoners of war, for the purpose of further investigation. She also said that she can visit Ukraine and talk with soldiers released from captivity.

Summing up, Yermak emphasized: today, the entire global human rights community must act as a united front against the most flagrant and large-scale violations of human rights in Europe in the 21st century, being committed by Russia.