Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 February 2022.

As long as Ukraine is not a full member of NATO, it is necessary to conclude a global document between the world’s leading states, which would put security guarantees for our country on paper. This was emphasized by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview for RBC-Ukraine.

“We are on the path to the Alliance. NATO is, in fact, the only security alliance available today that Ukraine could join. For us, there is an “open door” position. But there is a long way to go – years and months, especially if there is an escalation. Going this way, we must get a system of guarantees. And at least in theory, it should be equal to the system offered to NATO countries,” the President said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this issue is being discussed with all world leaders, especially those who have contacts with the Russian Federation.

According to the President, this is in fact the only alternative in a situation where Ukraine is forced to defend itself, maintain a strong army during the ongoing aggression, while ensuring the viability of the state and implementing reforms.

“So if you, our partners, say that these are our common values, then let’s spend money on them together. And no, it’s not altruism, it’s about you being next. They will go further, after which there will be a migration crisis and so on,” he said.

The Head of State assured that such a position was understood by the leading countries.

“We have raised this issue to the level of those leaders who we believe should be at this table. Who will give us guarantees, including a clause on a strong, equipped, well-financed army. These should still be the countries that would bear responsibility in case something happens – the strong ones of this world,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to the President, it is primarily about supporting the Ukrainian army – its funding, training, rehabilitation of the military and more.

The Head of State called energy security no less important, in particular in the context of threats from the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

“We need a global document. We will not get off with the Normandy format. The powerful ones of this world, including the United States and Russia, will sit down and sign that this is the way to go. But there should be three, four or five points about the security of our country. Then that’s the talk,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 February 2022.

Ukraine not only defends its territory, but also deters further encroachments in Eastern Europe. Therefore, the weapons provided to our country by international partners are an aid to them as well, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview for RBC-Ukraine.

“Army funding is top priority. Training, rehabilitation, etc. A powerful independent army on the territory of Eastern Europe, on the territory of Ukraine, which protects not only Ukraine because it restrains any further encroachments. But today all this is the expenditure of the budget of Ukraine. Except for some of the weapons our partners supply. But I say again: they help themselves. And we are grateful to them. Without their help, the situation would be clearly worse,” the Head of State said.

The President stressed that Ukraine does not live “in the illusion that everyone will be willing to die for it,” and if the aggression begins, it will be ready to defend itself.

“We definitely do not want this. We emphasize: we do not need military people with foreign flags on our territory. We do not ask for this. Otherwise there will be destabilization all over the world. We do not want to give an extra reason for the Russian Federation to say that we have bases here and that they need to “protect” themselves. But we want everything else,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 February 2022.

During a working trip to the Donetsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Avdiivka and honored the memory of Ukrainian defenders perished in the battles for the city.

The Head of State laid flowers at the Memorial to the Fallen Soldiers of the JFO/ATO.

Together with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the ceremony was attended by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, and Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko.

During a working trip to the Donetsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the positions of Ukrainian servicemen on the front line of defense, where intense shelling continues.

The Head of State observed the samples of modern weapons and military equipment transferred to the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including FGM-148 Javelin and NLAW portable anti-tank missile systems, as well as M141 grenade launcher.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also observed the frontline positions and got himself acquainted with the operational and tactical situation in the area of responsibility of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The President spoke with the servicemen and presented gifts to them.

“I am proud of your heroism. You defend Ukraine’s independence and decently rebuff the enemy. We feel constant pride in our defenders,” he said.

In addition, the Head of State had dinner with the military.

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President of Ukraine visited the frontline positions of the military in the Donetsk region

17 February 2022 – 20:11

 

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an urgent phone conversation with President of the European Council Charles Michel.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed his interlocutor about the current security situation around our country, emphasizing that currently Ukraine sees no evidence of withdrawal of Russian troops from our borders.

The Head of State paid special attention to the aggravation of the situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation observed this morning. In particular, he reported a significant number of violations of the ceasefire by illegal armed groups.

The President put emphasis upon the shelling of a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska by illegal armed groups this morning and called it a big provocation.

“This situation has once again proven that the evacuation of OSCE representatives and diplomats from Ukraine is not appropriate. It is important that diplomats and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission stay in Ukraine. Monitoring activities are extremely important. This is an additional deterrent,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

According to the President, today the OSCE does not have enough resources to objectively record all the ceasefire violations that are taking place, including the current morning escalation.

The President of Ukraine and the President of the European Council mutually supported the position on the need to keep the missions in Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to political and diplomatic efforts aimed to unblock the peace process and restore stability.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also thanked Charles Michel for the initiative to hold a donors’ conference in support of Ukraine.

The conversation took place before the beginning of a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels chaired by the President of the European Council. In particular, Charles Michel will discuss with European leaders the information provided by the President of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the President of the European Council for the constant dialogue and his efforts to consolidate the international support of our state.

Charles Michel reaffirmed the EU’s strong and unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 February 2022.

While on a working trip to the Donetsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed the procedure of service of the Marine Guard of the State Border Guard Service in the waters of the Sea of Azov.

The Head of State put to sea aboard the Captain Chusov search and rescue ship. Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard information on the implementation of tasks by Marine Guard units in the Ukrainian part of the Sea of Azov.

During the passage through the waters, the Captain Chusov ship approached the vessels on combat duty – the Donbas ship of the Marine Guard of the State Border Guard Service and the Lubny small armored boat of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As their personnel lined up on the upper deck, the President greeted the servicemen and thanked them for their service.

Head of the regional department of the Marine Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Oleh Kostur presented a souvenir to the President – a memorial sign of the Marine Guard.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 February 2022.

Ukraine is ready for any format of talks with Russia to establish peace, but despite public statements, the Russian side does not show willingness for a real conversation. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with media representatives in Mariupol, Donetsk region.

“As soon as Russia says publicly that it is ready to talk about de-escalation, ready to talk about bilateral relations, every time after that we request Russia to hold a meeting in this or that format. But, apart from the public position, in reality they are not willing to communicate with us, they do not want to,” the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine is ready for talks. “I am ready for any format,” he said.

The Head of State also said that Ukraine, as a responsible country, submitted official requests and tried to contact Russian President Vladimir Putin when the risks of escalation on Ukraine’s borders increased due to the buildup of Russian troops.

“Ukraine is not left without an answer, but this answer does not lead to a meeting. Nobody approves the phone conversation either,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is also interested in initiatives of other countries that offer assistance in organizing a meeting with the Russian side.

“We are interested. I did not refuse any of the countries that offered this to us. Moreover, we ourselves have offered this to certain countries. We were interested in various formats of talks with the Russian Federation,” the President said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 February 2022.

Ukraine has been moving towards NATO membership for a long time, but, as in many other issues of sovereign choice, our country is being opposed on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration. The Head of State said this during a conversation with media representatives in Mariupol, Donetsk region.

“NATO is one of the issues that puts pressure on Ukraine. The main issue is Ukraine’s independence and its independent choice in all issues, and Ukraine has been fighting for its right to this for many years,” the President stressed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has chosen the course of NATO membership for its own security, and has been moving in this direction for a long time, but the distance to the Alliance for our country is not reduced.

“And this is not a philosophical question, there are specific reasons – opposition from Russia, which does not want Ukraine to be a member of NATO, and from some countries – members of the Alliance. And there are no secrets in this,” he said.

At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia is now using the NATO issue as an excuse for the deployment of their troops on Ukraine’s borders, and some European countries “are playing along in this”.

“But you shouldn’t distort the facts. Our territories have been occupied, the army is on our borders,” the Head of State stressed.

The President noted that the geopolitical course of Ukraine is enshrined in our Constitution, and this is indeed the choice of the Ukrainian people.

“But it is not the choice of the Ukrainian people when we will be there, as it depends not only on us – 30 countries must unanimously agree on this decision,” said the President, adding that the possibility of putting the NATO issue to a referendum is not being considered.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 16 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the Ukrainian servicemen control the situation on the borders of our state, but at the moment it cannot be stated that the Russian Federation is fully withdrawing its troops. The Head of State said this during the Marathon of Unity “#UArazom” while being in Mariupol, Donetsk region.

“The situation on our borders, on the touch line with the temporarily occupied territories, on the borders with Russia and Belarus is controlled by our military. We do not see any changes yet. We see a large concentration of troops, it has not changed in recent weeks. We see these or those small rotations. I would not call these rotations today the withdrawal of troops by the Russian Federation. We can’t state that,” he said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it is too early to draw conclusions.

According to the President, the Ukrainian state continues to be active in the political and diplomatic sphere. After all, it is through diplomatic channels that signals are coming about the possible risks of Russian groups’ buildup at the borders and escalation.

“Diplomacy has worked very well in terms of strengthening the Ukrainian army. This is also an important result. After all, thanks to our people, we have such an army, but we shouldn’t forget about the equipment,” the President said.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 16 February 2022.

In Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with servicemen and law enforcement officers who defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The event was also attended by diplomatic representatives of foreign countries.

“Dear defenders of our Ukrainian borders and peace on our land. You are real heroes! Dear ambassadors, diplomats, leaders of international organizations who remain with us today on Ukrainian land despite the situation near our borders. You are real friends! Dear soldiers who are now looking at us from the sky, as they gave lives for their native land. You are with us. You are real legends! Dear doctors, volunteers, chaplains who treat, help and pray for our soldiers! Dear journalists who saved their faces and did not spread panic! Dear citizens who have kept a cool head! Dear politicians who, for the sake of national security, were able to become statesmen, not runaways. Dear great Ukrainian people! I congratulate everyone on the holiday – Unity Day! I am grateful to everyone who defends the Homeland! Who stands and will stand for it! Who is faithful to the oath and faithful to Ukraine,” the President said.

The President stressed that there is nothing to be afraid of with such people, and the country is ready to overcome any threats, political and military pressure.

“We are not afraid of any predictions, we are not afraid of any people, any enemies. We are not afraid of any dates, because we will defend ourselves on February 16, 17, March and April, September and December – days and months are not important. The year is important: this is 2022, not 2014. This is an important difference. The war has been going on for eight years. We have become just as many times stronger. Without you there would be no state! Without you, this land would not exist. There will be no freedom on this land! The future is not interesting without you,” he stressed.

The President noted the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian diplomats, volunteers and the national resistance forces of the whole country, which inspire to defend their land, not to give in to provocations and “overcome the path to a peaceful and united Ukraine.”

“We are paving the way together. And only together we will build a peaceful and happy Ukraine! It is a great honor to be the President of such people, of such a state on such a day – the Day of Unity of the Great People of Great Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

He also presented state awards to servicemen.