Tag: Press Release

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

On the occasion of the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the “Golden Star” orders to servicemen who were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and to members of the families of fallen Heroes, as well as other state awards. The ceremony took place in the courtyard of the Mariyinsky Palace in the city of Kyiv.

Addressing the audience, the Head of State noted that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has tried to gain control over the Ukrainian skies, but even with a technical advantage, the invaders were unable to do so.

“Ukrainian pilots, anti-aircraft fighters and all those who defend our airspace have turned out to be much more professional, braver and more motivated,” he emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that many countries in the world have military aircraft and air defense systems, but only a few countries have truly combat-capable military aviation and know how to achieve victories in the air.

The President noted that Ukraine has already done a lot to strengthen its Air Force, but much more needs to be done.

“I am sure that the day will come when we will be able to say that the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has become not only one of the most combat-capable in the world, but also one of the most modern and technological,” he emphasized.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, every destroyed Russian aircraft and helicopter, every downed Russian missile, every task completed by the Air Force means saved lives of Ukrainian citizens.

“On behalf of all Ukrainians, I want to thank you, each and every one who is fighting in the Air Force of our country,” said the President.

Those present honored the memory of the deceased with a moment of silence.

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

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting devoted to compensating Ukraine for the damage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.

He said that the issue of compensation for damages caused by the Russian invasion is an important element of the responsibility that the aggressor state must bear.

To develop and implement the compensation mechanism, the President created an ad hoc working group chaired by Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, consisted of representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers and leading Ukrainian and foreign specialists on international law.

The meeting participants discussed the progress of the negotiation process regarding the forced withdrawal of assets of the Russian Federation in favor of our state and coordinated steps in this direction.

In particular, work on the creation of an ad hoc compensation commission through the conclusion of a multilateral international agreement with Ukrainian partners continues. This commission will be able to consider applications seeking for compensation for damage caused by the war. An important step to ensure the international legal basis for this mechanism was the adoption of a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on June 22, 2022, which states that the Council of Europe will promote and ensure the implementation of a comprehensive system of accountability for aggression against Ukraine by implementing an institutional compensatory mechanism for our state . Similar work is being done in the OSCE, the European Parliament, the UN and other organizations.

In addition, Ukraine is negotiating with partners on how Russian assets, which are currently frozen in various jurisdictions, can be recovered and used for reparations for the damage caused by the war.

At the meeting, it was noted that today our partners do not doubt that this should be done, and the only question is to find a legal avenue.

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

People from 110 countries of the world joined the fundraising platform UNITED24, initiated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in three months of its operation and the total amount of charitable contributions exceeded UAH 6 billion.

The American actor, multiple-time Golden Globe nominee Liev Schreiber, one of the world’s most famous musical groups, Imagine Dragons, and the artistic director of the legendary Balenciaga Fashion House, Demna joined the UNITED24 platform as ambassadors in July.

Thanks to the operation of the platform, professional military drones were sent to the frontline – the first purchases within the framework of the Army of Drones project. A total of 78 Matrice multi-copter drones, 20 Fly Eye 3.0 drones and two Warmate complexes with 40 kamikaze drones were purchased.

In addition, with the funds raised through UNITED24, the MI-2AM-1 helicopter was purchased for the first time, which is mainly used to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield. It is capable of transporting two severely wounded and three doctors or cargo weighing up to 1,200 kg up covering distances of up to 600 km and reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h.

The fundraising by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska at the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen will allow buying more than 50 vehicles. A total of 24 top-class ambulances have already been purchased and are on their way to Ukraine.

The President of Ukraine thanked everyone who joins the UNITED24 platform.

“Don’t stop supporting Ukraine. Every contribution is important to us,” Zelenskyy said.

During the third month of the platform’s operation, the Ministry of Health purchased 12 C-arm X-ray machines, 9 X-ray transparent operating tables and 83 anesthesia machine breathing systems. Ukrainian doctors will also receive artificial lung ventilation systems for children’s hospitals. Funds for them were raised within the charity matches of world No. 1 tennis player from Poland Iga Świątek: $191,000 from the sale of tickets, and another $100,000 were donated by the Johnson family from the New York Jets Foundation. For this purpose, the heirs of the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson Brick and Jack Johnson personally visited Krakow.

Qatar Fund For Development also made a contribution to help Ukrainian doctors: $5 million were used for the purchase of ambulance vehicles and anesthesia machine breathing systems for surgical interventions in medical institutions.

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

Ukraine seeks to expand ties with African countries and began this process even before Russia’s full-scale invasion of our territory. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized this during an online meeting with African journalists, in particular with media representatives from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana.

“We in Ukraine are changing this policy. And we began to change it before the start of a full-scale war on the part of Russia. Even during the war, I appointed a special representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa. We want to expand our ties. It is very important for us. We also strive to find different areas for investment,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is planning a tour of African countries in the autumn.

“I can’t do it now because of the war. I planned it before the war, and I am sure that I will do it after the war,” he added.

The Head of State recalled that already after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, he had phone conversations with the leaders of many African countries.

“We were able to raise this layer, which our diplomacy had previously forgotten about. And I believe that it is a common problem of Ukraine and the countries of the African continent that we did not get closer to each other during the years of independence of our state,” said the President.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that in the future Ukraine and African countries will have many joint economic projects. According to him, our state is ready to be a guarantor of food security in African countries. Ukraine also strives for cultural exchange. In addition, our state has one of the most developed IT industries in the world, a very high level of digital services for the population and is ready to share this experience.

“I believe that the African continent is an underestimated territory, underestimated countries and the potential of people. Because I know how underestimated our region and our people are. And now, due to the blocking of the ports, the whole world saw how much Ukraine has done and how much it can do,” the Head of State summarized.

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

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that the whole world, in particular the countries of the African continent, cannot take a neutral position regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, as Russian aggression will have consequences for them as well. The Head of State said this during an online meeting with African journalists, including media representatives from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana.

“I don’t think there should be neutrality in war. This is the wrong attitude. There can be no neutrality between life and death. When you are neutral in the war, you immediately turn from even a large state into a small one. No one sees you, the world does not see you, and therefore you do not influence the processes in the world. And when you have problems, you have to remember that the world can also be neutral. And it’s not about business – it’s about people’s lives. I believe that the position of neutrality is not modern,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to the President, the world should know the truth about the fact that a colonial war started by Russia is currently ongoing on Ukrainian territory. He noted that racism and Nazism once asserted the alleged superiority of one race or nation over others, and now a new term has appeared – “rashism”, which describes the so-called “Russian world”, in which Russia does not recognize the right to existence of the multi-million Ukrainian people, its language and culture.

According to the Head of State, if one or another country does not have enough economic or political weight to influence the Russian Federation and force it to stop the war, then at least at the level of diplomacy, it is necessary to condemn death, autocracy, racism, Nazism and “rashism”, to condemn aggression.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that the world should have paid more attention to what is happening in some countries of the African continent, which have also experienced wars and tragedies.

“There is no war, which is far away. This is the injustice of the security structure of the whole world, which needs to be changed. International institutions need to be changed to make them work. Today, when we talk about security guarantees for Ukraine, we act as a living yet tragic example that can later be extended to other continents and other states,” he said.

The President also noted that Ukraine does not divide African countries into those that profess neutrality in relation to Russian aggression and those that support our state. Our state is ready to provide grain to all African countries that need it, because hunger cannot be treated neutrally.

“It’s about people dying. I know what we should do to help the countries of the African continent, just as African countries should unite and support Ukraine, because the truth is on our side,” he said.

The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine will fight to the end, and when this war will end depends on the unification of the world around our country and against Russian aggression.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 3 August 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu, who is on his first foreign visit to our country.

The Head of State thanked the Minister for this signal of solidarity with Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that there is no need to prove support from Estonia, as Ukrainians know about it and appreciate it.

“We are grateful for the support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Real support, not words. Support with real steps,” said the President.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during the visit of Urmas Reinsalu, a capsule was laid in the border town of Ovruch in the Zhytomyr region on the occasion of the start of the construction of the first kindergarten within the Fast Recovery Plan. This is the first of 15 objects of general infrastructure that the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration submitted for consideration by the Estonian government for assistance in the reconstruction of the region.

“All the reconstruction – we understand that it is a large amount of money, a lot of work and a long time, and the main work will be held after the end of the war. But there is emergency help that is needed now, before the beginning of the school year, the educational process. This is the construction and restoration of schools and kindergartens, universities, as well as homes for forcibly displaced persons,” the President noted.

He stated that Ukraine received confirmation of participation in the implementation of the reconstruction plan from many states, but Estonia was the first to start implementing the project.

“I want to thank you for starting this process. This is the first occasion for us. We are grateful your country started this work. I am grateful to the government of Estonia and Estonians,” added Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President separately reminded that this is not the only case when Estonia is the first to provide support to Ukraine. It was one of the first states that supported Ukraine in the matter of providing weapons.

“This is the most important priority on the battlefield today. And this was especially tangible at the very beginning of the war, when the world was not yet united by its help. But there were several countries that helped from the first day,” he said.

In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance for Ukraine of Estonia’s consistent support for the sanctions policy against the aggressor country, as well as for the European integration course of our country.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 3 August 2022.

In addition to success at the front, victories in other spheres, particularly in culture, sports and science, are no less important for Ukraine, because today all of this is our great battlefield against Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during a conversation with students and lecturers of Australia’s leading higher education institutions.

“I believe that culture, sports and science are of great importance in times of war, and maybe even more important than in times of peace. For Ukraine, for every citizen today, victory is motivation. And that’s why any victory motivates. We cheer for our athletes like never before. We cheer for our cultural figures, and Eurovision is not an exception, but, on the contrary, a great example. We cheer for our scientists, and when they become the best mathematicians or physicists in the world, we cheer for them more than ever. Some of us did not even know about such people in peacetime,” said the Head of State.

“Today, victory in all directions is important for us – not only on the battlefield. Because all this is our big battlefield today,” added the President.

He also noted that today, despite the contradictions that exist in any society, Ukrainian society is united and therefore strong at the time of great trials.

“I would like to believe that we will remain the same united nation after the war as we are during it,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The communication took place on the basis of the Australian National University. The moderator was the rector of this university, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia Julie Bishop. Representatives of almost 20 educational institutions joined the event in the online format.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 3 August 2022.

You cannot stand aside from the aggressive war waged by Russia against Ukraine if you share democratic principles. Defeating tyranny requires strong and effective support from people around the world. This was said by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with students and lecturers of leading institutions of higher education in Australia.

“This is a struggle between autocracy and democracy. That’s why you can’t stand aside if you defend common principles with Ukraine. I am sure that the majority of people and countries in the world defend the same values that we defend today on the battlefield at the cost of our own lives,” he said.

The Head of State noted that now it is not enough just to sympathize with Ukraine and Ukrainians – effective support is needed.

“We are grateful for this, for the support in words, but, of course, we need support in deeds. To defeat tyranny, one must be very specific. And right now. After all, every minute, every hour, every day we are losing the most important thing that the planet Earth, God and our parents gave us – people’s lives,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President thanked Australian citizens who support Ukraine as volunteers and provide humanitarian aid.

He also noted that an information war is currently unfolding in the world, as Russia has a large propaganda machine and spends billions of dollars on it.

“We understand everything about Russia. We know that the enemy has come to our land. But in different parts of the world, which are located far from Ukraine – on the African continent, in Asia – Russia spreads disinformation that they have not attacked anyone. And in some parts of the world it works. Even after eight years of war, people cannot open their hearts to the truth. Sometimes they are OK with that, sometimes their business interests are more important to them than people’s lives when making decisions,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained.

In this regard, the Head of State called on students, young people who actively use social networks, to spread in their countries true information about Ukraine and what is happening in it.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that as President, he does everything every day to ensure that Russia cannot find allies anywhere on the planet in this unjust war of aggression.

“Fortunately, I’m not the only one doing it, we all are doing it – many leaders in the world are working to convey the truth. And we see that Russia is losing allies,” the Head of State said.

He noted that he would like such an influential country as China to join the united world position regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“Today, China is balancing and adheres to neutrality. I will honestly say that this neutrality is much better than China joining Russia. I believe that the Chinese society, the people of this country will make a wise choice. Still, it is important for us that China does not help Russia,” the President said.

The communication took place on the basis of the Australian National University. The moderator was the rector of this university, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia Julie Bishop. Representatives of almost 20 educational institutions joined the event in the online format.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with current OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau.

The Head of State thanked the President and government of Poland, as well as the entire Polish people for their strong support to Ukraine during the full-scale Russian invasion.

“These are powerful neighbors who are helping us today, at this historic moment, supporting us in various directions,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He also expressed gratitude to Poland for the assistance to forcibly displaced persons from Ukraine.

“They help in every way they can – taking in families, helping our children, helping families find jobs and shelter,” the Head of State noted.

The President noted Poland’s legislative initiatives in support of Ukrainians residing on the territory of this country. He reminded that the Verkhovna Rada passed a similar law regarding the special status of Poles in Ukraine.

“I believe that there should be as many such things as possible between our nations. Such unity at this time testifies to the common future of our nations, our independent sovereign states,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Poland for defense assistance to Ukraine, in particular for the supply of Krab self-propelled artillery systems.

The Head of State called on Zbigniew Rau to make efforts to free Ukrainians who were members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission from enemy captivity.

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

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The Secretary General of the Alliance expressed condolences over Russia’s killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka.

The President of Ukraine separately informed Jens Stoltenberg about the situation on the battlefield and the need for Ukraine to quickly receive more heavy weapons from NATO member states in order to successfully repulse Russian attacks and proceed to a further counteroffensive.

In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of receiving non-lethal military aid from the Alliance as soon as possible in the framework of the comprehensive package approved at the Madrid NATO Summit. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the full financing of this assistance.

The President separately discussed with the Secretary General of the Alliance the status of processing Ukraine’s requests to NATO regarding aid in humanitarian demining and expressed hope for the acceleration of the supply of the necessary equipment.

Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the agreement on unblocking the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea ports and the dispatch of the first ship with grain from Odesa.

The Head of State invited the Secretary General of NATO to participate in the online summit of the Crimea Platform on August 23.