Fellow Ukrainians!
The main things for today. We are working with all our partners on air defense for Ukraine – clearly, this is the first priority. The day before, we spoke with the President of France and the Prime Minister of Norway; today, I spoke with the President of Finland, and our diplomatic team is focused precisely on this. Anti-ballistic capabilities are now in short supply globally because of the war with Iran, but we must look for solutions.
On the front, our positions are stronger: thanks to the courage of our people, thanks to drones, our various technological solutions, mid-range strikes, and our long-range sanctions, we have managed to stabilize the front. It's not easy. We are defending actively – this year, we have achieved greater results than before. It is especially gratifying when this is clearly confirmed, including by the whining of the so-called Russian “war correspondents.”
As for defending the skies, we are discussing this with all our partners. Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America on expanding the production of anti-ballistic capabilities. We are trying to accelerate work in Europe on producing our own anti-ballistic capabilities on the continent in sufficient quantities. I want to thank Emmanuel and all partners who are ready to accelerate this work together with us. We will continue engaging with the United States regarding its ability to support Ukraine – our defense of life here and our ability, later on, to help defend life for other nations, those who truly need it. The PURL program is working, and we are grateful for that. Europe is helping us financially. But the leadership of the United States is also very much needed. And it is truly very important to say this today.
Today is Memorial Day in America – a day of national respect for each and every person who defended America and freedom in uniform. Without the United States, there simply would have been no European freedom – and the 20th century proved this absolutely clearly. And now Russia’s full-scale war is not only against Ukraine, but also against the very format of such a Europe – a free, democratic, united Europe. It is Euro-Atlantic unity that has been, and remains, the foundation of the world’s economic and, in many respects, social development after World War II. Right now, everyone is having a hard time without America, too. Ukraine is grateful to the United States for supporting our defense. We are grateful for the American experience that has helped us, and we are ready to share our own security and technological experience – tested by this war – for cooperation with America. We have offered all of this to Washington. It is very important that there be results. The same applies to diplomacy. We expect new diplomatic engagements with envoys of the President of the United States, and we will also work more actively with American society at various levels – from Congress to civic leaders. This war must be ended – and ended in a dignified way. Of course, America’s role – America, which Russia fears, and these are not just words – America’s role truly must be, and can be, one of leadership.
One more point.
Today, I spoke with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and with members of the single-party parliamentary majority. We discussed priorities for these weeks, for the near future. I thank all those in the Government, in parliament, in regional and local authorities, and in communities who are truly working for Ukrainians and for their own state. We have only one Ukraine.
I thank everyone who fights for Ukrainian interests as for their own.
Glory to Ukraine!
