In the Coming Week, We Will Work to Build New Pressure and a Clear Global Position on Russia – Address by the President

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

All day today, I have been receiving briefings from Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal. Restoration efforts are ongoing after Russian strikes. Sadly, new hits occur every night. Russia’s main target remains unchanged: our energy sector. Practically around the clock, and in repair crews only, nearly 58,000 people are working on power grids and generation facilities, as well as on heating networks. Resources from Ukrzaliznytsia and other state-owned companies have been brought in. In Kyiv, where the situation is extremely tough, an additional 50 crews from across the country have been deployed. There are still buildings without heating, and for virtually every one of these buildings, the necessary equipment and the necessary crews are being dispatched manually. Things are also difficult in the Kyiv region – especially in the northern part of the region, and in the Boryspil district – as well as in border and frontline regions, where repairs to networks and repairs to facilities are complicated by almost constant shelling and constant strikes. This is Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia regions – these regions are receiving particular attention. A great deal of work was carried out in the Poltava region and in Odesa to stabilize the energy situation.

I want to thank all the crews who are working, the energy companies, both public and private, and all the city and community leaders who are truly standing with their people and really helping us.

Decisions to increase electricity imports are now being implemented. I want to thank our partners who are fulfilling our agreements on the supply of essential resources, machinery, and equipment. In particular, the implementation of our agreements with Italy has begun in recent days. Giorgia Meloni and I discussed this: now support packages – these are truly vital items, truly vital equipment – are being delivered to Ukraine. I would also like to recognize our Naftogaz team. Throughout the week, the company’s facilities in various regions have been under attack, with the latest strike on gas production – it happened yesterday. It is very important that private Ukrainian companies are working together with the Government, together with the state, and together with the public system to strengthen our country’s resilience. This is exactly how it should be – everyone working together, everyone on team Ukraine.

Today, I also received briefings from our delegation in the United States: Rustem Umerov reported on meetings with envoys of President Trump. Several rounds of talks have already taken place. Work is underway on documents needed to end the war. And it is important that Ukraine’s team is fully informing the American side about what is happening in Ukraine and about Russia’s constant strikes on our energy system. If the Russians seriously wanted to end the war, they'd focus on diplomacy – not on missile strikes, blackouts, and even attempts to damage our nuclear power plants. We have information about the sites Russia reconnoitered in preparation for strikes. Everything clearly shows that diplomacy is not a priority for Russia. This must be acknowledged. Pressure on the aggressor and the real cause of this war must continue. The cause is in Moscow. In the coming week, we will work to build this new pressure and a clear global position on Russia.

I also want to commend our warriors today: despite everything, despite harsh weather and constant Russian assaults, there are good results in defending our positions. It matters that, on many fronts, our warriors are doing exactly what Ukraine needs. I thank all of you, guys! Huliaipole: the 5th Assault Brigade; the 1st and 225th Separate Assault Regiments. Kupyansk direction: true examples for others – the 429th Unmanned Systems Brigade “Achilles,” the 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard “Khartiia,” the 101st Guard Brigade of the General Staff, and the 475th Separate Assault Regiment. Thank you very much! Also, the Kharkiv region: the 127th Heavy Mechanized Brigade. Thank you so much! Pokrovsk direction: our 25th Airborne Brigade and our units of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment. Thank you! The Sumy region: the 71st Jaeger Brigade. Well done! Ocheretyne direction: the warriors of the 14th Operational Brigade of the National Guard “Chervona Kalyna” and the 25th Separate Assault Battalion. Well done! And our positions in the Orikhiv direction: the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade. Thank you, warriors! Glory to everyone who is fighting for Ukraine just as fiercely as for themselves. I thank everyone who works so that our Ukraine lives.

Glory to Ukraine!