President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting a decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose sanctions on five Russian cultural figures who justify the aggression and spread Russian propaganda at international events. All of them are linked to the aggressor state’s participation in the 61st Venice Biennale.

The Head of State stressed: it’s important that the country has got through this difficult winter with dignity. According to the President, this required great efforts from all Ukrainians, first and foremost from our warriors.

During the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented state awards to representatives of local self-government bodies and military administrations, as well as the honorary distinctions “Hero City of Ukraine”.

We got through this winter thanks to all our people who work for our state, for their communities, thanks to the professionals in energy companies and municipal services. I want to thank you all. Business also performed well – supplies, logistics.

The Head of State thanked them for their resilience throughout this difficult winter and for supporting the front, and expressed special gratitude to the servicemembers for all their efforts in defending Ukraine, in particular our skies, along with critical and civilian infrastructure, from Russian attacks.

Today, the United States has turned to diplomacy in the situation around Iran, and the world supports this. A ceasefire always creates more space for diplomacy and should precede a genuine end to the war. Ukraine has always approached this war – Russia’s war against Ukraine – from the same position.

The Head of State congratulated the ambassadors on the start of their diplomatic missions in our country and thanked them for their support of Ukraine and its independence.