Thank you so much.
Andy, thank you very much.
Dear friends!
I’m very glad that we’re together on this very important day, on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
And Mr. Prime Minister – Andy,
This is your first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and your first visit to our capital. And it is very symbolic that you are here today, and it is strong support. Britain has stood with Ukraine from the very beginning, and with all of our people, and Britain remains a real leader in supporting our defense and European security. And your today’s message about Storm Shadows – we are very thankful to your industry and to the French industry. To you and Emmanuel. This will really strengthen our army. Thank you so much. We have many major security issues to work on together, and I am very glad that we can do it.
And Emmanuel – Mr. President,
Thank you for your help and for your leadership as co-chair of this Coalition. And thank you to all the members of this Coalition for your commitment and for standing with Ukraine.
And we value this format – the Coalition of the Willing – it brings together countries that are ready not only to talk about security, but to act – we need it – to act and to build real security together.
So let us make this meeting truly productive – with real contributions to our security and decisions that make us stronger. We need it.
Russia continues its attacks and ballistic missiles – yesterday, we spoke about it, with details. Today we will continue.
So we need to make sure that the winter package of air defense will be in Ukraine. And we need the winter package of Patriot missiles. We hope that we will have this package – we need at least 300 Patriot missiles for the winter and for the cold months.
Every missile means lives saved. So please continue this work – through PURL, through bilateral dialogue, and different decisions.
We also have to deal with a funding gap. Because of the way defense budgeting works, at the beginning of this year the Ministry of Defense used funds that had been budgeted for the end of this year. And of course… But the total gap is 27 billion. Yesterday we spoke, and today the Prime Minister came, and I asked him – really asked – after the press leaves us, with all respect, yes, to share all the details of this question. And this is very important for us.
One of the main options is to bring forward part of the European loan funding, planned for next year, and make it available this year. But we should not give up on other ideas for how to ensure fair protection in this war – a war that Russia started and continues to prolong.
So, Russian sovereign assets are already frozen in Europe and in other jurisdictions around the world, including our partners, including Japan. And wherever these assets are, we need to find a fair way to use them for protection against Russia’s war.
So I think these are the most important topics, really – funding and air defense.
And of course, we want to share with you other details – details of negotiations, where we are. But again, a little bit later, I will be ready to share with you the details. Also, we now see the influence and the goal of the Russians to block our Black Sea totally – 100%. We understand what to do. It’s not simple, but I think with your support and with the support of all our partners, and of course, the decisions of the EU. And we want to speak about Solidarity Lanes, etc. Different instruments – what we can use to unblock not only with weapons – how to unblock the sea corridor, etc. I think this is an important thing.
And also, I’m very thankful that we have so many partners on VTC, and we have Ursula. And we have here António. António, thank you so much that you are here.
One very important point, of course – Ukraine’s EU accession.
And I hope that we will find time today to think about it – about our future.
Thank you so much, dear friends.
Glory to Ukraine!
