I wish you good health!
A brief update on today. First, this morning, I had a discussion with Prime Minister Svyrydenko and Minister of Energy Shmyhal on the situation after the Russian strikes. In the Chernihiv region, there were significant outages, and part of the region is currently without electricity. Repair work is ongoing. There was also a repeat strike. Nevertheless, all the necessary services for restoration have been deployed. I want to thank everyone who is working to help people and bring the lights back on. In Zaporizhzhia, repair work is also ongoing after a strike on an energy facility. Power supply is expected to be restored. There were strikes in the Sumy region, as well as in the Dnipro region. Strikes also hit our Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Wherever needed, units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, repair and emergency crews, and municipal services are operating. Everyone is working.
Second, our team is currently in the United States, and a meeting already took place today. Representing the American side were Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. It is important for all of us in the world that diplomacy continues and that we are working to end this war – Russia’s war against Ukraine. No one wants this war. The teams will continue discussions tomorrow. The key issue is to understand how ready Russia is to move toward a real end to the war, and whether it is ready to do so honestly and with dignity. Especially now, when the geopolitical tensions have only increased due to the situation around Iran. A more detailed report from our team will follow.
And the third point is worth mentioning. In recent days, France, in my view, has taken another strong step: a shadow fleet tanker used by Russia to transport oil has been detained. This tanker is already under sanctions by Ukraine, and sanctions by the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States – and yet the Russians continue to use it. It systematically transports not only Russian but also Iranian oil. These are real accomplices – Russia and the Iranian regime – even in such matters as the shadow fleet, they effectively share everything. And when stopping one such evil – the Iranian regime – we must remember that the other evil must also face appropriate pressure. As long as the war continues, as long as the strikes continue, pressure on the aggressor must continue as well. We are working with European countries so that their legislation allows not only stopping such vessels, but also blocking them and confiscating the oil. This must be done. I thank France and all our other partners in Europe who are acting decisively. Thank you very much.
And today, Olena and I were at St. Michael’s Cathedral, where the farewell for Patriarch Filaret is ongoing. He was a profoundly significant person for Ukraine – truly a historic figure. His energy and character changed so much. We remember. We honor his contribution to Ukraine’s spiritual independence and to the creation of an autocephalous church. Blessed memory to him.
Glory to Ukraine!