Dear Ukrainians!
Rescue and recovery efforts are currently underway in Kharkiv at the site of a strike on a residential building – a Russian strike. It was an ordinary apartment block. As of now, ten people have been reported killed. Among the victims are children: a girl who was 13 and a boy who was nine. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Additional specialists have been brought in from other regions to clear the rubble, from the Poltava and Sumy regions. They are searching for people’s bodies under the rubble. It was a devastating strike. Sixteen people were also wounded. All of them are receiving the assistance they need. It was a massive attack against civilians. In Kyiv and in other regions as well, including strikes on energy facilities.
Today I spoke with President Macron about this attack, about our need for air defense missiles, and about the fact that Ukraine must defend itself every day against Russian strikes, every night against “shaheds” and missiles. This requires resilience and support – the implementation of all the agreements that have been reached and that are still, in many respects, on pause. I thank Emmanuel, and I thank the other leaders who understand the full extent of the dangers and do not play games with people’s lives. So far, there has been no progress on the EU’s 20th sanctions package targeting Russia over this war. There has also been no movement on the 90-billion-euro assistance package for Ukraine. Even though Europe recognizes that this is vital for us, the blocking of the package still continues. Emmanuel and I coordinated our positions on this, and in the coming days, essentially the entire next week will be devoted to joint work with Europeans so that the decisions needed for Ukraine’s defense actually begin to work. I also thank every leader and every country that remembers PURL – a program that allows us to purchase American interceptors for Patriots. We all understand the risks created by Iranian strikes and the resulting need for air defense in the Middle East. It is important that the protection of life is ensured here in Ukraine too. Even more so, since we see information about Russian assistance to the Iranian regime – reports indicate that the Russians are providing intelligence to the Iranian regime to help adjust strikes against Americans. There is also evidence of Russian components in the “shahed” drones used in the Middle East – against both Arab countries and Americans in the region. Every such fact shows that we are dealing with regimes not merely connected to one another, but that sustain one another – the Russian and Iranian regimes. And they are killing in a practically coordinated way, both here in Europe and there in the Middle East. Therefore, defense must also be coordinated. Life in Europe and life in the Middle East deserve equally effective protection. For our part, we are working to help strengthen defenses against “shahed” drones. And we quite rightfully expect that our own defense will receive the necessary support as well, and that Russia will face consequences not only for dragging out this war against us, but also for attempting to expand that war further. Life needs protection – joint, strong, coordinated action.
And one more thing.
Today I want to commend our Ukrainian Paralympians. On the very first day of competition, Ukraine has already won six medals – three gold, one silver, and two bronze. And what is important is that the Ukrainian flag and the Ukrainian anthem will now be featured proudly and prominently in Italy – prominently, in particular, for those immoral sports officials who allowed Russians to compete during a war of aggression and permitted them to carry their flag – the flag of war. Life must be protected. War must be brought to an end. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine in exactly this way, taking care of life and people just like this.
Glory to Ukraine!