I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
First of all, I want to thank all our people working practically around the clock to restore electricity after all these Russian strikes. A lot has been done in Kyiv, in the Kyiv region, and in the eastern regions. Due to Russian shelling, restoration is significantly complicated in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Sumy regions. Last night, the Russians struck Odesa – it was a deliberate attack on our critical infrastructure. A significant number of drones were shot down, but sadly, not all. Odesa’s energy infrastructure was hit. Every effort is being made to repair and restore electricity. I expect an update on this after 8 p.m.
Today, we have already held several important international conversations, and it’s energy – energy that remains central. We are working closely with our partners to ensure sufficient support. There will be further talks in the coming days. This is about equipment that we are stockpiling in reserve for the winter, as well as currently using in our communities, wherever it’s needed. It’s also about necessary funding. And of course, air defense: only air defense systems, once their numbers are sufficient, can guarantee protection. We are working to secure missiles for these systems.
I spoke with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in great detail about our energy sector, about ways to strengthen our air defense capabilities. I also informed him of the situation in Odesa and other cities and communities. I am grateful for his willingness to help. President Trump asked about the situation in the capital and our other regions. The world sees what Russia is doing and how it tries to take advantage, while global leaders focus on ending the war in the Middle East.
Chances are good that the deal will be effective there. And the greater the peace and security in one region, the more opportunities it brings to everyone in the world. Ukraine always calls on the world from this very position to support our defense, to support our work here, in Europe, for the sake of security.
Unfortunately, Russia is a terrorist that seeks every opportunity to strike harder – especially when global attention is focused elsewhere – even when it is already clear that they in Russia remain the sole, literally last, source of this full-scale war. We count on the United States and all our partners to continue acting decisively and exerting strong pressure so that our people feel support, have protection, and Ukraine can stand strong.
Today, I received the necessary signals that the U.S. is considering ways to strengthen our cooperation. Thank you. I also spoke today with the Prime Minister of Canada, also, primarily focusing on our air defense and energy needs. Our PURL initiative is going well, enabling us to purchase American weapons, including missiles for the Patriots. I thank all NATO partners already in the program, and we will be grateful to Canada for expanding its involvement.
We also coordinated our contacts with other leaders and other countries. Following today’s conversations with leaders, I have already given the necessary instructions to our team: the military, the Office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Results must be delivered.
I thank all those who stand with us, I thank all those who stand with Ukraine! And I thank everyone who is supporting our people, who is helping our state, who is helping our communities and all those in need right now. It is vital to support one another – then all of Ukraine will grow stronger.
Glory to Ukraine!