I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
We continue to bring people back from Russian captivity: today, another 160 service members are home. Almost all of them had been in captivity since 2022. Defenders of Mariupol, Azovstal, all of Donetsk region, and other directions, including Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, and Sumy regions. We must bring back everyone – military personnel and civilians – who are still in Russian captivity. We check every single name. This year, the results are tangible, and exchanges are ongoing. I thank the team engaged in negotiations, and every unit that replenishes the “exchange fund” for us, for Ukraine. Our offensive operations on the frontline and the repelling of Russian assaults also create opportunities to bring our people back from Russia. More than 9,500 people have already been brought home since the start of the full-scale war. This year alone, 1,596 Ukrainians have been returned. We are also expecting the next stages. Thank you. And I especially want to thank everyone who does not leave people behind after they return – who does not leave them without proper support. Reintegration, necessary medical treatment, and addressing social issues – all of this is important, and there must be care, there must be support.
Today, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko is already in Kyiv with the results of the conference in Gdańsk. We discussed the agreements: there are 160 deals for Ukraine, with a total value of more than €10 billion. A key focus is energy and recovery in the regions. Now, during the summer period, we need to implement resilience plans for our regions and communities as fully as possible. This is a matter of principle. The agreements brought back from the conference must complement this work.
We also held detailed discussions with diplomats on meetings and communications with our partners in June and July. Everything must deliver results. Cyprus’s Presidency of the European Union is followed by Ireland’s Presidency… There is important progress on the clusters, and we hope to see further advancement. We are also preparing for the NATO Summit in Ankara, along with many bilateral formats. Strengthening our air defense is our top priority. Anti-ballistic capabilities, missiles and systems for Ukraine, and a joint European anti-ballistic defense production project – we need real results. I am grateful to the leaders, and I am grateful to the countries that are already working with us on anti-ballistic capabilities. This work continues.
And one more thing.
Ukrainian warriors prove every day the strength of Ukraine’s precision. Ukraine’s long-range and medium-range sanctions are being fully implemented. These are our just responses to Russia for this war – a war that Russia started and must be the one to end. Russia must get out of Ukraine with its war – we want no war. Ukraine has put forward proposals to our key partners, and Putin’s friends have also heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must now take that step toward peace. I thank everyone who has joined us in pushing Russia toward diplomacy. I thank everyone who is helping us defend Ukraine and protect human life.
Glory to Ukraine!