I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today was a long and eventful day. First, a meeting on the negotiations – primarily our coordination with the United States. We are in contact with President Trump’s envoys every day, and that is important. At the meeting in Washington, we discussed how new circumstances could be created to enable real diplomacy. We are working to make all this happen. Budanov, Umerov, Arakhamiia, and Kyslytsya delivered reports – each on their respective elements of the negotiation track – on where we currently stand in the negotiations and what is happening in Moscow regarding its attitude toward the negotiations. We will be ready for meetings in any format, and we expect Witkoff and Kushner to be active now, in August. Work with other partners is also continuing – particularly in the Gulf countries, which can support our diplomatic efforts and our security needs. We're not making this public just yet – no details. We can't disclose everything. We will be grateful to our partners for delivering results.
Second. Today, we spoke in considerable detail with government officials and the Office’s diplomatic team about the situation with the European Union – our needs, our expectations, and our plans. The process of opening clusters in the negotiations has already begun, and this is not merely something bureaucratic. It is a real step toward the time when we will be able to say that Ukraine is gaining full membership in the European Union. That is precisely our goal: full membership. Today, we determined the sequence of steps that could accelerate this process. We in Ukraine believe that we can organize it so that our accession proceeds on a special fast track. What does this mean in practice? The various integration processes and the work to bring our institutions closer together do not have to be drawn out over time. We can take steps in parallel across all areas of integration. I am counting on exactly this kind of an accelerated accession program, which must become part of the Government’s action program. Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi and the relevant Deputy Prime Minister, Vsevolod Chentsov, are already preparing it. They must present all the details in August.
For Ukraine, accession to the European Union – and likewise, for the European Union, Ukraine’s accession – is not just about politics and the economy, nor is it just about social issues. It is also about security. Above all, security. We all want to preserve Euro-Atlantic unity. The best way to preserve it is for Europe to be more self-reliant and stronger. This is already being called the Europeanization of security within this Alliance, within the Euro-Atlantic community. And this is directly linked to what NATO will be like. We are making our contribution, and only with Ukraine can and must the European Union be guaranteed the ability to defend itself against all types of threats.
There was a report from the SSU. I approved new operations for the Security Service of Ukraine. Today, Oleksandr Poklad reported on what was accomplished in July. We set the priorities for August. I am grateful to the SSU for the strong positions. Today, the Ministry of Defense reported on Russian casualties on the front line in July. The Security Service of Ukraine’s “Apha” unit ranks first in terms of successful target engagements. They were the most successful. Well done! Overall, in July, all our units on the front eliminated 30,272 Russians – specifically using drones. This figure includes both killed and badly wounded. And this figure includes only cases for which there is clear video evidence. So the trend on the front remains unchanged. Every month, the Russians lose about 30,000 troops. Our army and all units of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces will have even more drones.
I thank everyone who defends Ukraine and our people, and everyone who helps us with air defense missiles! Air defense is the top priority. It is important that our partners hear Ukraine and know that every package for our air defense truly protects lives – people’s lives.
Glory to Ukraine!