I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
It’s been an active day. The Prime Minister of Norway visited Ukraine. Thank you, Jonas! Norway provides a lot of support and is one of our largest partners. Air defense for Ukraine, contributions to the PURL initiative enabling us to purchase American missiles for the Patriots, military aid packages, and energy support. Norway helped us get through this winter. Overall, we’ve reached the highest level of relations with all the countries of Northern Europe. It’s one of the most productive formats – NB8: the Nordic countries plus the Baltic States.
Just yesterday, we held a corresponding summit here in Kyiv. Leaders came to Ukraine to support us, and new aid packages have been announced right now. Sweden provides a military assistance package worth USD 1.5 billion. Norway adds almost USD 1.2 billion for our joint drone production. And we already effectively have strategic relations with Norway, and we agreed to formalize this through a corresponding agreement. Denmark is providing a support package for the energy and humanitarian sectors, which will support people and life in communities right now. Additional decisions on support have been made by Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. And altogether, the NB8 countries – the Nordics and the Baltics – will allocate over EUR 12 billion to support Ukraine this year, including around EUR 1 billion for energy support. This is extremely important for us – for Ukraine. Every decision, every meeting, and our summits strengthen Ukraine’s confidence and increase our ability to protect lives.
I also want to once again highlight our joint work with the European Union. Yesterday, we discussed important issues with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council. First, the EU will participate in restoring Ukraine’s energy sector and upgrading its protection. We discussed this in detail, and the government officials are already preparing a corresponding strategy for reconstruction and protection for the next winter. The task is to present the details by March 1, and the strategy will be approved at the national level, so that every community and every region clearly understands the priorities. Ursula will help us implement this. Thank you!
We also had substantive discussions on the new EU sanctions package – the 20th package. We expect the sanctions pressure on Russia over this war to continue and to remain effective. I thank the United Kingdom for the new sanctions – the largest since 2022. Australia has also presented a new sanctions package, along with New Zealand and Canada. Canada has also provided a support package. There are new support decisions from Croatia as well.
All of this – in these very days, right now – clearly demonstrates that our partners stand with us, with Ukraine. In March, we will continue active diplomatic efforts – a lot is already planned. We will continue to strengthen Ukraine. And this day is not over yet – there will be further negotiations.
And one more thing.
I received reports from the Security Service of Ukraine: I tasked Yevhenii Khmara and Oleksandr Poklad with working to cleanse the Service of those whose interests are not aligned with Ukraine at all. Results have already been achieved. Today, corresponding detentions took place, and it is very important that fair verdicts follow. Everyone in public office must work for Ukraine and for the sake of Ukraine. There will be no other option.
Glory to Ukraine!