Dear Ukrainians!
A brief update on today. Our team – including military personnel and Rustem Umerov – is now on its way to the Gulf region, where they can help protect lives and stabilize the situation. We see the challenges that exist now due to strikes from Iran, due to this entire war, which could drag on. The Iranian regime has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz – one of the main routes for supplying oil and gas to the global market. This is a major source of instability. No one in the world can yet say how long all of this will last, but it is important that the protection of life starts working effectively as soon as possible. Stability is important for us as well. Those now seeking Ukraine’s help must continue to assist our own defense – first and foremost, our air defense. Last year, we already proposed an agreement to the United States – a drone agreement. This is the right way forward: to partner with us in the production and use of drones, and everyone now sees that there is no alternative to this approach. Ukraine has the greatest experience in the world in countering attack drones, and without our experience, it will be very difficult for the Gulf region, the entire Middle East, and partners in Europe and America to build strong protection. We are ready to help those who help us, help Ukraine. Rustem Umerov, together with our military officials, intelligence, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will prepare concrete agreements. Ukraine is a reliable security provider, and this is not only our security prospect, but also our economic one. Protection for Ukraine, cooperation with partners, and development of Ukrainian production. Everything Ukrainians have learned for their own defense can serve as a global foundation for security – a global foundation for protected life.
Today, our intelligence agencies reported, among other things, on how the Russians want to leverage the war in the Middle East. They aim to benefit from Iranian strikes. Russians talk about lifting sanctions, claiming they supposedly could somehow help the United States in the Iran situation. These are typical Russian manipulations. They only help where they see an opportunity to dominate. They’re simply incapable of working on an equal footing. We hope that the United States sees and understands all the risks, all the dependencies, and all the threats. Even a partial lifting of sanctions on Russia could serve as an extremely negative example – including for others, those who want to wage war on their neighbors, as Russia does.
And one more thing.
Today, I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on missile use and our responses – fully justified responses to the aggressor. Our warriors struck one of the key Russian military plants in Bryansk. This plant produced electronics and components for Russian missiles – those that strike our cities, our villages, and civilians. We defend ourselves. Russia has long had the ability to end this war – the war it started itself. This is basically their joint war – by Russia, the Iranian regime, and North Korea. This is their shared aggression against the West, against the entire democratic world, against the fact that nations and states have their own rights and real significance. Life must be protected. And we must act together to ensure this protection. I want to thank everyone standing with Ukraine. I thank everyone who is helping care for life and people.
Glory to Ukraine!