I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today, I received important briefings from the Security Service of Ukraine and our military on the use of our Ukrainian drones – Ukraine’s long-range sanctions. The scale has now increased, and so has the range: 1,500 kilometers is no longer news. I am grateful to all our warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as the Armed Forces and our intelligence agencies involved, for this precision. Russia’s oil sector, Russia’s military logistics, and its military production – all of these are entirely legitimate and rightful targets of our long-range sanctions. Importantly, Ukrainian warriors are also using our firepower against Russian enterprises that manufacture guided bombs. They pose a particular threat. Defense against this threat requires all elements: countering Russian military aviation, countering their arms industry, pressuring their component base by restricting supply chains, and, of course, our drones and our missiles. We are already observing a decrease in the use of guided aerial bombs along part of the front line. Today, I also approved our new operations – if Russia does not want diplomacy, diplomacy must be imposed on it. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is ensuring the necessary supplies.
I also spoke today with the Foreign Intelligence Service. We have clear documents – Russian documents – showing that Russia considers our work on arms exports and bilateral security agreements a specific threat to itself. The political leadership of the Russian Federation is explicitly setting the task of disrupting Ukraine’s access to such new investments in our defense sector. We will counter this. Ukraine’s national interest is to build direct security cooperation with all those regions and countries that are truly strong and capable of ensuring long-term agreements – financial ones, as well as on joint weapons production and energy supplies to Ukraine. This must be a permanent and mutually beneficial process for Ukraine and for our partners. Of course, Russia is particularly irritated by our contacts in the Middle East and the Gulf region – we are aware of this. We are also aware of the complex attitude of some of our other partners toward this – partners who would prefer to limit our state’s independence. We consider this their mistake. And we will ensure Ukraine’s national interests in the way our state requires. Diesel for Ukraine during instability. Revenue for the state budget. Joint production and supply of critical goods to Ukraine. These are the concrete results of our agreements – of our security cooperation and the expansion of Ukrainian military expertise. Today, there was also a briefing from the Coordination Headquarters – all those working on the release of prisoners. Military personnel and civilians – we remember everyone who remains in Russian captivity. This year alone, we have already carried out five operations to bring our people back: more than a thousand Ukrainians – 1,036 – have been returned from Russian captivity. I want to thank everyone involved in this effort and everyone who ensures mediation. I especially want to acknowledge our brigades, our warriors at the front who are fighting bravely and effectively, and who are replenishing the exchange fund for us, for Ukrainians, and for Ukraine. We very much hope that the next stages of exchanges will also be carried out. We are verifying every single name.
And one more thing.
I have signed another Ukrainian sanctions package – a significant one – targeting, in particular, entities in Belarus. This is a signal to many of our partners about where pressure should be applied to reduce the scale and intensity of this war. Russia has no goodwill; it must be forced into certain steps needed to reduce aggression, and let them later call these their “gestures of goodwill.” Belarus must not be drawn into this war. There must be no operations against other European countries. And this Russia’s war against Ukraine must end in a dignified peace. I thank everyone who is fighting and working to ensure Ukraine’s future is exactly that.
And one more thing.
Today, there is a decision from the United States – the very one we agreed on Sunday at the conference in Chornobyl – regarding the necessary funds to restore the confinement structure that covers the fourth power unit. The United States is providing USD 100 million. The confinement was damaged by a Russian attack drone, and it must be fully restored. This is an important step of American support. We are also working with our other partners to ensure all guarantees for energy security and nuclear safety are in place. I thank everyone who stands with us, with Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!