Dear Ursula!
Distinguished guests, our teams, dear journalists!
Today is an important day – Ukrainian Statehood Day. It is only natural that today we are placing special emphasis on our relationship with the European Union. This is both an expression of our gratitude to Ms. Ursula von der Leyen personally – thank you very much – and to all our European friends for the support Ukraine has received since the beginning of the full-scale war. It also reflects the determination of both Ukraine and Europe to complete the journey toward Ukraine's full membership in the European Union. Today, everyone in Europe agrees: we deserve to become a full member of the EU.
I am grateful to the European Union for its record support for Ukraine – truly leader-level financial, political, and defense assistance. The EU's €90 billion financial support package for the next two years is providing us with financial stability and predictability. It is the support of the nations of Europe – alongside the support we receive from the United States – through weapons, air defense, and sanctions against Russia that sustains our resilience and the courage of our people.
We are working to open the clusters in Ukraine's accession talks. Two clusters have already been opened: the first and the sixth – the sixth was opened yesterday. I congratulate our teams and sincerely thank them for their work. We look forward to opening all the remaining clusters.
We also eagerly await the next package of EU sanctions taking effect. And this is not just symbolic: we are counting on the European Union to adopt the 21st sanctions package. That will show that Europe truly cares about our future.
We have done a great deal, in my view, to integrate our defense capabilities and defense production with Europe's. It is now absolutely clear that Ukraine's Armed Forces and defense industry are an integral part of Europe's security. Today, we also have the first document underpinning the Drone Deal – a major defense agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. This is a historic step in our relationship. We also look forward to EU financial support for our anti-ballistic program, which we launched in France the day before yesterday.
Today, we also discussed the steps we need to take together with the European Union to prepare for winter: energy remains an unwavering priority.
We are grateful for the assistance in rebuilding Ukraine after Russian strikes – for every important joint recovery project between Ukraine and the European Union, between our country and European nations, and, of course, between our communities and our cities. We have built ties with the European Union at every level, and that is now one of Ukraine's strengths. Our relationship with Europe is now the strongest, most meaningful, and most personal than at any other point in our history.
Now, we are doing everything possible to bring the war to an end. Unfortunately, Ukraine is still at war. And unfortunately, Russia is still unwilling to end the war it started. But I am confident that thanks to our joint pressure, thanks to our cooperation with Europe and the United States, and thanks to our people, we will achieve peace. And we will live in peace together – in a united, strong Europe.
I want to thank you once again, Ursula. Thank you to all our friends across Europe. It was an honor for me today to present you, from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all of us, all Ukrainians, with the Order of Europe. And it is only right that the very first Order be awarded to you, Madam President Ursula von der Leyen.
Thank you, and congratulations to everyone on Ukrainian Statehood Day!
Glory to Ukraine!