We have support from our neighbors: Zelenskyy comments on the situation in Ukraine’s energy system
Ukraine has received assistance from its European neighbors in the energy sector to ensure the stability of the Ukrainian energy system.
This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on December 7.
At the beginning of his address, the head of state thanked Japan for a “very timely and necessary” decision to support Ukraine.
– “$4.5 billion is the total amount, and we expect the first part, $1.5 billion, in January. A significant part of this aid package will be disbursed in the spring. Japan consistently and very principledly supports our state and our people, and I am grateful for such assistance,” Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State also spoke about the meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. In particular, they discussed cooperation with partners, the preparation of new decisions to support Ukraine and cooperation with donors.
– We also discussed energy issues, the government’s work on Ukraine’s energy sustainability, the stability of our work and all our systems. “Thanks to the connection of our energy system with Europe, we have appropriate support from our neighbors – this is important,” the president said and thanked each country that helps us.
Separately, Zelenskyy thanked every Ukrainian family that understands the military and temperature challenges and consumes electricity economically and rationally.
Work of the Verkhovna Rada
The Head of State also said that this week he expects the Verkhovna Rada to vote on important issues related to relations with Ukraine’s creditors and the European integration path of Ukraine.
– Our priority is the full implementation of all the decisions that are necessary for Ukraine to fulfill all the necessary steps on the European direction. We believe that the EU will fulfill its promise to Ukraine,” he said.
The President added that he had had a conversation with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on this very topic.
Results of the United24 meeting
The Ukrainian leader also spoke about a conversation with ambassadors of the state charity platform United24, during which they discussed the results of the reconstruction meeting.
Among those who joined the charity project are Andriy Shevchenko, Elina Svitolina, Katherine Winnick, Oleksandr Usyk, Michel Hazanavicius, Brad Paisley, and Imagine Dragons.
– I thanked them for uniting the world for the sake of our people, for the restoration of Ukrainian infrastructure. In total, this week we are reaching the mark of $500 million that has already been raised during the work of United24. If we talk about the direction of these funds, these are thousands of drone systems, as well as marine drones, 200 high-end resuscitation vehicles, armored ambulances, hundreds of generators for hospitals and other equipment,” he said.
Regarding the reconstruction process, the President said that we are talking about apartment buildings and schools, we can already see the restored hospitals and the demining center.
– All of this is thanks to millions of donors, all of them different. Ordinary people and companies from over a hundred countries. I thank everyone who joined the work of United24 and the entire team of our platform,” the Head of State thanked.
Military and border guards
The President spoke with Ukrainian commanders and received an intelligence report.
intelligence report. The President did not provide details of the conversation.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Ukrainian border guards who not only protect the state border but also fight on the frontline for the sake of Ukraine and its people along with all the soldiers of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine.
The Head of State presented a special award to the soldiers of the Kramatorsk Border Guard Detachment – Bakhmut direction, Donetsk region.
– “Soldier Mecislav Levitsky and Sergeant Igor Kulikov are brave, efficient warriors. I thank you guys,” he said.
As for the Zhytomyr Border Guard Detachment, it is soldier Vasyl Paliy with the call sign Kordon and sergeant Oleksandr Kachur who are fighting in Donetsk region.
The president also mentioned the special unit DOZOR, which works in various areas, and the units that protect the south of Ukraine, including the Southern Regional Directorate and the Maritime Guard. According to the president, their mobile fire teams hunt for Iranian Shahids every night.
Sanctions.
– There is also a new decision on our country’s sanctions against Russian entities involved in this aggression and working for it. Russian individuals and legal entities. More than 360 of them. And we are working with our partners to synchronize all our sanctions steps,” the President said.
Local government day
At the end of his address, Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled that today is the Local Self-Government Day in Ukraine.
– The day of many people who work in communities, for the sake of communities. In areas near the front and throughout our country. I congratulate everyone for whom being in local self-government means being with people, taking care of people’s interests and always remembering the interests of the whole of Ukraine,” he said.
The President thanked those who make their communities stronger and said that he had signed a decree on awarding local government representatives who work near the frontline.
