Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Congratulations to @magyarpeterMP@twitter.com and the TISZA party on their resounding victory. It is important when constructive approach prevails.

Ukraine has always sought good-neighbourly relations with everyone in Europe and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary.

Europe and every European nation must get stronger, and millions of Europeans seek cooperation and stability.

We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe.

There are currently more than a hundred Russian drones in our skies, and there may be more waves of drone attacks throughout the day. Russia continues its strikes and is doing so brazenly – deliberately targeting our railway infrastructure and civilian sites in our cities. Unfortunately, people were wounded and killed in these strikes; my condolences to all their families and loved ones. Yesterday, 14 regions came under attack throughout the day. Overnight, strikes targeted residential and railway infrastructure in the Dnipro and Kharkiv regions, port infrastructure in the Odesa region, and energy facilities in the Poltava region. At all levels, our warriors are countering these attacks, and 111 drones were shot down or jammed overnight alone.

It is important to repel every attack with resilience. It is important to support Ukraine and not remain silent about Russia’s war. Every time the war disappears from the top of the news, it encourages Russia to become even more savage. It is important that our diplomats implement the agreements we reach at the leaders’ level as quickly as possible. Ukraine needs the capacity to defend itself every day, and only strong joint action can ensure this. I thank everyone who is helping!

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In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia. Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business. The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying.

Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers. Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself. Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents. However, we see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped. I have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to inform all partners of our state about the situation.

Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme. We will also coordinate with European partners to ensure that the relevant individuals are included in European sanctions regimes.

Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every state. We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations.

I thank all European leaders for the European support package for Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package against Russia. This will truly help.

We really count on the 90 billion support package to deliver the first tranche – as soon as possible. This money is for our army, and we are ready to buy weapons with it – including air defense. It is also funding that will help us prepare for winter – and work has already started to protect our energy system, and the European funds will support this as well.

And please continue your work on sanctions against Russia. It is right to strengthen sanctions, especially since the Americans have eased some of theirs. Right now, the situation on the front in Ukraine is special. Our positions are more stable than in previous months and years, and Russia is losing at least 30-35 thousand soldiers every month. It is difficult for Russia, and we should make it even harder for them – in order to push them to diplomacy.

From an address at the European Council meeting (1/3).

Russia itself chose to end the partial silence that had lasted for several days. Overnight, more than 200 attack drones were launched against Ukraine. Aerial bombs were used again on the front – more than 80 of them, and over 30 air strikes were recorded. Attack drones were shot down in the Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions, as well as in Kyiv and the region. Energy facilities, apartment buildings, and a kindergarten were damaged, and there was also a strike on an ordinary civilian locomotive on the railway… People have been reported injured as a result of these strikes. And, unfortunately, there are fatalities. My condolences to the family and loved ones.

We have said that we will respond in kind to all Russian steps. Russia must end this war, and it is Russia that must take the step toward a real, lasting ceasefire. Until that happens, sanctions against Moscow are necessary and must remain in place and be strengthened. It is important that there be no easing of pressure and that partners do not stand aside, but continue working together for security, justice, and a reliable peace.

I thank every state and leader who supported Ukraine’s proposal for a full ceasefire. Russia responded to it only with new strikes and attacks. Throughout the entire day, almost every hour, reports of strikes have been coming in from different regions of Ukraine.
Ukraine will act in kind. Depending on the situation overnight and tomorrow, we will also determine our fully justified responses.

Russia has received from us a clear proposal on silence of the guns and diplomacy – and knows how to contact Ukraine or our partners in order to coordinate the details.

If the one person in Moscow who cannot live without war cares only about one parade and nothing else, that’s a different story. Ukraine is ready to work for peace. Ukraine seeks to end this war with dignity. Russia has fought to the point where even its main parade now depends on us. This is a clear signal: Enough is enough.

An important step in relations with Hungary – today, the funds and valuables of Oschadbank that were seized by Hungarian special services in March of this year were returned. At the time, the Hungarian side unlawfully detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit officers. We brought our people back sooner, and now both the funds and the valuables are back on Ukrainian territory in full. I am grateful to Hungary for its constructive approach and civilized step. I thank everyone on Ukraine’s team who fought for a fair decision and defended the interests of our state and our people. Glory to Ukraine!

I thank every leader who understands how important it is for Ukraine to move toward EU membership. In this war, we defend not only ourselves, but also the European way of life.

Whatever happens with Russia’s ambitions, one thing is clear – Europe together with Ukraine will be able to defend itself. And I believe as a result of both our defense of Europe and our reforms, Ukraine should gain full membership in the EU. Thank you to everyone working to speed it up.

It is important that already in May we can move to unblocking the clusters – to open the first cluster and immediately the rest of 5 clusters and then to start closing the chapters. We seek the same full membership that every EU nation has – from Cyprus to Poland. The only thing we ask is speeding up the full membership – with a clear start date for membership.

This is necessary to prevent Russia from endlessly blocking our path – and not only blocking, but also dividing and weakening Europe to stop Ukraine. A clear timeline and a fast track can prevent this. That is why we are asking for it. We are ready to work together to make Ukraine’s membership happen. Thank you.

From an address at the European Council meeting (3/3).

Ukraine is now actively working with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf. We are preparing cooperation with the Caucasus and talking to other partners. And I want to stress – Ukraine offers not just drones, but a full defense system.

For example, Arab states have strong air defense against missiles, and we help them set up protection against Shahed drones and at sea. This kind of integrated defense is what we need to build for Europe as well – to protect borders, coastlines, the sea, infrastructure, and everything that could be targeted.

I believe this should be a truly European project. Of course, each country works for its own defense, but joint European efforts can have much greater impact. SAFE program – likely not enough, because each country does what it sees fit, and what it can do, while drone threats are new and
evolving.

We need to coordinate and create a common European tool – a program on drones. We are ready to invest our expertise, our facilities, and our capacity.

From an address at the European Council meeting (2/3).

As of today, there has been no official appeal to Ukraine regarding the modality of a cessation of hostilities that is being claimed on Russian social media. We believe that human life is far more valuable than any anniversary “celebration”. In this regard, we are announcing a ceasefire regime starting at 00:00 on the night of May 5–6. In the time left until that moment, it is realistic to ensure that silence takes effect. We will act reciprocally starting from that moment. It is time for Russian leaders to take real steps to end their war, especially since Russia’s Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill.

Over the course of last night, the Russian army continued to strike Ukrainian positions. As of 7 a.m., more than 140 strikes on frontline positions had been recorded. During the night, the Russians carried out 10 assaults, the largest number of them in the Slovyansk sector. They also launched more than 850 strikes with drones of various types – FPVs, “Lancets,” and others. There were attack drones as well. The use of reconnaissance drones in the skies over frontline communities also did not stop.

All of this clearly shows that, on the Russian side, there was not even a token attempt to cease fire on the front. As we did over the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in kind today as well. We will defend our positions and people’s lives. Russia must end its war, and everyone will truly see it when movement toward peace begins. Glory to Ukraine!

Our contacts with the American side regarding guarantees for the implementation of the arrangements reached recently and announced by the President of the United States are ongoing.

The prisoner exchange – 1,000 for 1,000 – is being prepared and must take place. The Americans assumed responsibility for these guarantees. Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters has handed over the lists for one thousand POWs to the Russian side.

There was American mediation in reaching this arrangement on the exchange, and accordingly, we expect the American side to play an active role in ensuring it’s fulfilled.