We Are Preparing for Meetings With the U.S. Side and Our European Friends in the Coming Days – Address by the President

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Dear Ukrainians!

We are currently preparing for meetings with the U.S. side and our European friends in the coming days. Berlin will host many events.

There will be a briefing from Secretary Umerov and our negotiating team on their contacts that have already taken place. General Hnatov and representatives of Ukraine's defense and security sector will be working on the details of security guarantees for Ukraine, for Ukrainians. At the same time, Ukrainian government officials continue discussions with the United States and Europe on the real recovery of Ukraine and real development of Ukraine after the war.

Most importantly, I will be meeting with envoys of President Trump, and there will also be meetings with our European partners, with many leaders, concerning the foundation of peace - a political agreement to end the war.

The chance is considerable at this moment, and it matters for our every city, for our every Ukrainian community. We are working to ensure that peace for Ukraine is dignified, and to secure a guarantee - a guarantee, above all, that Russia will not return to Ukraine for a third invasion. I thank all partners who are helping us - helping Ukraine. And over these days in Berlin, we will work as actively and constructively as possible with everyone who can genuinely bring the agreement to normal terms.

Further meetings and contacts will follow as well. But we remember: our Ukrainian positions in negotiations are strong because we hold our positions on the front line, in our defense production, and in our internal resilience. Ukraine is strong externally when we have strength within - and it must remain so. Therefore, all our units performing combat tasks, every Ukrainian warrior, all defense enterprises, and the Security Forces - all must strive to deliver results for Ukraine. And I thank everyone who fights for Ukraine, works for Ukraine exactly like this - for Ukraine as for one's own cause.

Today, I have received reports from across the regions, primarily from Odesa, following Russian strikes. Recovery efforts are underway. It is challenging, but all necessary services are engaged. I have instructed government officials to maximize the speed of repair works and the provision of essential equipment. Today, Russia also struck another civilian vessel in the Black Sea - it was virtually an attack on food security. The ship, owned by Türkiye, was carrying food. Striking such vessels that have nothing to do with the war is a direct challenge from Russia to the entire world. We will figure out with our partners how to respond to this. There will be a response.

We also have Ukraine's new sanctions decision - sanctions targeting Russia's fleet of tankers and other vessels that work for the war, generating money for Putin to kill people and drag out diplomacy. The sanctions will certainly be extended to other jurisdictions - we already have agreements with our partners on this.

And one more thing. A significant step was secured through the efforts of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence - five Ukrainians were returned from Belarus. These are our civilians, and alongside them are now in Ukraine also Belarusian political prisoners, freed thanks to agreements with the United States. Among them are Maria Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, and others. I spoke with Maria today - I am glad that people are finally free.

I have also spoken several times with General Budanov during the operation. Now it is crucial to achieve results on the Russian direction - to resume the exchanges of our people, our prisoners. Ukrainian military personnel and civilians must return home from Russian captivity. Work must be greatly accelerated across all channels and with all partners. I want to thank everyone who is helping us!

Glory to Ukraine!