Ukrainian Military Personnel Are Participating in Consultations on the Functioning of the Strait of Hormuz Going Forward – Address by the President

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Dear Ukrainians!

Today, several important matters have been addressed.

First, a meeting with government officials - the Prime Minister and the economic team of the Government. We must have - and we have - a clear internal response to the instability that there is too much of right now due to the situation around Iran - a situation that has remained unresolved for far too long. All global markets are in fact destabilized, and the economic consequences may be significant. We need internal decisions so that Ukraine is provided with everything necessary at this time, and so that we are able to ensure our defense, our economy, and our social needs in the long term.

It is important that we have agreements in place for fuel supplies to Ukraine, and now, for March and April, the necessary volumes are being imported. I thank all companies, both state-owned and private. We are also working on supplies with European partners, as well as with countries of the Middle East. This is, in particular, part of our new cooperation: Ukraine exports security and receives what it needs for internal confidence and energy security.

Today, we also discussed with government officials how to support people as prices rise. External instability is always reflected in very sensitive price fluctuations. The Government must prepare steps to address this - I am counting on systemic solutions.

Second, we are currently preparing the European component of our security proposals, which were presented and accepted in recent weeks during negotiations in the Middle East and in Gulf countries. They are currently at war - unfortunately. Their protection required urgent expertise and urgent response. We ensured this - Ukrainian expertise proved effective - this is recognized by all. As a result, there are long-term agreements on cooperation, specifically on security cooperation. The same is needed in Europe. The coming weeks will be devoted to working in this way with our partners in Europe - our joint production, defense modernization, defense financing programs, and coordination of security efforts.

Ukrainian military personnel are participating in consultations on the functioning of the Strait of Hormuz going forward. Safe navigation is a global value - we know this from our experience of protecting maritime routes in the Black Sea. It must also be valued by everyone in the world. Of course, the situation may change every day and quite significantly, especially given what is happening with Iran and in relations between Europe and America. But our interests are long-term, of all in Europe, and above all, this is a security interest. Our diplomats also have a relevant request from countries in Asia - I have instructed that all of this be processed promptly. There will be contacts with leaders and work at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries. The main thing is that we continuously ensure real opportunities for Ukraine's defense.

Right now, the Russians are trying to scale up their "safaris" against our people. There are brutal, deeply cynical drone strikes targeting civilians virtually every day in Nikopol, Kherson, and other cities and communities near the frontline. There have also been Russian drone strikes in the Chernihiv region - Pryluky and Novhorod-Siverskyi - as well as in the Kharkiv region. And we must have the tools, all the necessary tools, from sufficient funding to real weapons, to continue expanding both our protection against the Russians and our ability to bring the war back to Russia, justly, with our long-range capabilities. This is exactly what we are doing.

And one more thing.

I want to thank the members of parliament. The Verkhovna Rada has adopted today the important and needed decisions. It is precisely such a parliament - a functioning parliament - that throughout the entire period of full-scale war ensures its part of the work for the resilience of our state and our people. This must continue. We must get through this time - the time of war - and give Ukraine everything so that Ukraine and our people can endure.

We will certainly defend Ukraine's independence. We will certainly respond to every challenge. I thank everyone who is working for our state and defending Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!