For This Winter, We Will Maintain a Fixed Price for Natural Gas for Household Consumers; There Will Be No Price Increases – Address by the President

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Dear Ukrainians!

Just now, in the evening, there was a report from the Minister of Internal Affairs Klymenko, focused particularly on the response to the aftermath of Russian strikes in the regions. All branches of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - including the State Emergency Service responders and the National Police - all of them are ensuring maximum support in the communities. I want to thank everyone working for our people: our rescuers, our power engineers, and repair crews. Additional patrols will be deployed where necessary, to increase our ability to help people and maintain order.

I also spoke today with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. Yesterday at the Staff meeting, we decided to allocate additional funding and equipment to the regions that need it most. These are, specifically, our frontline and border regions. All of this is already underway. Moreover, for this winter, we will maintain a fixed price for natural gas for household consumers; there will be no price increases. We also need to work out now - in full - how teachers' salaries will increase next year, along with other social decisions that have already been approved and must be reflected in the state budget and the Government's concrete actions. The resources are available. I also expect more detailed and more thorough work of our government officials with our people, those who lost their homes due to the war, those who were forced to relocate. We need more tangible mechanisms of government support for internally displaced persons. A report on these issues will be presented in the near future.

Today, I spoke with the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Ivashchenko and instructed him to work more actively with partners who can provide more assistance to Ukraine in terms of weapons and investment we need. We clearly see our partners' intentions and capabilities - and we will work with them in a way that ensures our shared defense potential in Europe is not wasted. Every opportunity must be seized to make us all in Europe only stronger. The Head of Foreign Intelligence also reported in detail on how the Russians are utilizing tankers of their "shadow fleet" - not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilization attempts in Europe. Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example. We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia. We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings, there will be negotiations with our partners, both public and behind closed doors. We are convincing them not to hold back on determination. The Russians must know that none of their destructive actions - all the vile things they do - will go unanswered by the world. And we are steadily adding such determination to the world. Since the start of this war, the world has undergone a significant evolution in its attitude toward the Russian state, its potential, and its real capabilities. There was once fear of how Russia would react. Because of that, a lot of time and opportunities were lost by some of our partners. Ukraine has always called for greater determination. Now everyone sees that this is exactly what works with Russia: strong pressure, sanctions, and sufficient long-range capabilities - our fully justified long-range capabilities in response to all Russian strikes on our energy infrastructure, our cities, and our people. Russian refineries feel it, Russian military factories feel it, Russian logistics feel it. It is precisely forcing Russia into peace that must succeed - succeed through strength: Ukraine's strength, and that of all our partners and friends who are truly helping.

Today, I met with the OSCE, and we discussed the importance of maintaining political pressure on Russia. I want to express my gratitude for the support. I also held a meeting today with the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs of Denmark - Denmark is helping us in a very tangible way. I want to thank them for that! We must fully implement all agreements we have with Denmark, we have between our countries. And we will. This work is for our shared strength, the strength of everyone in Europe, of all decent people in the world, of all who value life and who do not want the Russian virus of war to infect anyone else. I thank everyone standing with us! I thank everyone standing with Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!