We Continue Preparing Documents With the U.S. Regarding Security Guarantees and Recovery – Address by the President

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I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today has been no easy day - there was another Russian strike, ballistics: 18 ballistic missiles alone, plus cruise missiles and attack drones. Some were shot down. Just with interceptors, 64 "shaheds" alone were shot down. But there were hits, unfortunately.

In fact, it's been far from the first week this winter that our repair crews, our energy teams, and municipal services in many Ukrainian cities have been working around the clock. The weather adds challenges - extraordinary ones. What matters is that so many of our people are working professionally, restoring supply, striving to keep life going. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and government officials are in constant communication with regional heads - ready to support communities as needed in this situation. But the communities themselves must be as active as possible - much depends on whether work in the cities is professionally organized. I thank the community leaders who are in their communities, with the people, and truly helping, and about whom people can say they are really there and effective.

Today, I held a Staff meeting - the focus was on defense issues. Missiles for air defense, production of interceptors, and all necessary supplies. Contracts, funding. We are fully providing for it. What matters is the real and timely fulfillment of all agreements with our partners. The PURL initiative needs funding, and progress in January has been insufficient. This is a task for our entire diplomatic team, both the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I spoke with U.S. Congressmen Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal. I am grateful for the unwavering bipartisan support of Congress. Right now, we are engaged in very productive work with the President of the United States and his team. We went over all the details. I briefed them on the situation with Russian strikes and the need for air defense. We discussed how additional pressure on Russia can deliver strong diplomatic outcomes. And it is crucial that the U.S. Administration has as many instruments as possible for the right kind of pressure. We also discussed support programs that have not yet been fully implemented and can still be put to use. In particular, this specifically applies to protecting the skies.

We continue preparing documents with the U.S. regarding security guarantees and recovery. We are genuinely working to ensure that, in the near future, the formats for signing and approval - legal approval in the United States Congress and in the Ukrainian Parliament - can be in place. Today, Rustem Umerov delivered a report, in particular on these issues as well. It is essential that Ukraine-related issues remain at the top of the agenda in relations with the United States, despite all the information and political challenges that exist today.

We support the position on Iran: A regime that has lasted so many years and killed so many people does not deserve to exist. Changes are needed. Changes are also needed here, in Europe - the bloodshed that Russia started and is the only one still prolonging must come to an end.

I thank everyone who supports us, who supports life, who supports Ukraine. And those in the world who do not stand aside from real problems. If life can be protected, it must be protected.

One more thing.

Today, there was a briefing from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Things are difficult everywhere right now, but at the front, they are the hardest. Considering the weather and the Russian efforts to pretend that the need to end this war does not concern them. Assaults continue. The defense of our positions continues.

I want to thank every unit of ours, every soldier, sergeant, and officer, achieving results for Ukraine. Pokrovsk direction, Huliaipole, Kupyansk direction - all directions wherever needed. Russian losses must not decrease. Our defense at the front is our strength in diplomacy. Ukraine must be strong. I thank everyone who fights for this and who works for Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!