PRESS RELEASE : President met with representatives of think tanks of Europe and the US [September 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 15 September 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with representatives of leading think tanks of Europe and the United States of America, whose visit to our country was organized by the Polish Institute of International Affairs.

The Head of State thanked the group of experts for visiting Kyiv during the war, which is another proof of the strong support for Ukraine from the free democratic world. The President noted that thanks to such solidarity, our country has already gained a number of important victories over the occupiers and will be able to completely liberate its territory.

“We will win thanks to the supply of weapons, tough sanctions against the Russian aggressor. In particular, we will overcome the famine that Russia provoked by blocking Ukrainian ports. But the main thing is the unity of the civilized world. The work of experts and scientists should contribute to this,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Head of State emphasized the need to increase defense support of Ukraine from the partner states. Critically important in this regard is the acquisition of air defense systems.

“Targeted shelling by the Russian aggressor of critical infrastructure facilities confirms the validity of our requests. The democratic world must provide us with the necessary defense and financial assistance. As soon as possible. This is important not only for us, but also for the world. Otherwise, all states to the west of Ukraine will be under threat. The sooner we receive such help, the sooner this war will end,” said the Head of State.

During the meeting, there was an exchange of views regarding the package of recommendations on security guarantees for Ukraine prepared by the International Working Group under the leadership of Andriy Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The President emphasized that without such guarantees it is impossible to talk about a stable Europe.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to designate Russia a state – sponsor of terrorism for all the crimes it has already committed and is committing in Ukraine.

“For us, this issue is fundamental and obvious. After Bucha, Mariupol, Vinnytsia, Olenivka. After shelling of critical infrastructure facilities,” the President said. It was noted that the situation around the Zaporizhzhia NPP is nothing more than another manifestation of nuclear terrorism by the aggressor.

Particular attention was paid to the reconstruction of Ukraine, the creation of a compensation mechanism for the damage caused by Russian invasion, and the establishment of a special tribunal on the crime of Russian aggression.