PRESS RELEASE : Western partners must help close the sky over Ukraine to stop Russian aggression – Mykhailo Podoliak

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Ukraine calls on its Western partners to help close the sky over our country in order to stop the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation. This was stated by Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office Mykhailo Podoliak.

“This applies to our Western partners. If we want to stop the powerful full-scale expansion of the Russian Federation, which could lead to thousands of victims, we must close the sky over Ukraine. This is key,” he said.

Also, according to the Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President, it is necessary to block the financial flows that Russia uses today.

Mykhailo Podoliak noted that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now working to establish an international coalition for peace.

He said that the Head of State signed a decree on the establishment of military administrations in all regions of Ukraine on the basis of existing district state administrations.

For his part, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that at an extraordinary government meeting in Kyiv a decision was made to implement a plan of civil protection under martial law.

“The decision was made for the most effective defense of the state and protection of the population in the context of hostilities against the Russian aggressor,” he said.

According to the Prime Minister, the decision allows to coordinate as much as possible all authorities, regional state administrations in martial law. In addition, it will help allocate all the necessary resources, quickly and efficiently use them for the needs of defense, our military.

The Regional State Administrations have been instructed to intensify evacuation work in areas of active hostilities. Special services are working to help Ukrainians who have been forced to evacuate.

The Prime Minister also noted that the financial and economic bloc of the government is working with the NBU to make payments on the so-called list of critical imports that Ukraine needs to ensure livelihood in hostilities.

He stressed that today the government is working responsibly, and Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is fully in charge of the Armed Forces.

“We will work around the clock to ensure that our servicemen are equipped and our economy works for the needs of our army,” said Denys Shmyhal.