Zelenskyy sums up a week of important talks

12 October 2024 07:33

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This week, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a series of important international meetings aimed at strengthening support from Europe’s largest defence donors and key allies. In particular, they discussed new defence packages, humanitarian issues and uniting the international community to bring peace. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Presidential Office.

Zelenskyy thanked the leaders of several European countries, stressing the need for unity and coordination in the fight against Russian aggression.

“An important week of meetings with our friends in Europe – the largest defence donors and the strategic region of the Balkans and South-Eastern Europe in general,” Zelenskyy said in his video address, summing up the results.

The President informed about a new defence package for Ukraine from Germany, in particular, emphasising the importance of air defence support.

“There will be a new defence package for Ukraine from Germany. I am particularly grateful for the assistance with air defence systems – Germany is the undisputed leader in this area. I thank you for another IRIS-T,” Zelenskyy said after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin.

They also discussed plans for assistance for this year and next year. Zelenskyy stressed that the stability of Germany’s support is a key signal to the world of its determination to bring peace:

“We discussed with the Chancellor what the support will be like this year and next year – it is very important for us that the amount of assistance from Germany remains stable, and this will be a signal that the path to peace will be confident despite everything. We discussed how to consolidate the world to bring peace closer”

The President paid special attention to the meeting in the Vatican with Pope Francis and Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin, during which they discussed the liberation of Ukrainians from Russian captivity.

“The release of our people from Russian captivity is a very sensitive issue for Ukraine, for many families in Ukraine. Soldiers and civilians, children and adults. Thousands of Ukrainians. Yesterday we learned about the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina in Russian captivity. My condolences to her family. But she was on the exchange list,” Zelenskyy said.

He stressed the complexity of this process and the need for special assistance from the Vatican.

“It is very difficult to do this work – to push for exchanges, and that is why we need special assistance, in particular the efforts of the Vatican. We agreed that Ukraine would hand over a list of journalists who are currently held captive in Russia. We discussed in detail the return of civilians and the return of deported children. And we hope for support,” Zelenskyy said.

The President also spoke about preparations for the upcoming meeting in Canada on humanitarian issues, the Vatican’s involvement in the Peace Formula, and called for further unification of partners to achieve peace.

“We are preparing a meeting in Canada this month on this particular point of the Peace Formula, on humanitarian issues. I have invited the Vatican to participate. Both here in Germany and yesterday in three countries in one day – Britain, France, and Italy – I presented our Victory Plan to the leaders of Europe. Prime Minister Starmer, President Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. And today, in a conversation with Olaf. All the details of our strategy for bringing peace – geopolitical, military, economic,” Zelenskyy said.

During his speech, Zelenskyy also outlined the results of the talks in London, Paris and Rome.

“We explained in London what kind of long-range capability is needed now and what our vision is to strengthen the front. We had a very good conversation with Emmanuel, and France has already helped us unite other partners in many ways, and now we are counting on such leadership,” Zelenskyy said.

The President emphasised the important role of Italy in supporting Ukraine:

“Italy has a very principled position, a clear understanding of our motives and the needs of Europe. I thank Olaf for our conversation today, Germany has all the details – both on military aspects and on geopolitical and economic ones.”

Zelenskyy stressed that the joint efforts of partner countries are key to achieving a just peace:

“We must act together – everyone who has the necessary power, the necessary influence to guarantee a lasting peace, to force Russia to peace. But we must act now, in these months. We need to strengthen our guys at the front. Strengthen our common positions. Now, at the team level, we will work with our partners in Europe to fill every planned step to the maximum, and this Plan of ours should lead to an effective second Peace Summit to end the war. And for it to be a fair and just end to the war.”

Separately, the President expressed gratitude to Croatia and the Balkan countries for supporting the Peace Formula:

“I am grateful to Croatia and all partners in the Balkans and in the region of South-Eastern Europe for our third summit – this format that helps to preserve European unity. I thank everyone for supporting the Peace Formula and the Peace Summit format. I am confident that the Victory Plan – if our partners are truly determined to stand with us – will be a solid bridge between the situation today and the peace we all want.”