Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky held a meeting in the format of a video conference with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday.
“During the meeting in the format of a video conference with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed the situation on the front, the need to increase defense support for Ukraine, the diplomatic process of implementing the Ukrainian Formula for Peace,” Zelensky said in his telegram.
He stressed that Ukraine appreciates the important defense decisions taken earlier this year by the German leadership, as well as the weighty support in humanitarian, financial and defense spheres since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.
“Thank you for Germany’s comprehensive assistance to the Ukrainians. For the help that has made our army stronger than financial support. Separately, I want to thank the citizens of Germany for the shelter of Ukrainians in this difficult period,” – said the President of Ukraine.
According to the press service of the President of Ukraine, the talks of the leaders took place on the day of the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Germany.
They strongly condemned Russian rocket and drone terror against civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure in Ukraine. In this regard, Volodymyr Zelenski noted Germany’s assistance in strengthening Ukraine’s air defense with the IRIS-T system, which has proven to be very good at protecting the skies and saving lives, as well as decisions to provide Ukraine with Patriot SAMs and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
The Ukrainian president also praised the assistance of the FRG through interregional and intercity cooperation: “Our patronage over the Ukrainian-German network of municipalities is yielding results. We can see it from the volume of interaction between the cities of our states”.
Zelensky thanked the German side separately for the decision of the Bundestag to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.
The leaders expressed their hope for the soonest return of peace to the Ukrainian land.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Sunday signed a decree enacting a decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose personal sanctions against 198 Russian propagandists and talk show participants on Russian channels, as well as other figures in the Russian media sphere.
The corresponding document #23/2023 was published on the website of the head of state.
“To enact the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated January 15, 2023 “On the application and amendment of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions),” the decree reads.
The decision of the National Security and Defense Council is attached to the decree. It contains a list of 198 people of Russian culture and the media sphere, against whom personal sanctions are imposed.
The list includes, among others, Russian blogger, translator and publicist Dmitry Puchkov (Goblin), politician Sergei Stankevich, general producer of Russian propaganda television channel “Zvezda,” Boris Yanovsky, TV presenter Yana Rudkovskaya, actor and TV presenter Boris Korchevnikov, Russian music critic and journalist Sergei Sosedov, sociologist Yevgeny Kopatko, political scientist Rostislav Ishchenko, Rodion Miroshnik, publicist and propagandist Vladimir Kornilov, sports journalist Dmitry Guberniev, film director Andrei Konchalovsky, and other propagandists from Russian central TV channels, as well as so-called Russian “war correspondents.
Diana Panchenko, a former Ukrainian TV anchorwoman who now shoots propaganda clips for Russian television in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, was also put on the list.
A full package of personal sanctions for a period of 10 years is being imposed against those on the list.
“This decree shall enter into force on the day of its publication,” the document signed by the president reads.
We are together – a big Ukrainian family, and wherever we are now – at home, at work, in a trench, on the road, in Ukraine or abroad – our family is more united than ever, said Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in a video greeting on Christmas according to the Julian calendar.
“Unity in its faith in a single victory. We are still bringing it closer. Every day. Still standing for each other, side by side. Every day. We defend our land, our culture, our traditions, our faith. As our ancestors did – the Cossacks – defenders of the faith and the Church of Christ. And just as all their descendants and continuators of the traditions of our army and our people did,” Zelensky said.
“Today, the spirits of our ancestors help us every day. Beat those who came to our land,” the president stressed.
According to him, “we live in a special time and all our holidays are special. And we have to break some of our traditions to protect our traditions.”
“You can’t wear dark or old shabby clothes for the holidays, so that trouble doesn’t come to the house. But trouble came to our house on Feb. 24, 2022, so we haven’t worn white clothes since then and we fight black forces,” he said.
“Guests should be treated with special cordiality and care. Guests, but not occupiers. On the holy day, you can’t clean and take the trash out of the house, but we fight the devils and take the trash out of our house more than three hundred days in a row,” Zelensky continued.
“It is forbidden to sew and knit, but we weave camouflage nets and sew body armor, overcoming evil. Our ancestors didn’t go hunting these days, but we fight not to become prey and defeat the beast. That’s what God sees. The world sees it,” he said.
The president reminded that the “Carol of the Bells” written to music by Nikolai Leontovich is sung in more than 150 variations and the Ukrainian “Shchedrik” gives the Christmas spirit to the whole planet. “The spirit of hope, goodness and wonder. This year this spirit of peace is given not only by our music, but also by Ukrainian courage, indestructibility, defiance, invincibility,” the president said.
“Today we all have the same dream. May accord come to every family, prosperity to every home, victory to the Ukrainian land, and with it a thousand years of peace and prosperity. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a tasty kuti! Take care of yourselves, take care of your families and take care of our Ukraine!” – Zelensky concluded.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio had a 30-minute phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Japanese prime minister’s possible visit to Kiev.
According to NHK television, Kishida assured that he would play an active role during Japan’s G7 presidency.
“I strongly condemned Russia’s continued aggression and said that Japan will do everything possible to help, including surviving the winter to protect the lives of Ukrainians,” he said.
For his part, President Zelenskyy expressed his deep appreciation for Japan’s position and spoke about the current situation in the country. The interlocutors also discussed the possible visit of Kishida Fumio to Ukraine, who received an invitation to visit Kiev.
“Nothing has been decided yet, but I will consider it under different circumstances,” he added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to hold telephone conversations with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, January 4.
Turkey’s Anadolu news agency quoted Erdogan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalın, as saying, “Turkish President Erdoğan will hold a telephone conversation with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts on Wednesday.”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has announced a message to the Verkhovna Rada on the external and internal situation of Ukraine
“Soon I will present my view on the implementation of these tasks in the annual message to the Verkhovna Rada on the external and internal situation of Ukraine. I want this message to be not a report, but our conversation with you about the next year,” he said in a video message on Tuesday.
According to him, “This week will be politically important for Ukraine. We’re going into next year and we have to maintain a common understanding of our national goals.”
“Of course, it is the liberation of our land from the enemy, as well as the reconstruction of Ukraine, the return of our people home, the further rapprochement of our state with key partners, the opening of new opportunities for Ukraine in the world – this is the task for the near future. And not only for the state, but also for each of us,” Zelensky said.
