Dear Ukrainians!

First of all, I want to thank all our soldiers today - we continue to implement the plan of long-range sanctions against Ukraine. Last night, there were new active Ukrainian sanctions: there was a defeat in the Samara region of Russia, which is more than 800 kilometers from our state border. There was also a defeat of an oil facility in the territory of Tatarstan. Ukraine is responding quite fairly to the Russian war, and our soldiers are doing it aptly. It is important that we achieve the set goals at the front as well. Russian assaults should not give the occupier the results that the Russian political leadership determines. This is important from all points of view, the main thing is that we can finally reach real effective diplomacy. The front should disappoint Russia, and this is a prerequisite for the main task that we all need - peace for Ukraine. I thank everyone who understands this and who protects our national interests exactly as it should be.

Yesterday and today are very active times for our political decisions. Yesterday I held meetings with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov and Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky and Chief of the General Staff Hnatov confirm. The path has been agreed - to increase the financial sustainability of our defense and ensure the further transformation of the Ukrainian army. I am grateful to the parliamentarians who approved changes to the budget to strengthen our defense. I am grateful to the partners who help us.

First – payments. There is a resource to increase payments in the army. A minimum of 30 thousand hryvnias in the rear. The more combat missions, the higher the level of payments. There will be new, significantly stronger contracts for infantrymen. Three hundred thousand hryvnias on average on the front line. Everything rests on the Ukrainian infantry, on our Ukrainian infantry. Contracts will be worked out so that there is clarity: the contract period is 10 months, 14, 24 and specific conditions, that is, clear deferrals. Guaranteed terms and real deferrals. In addition, payments for Ukrainian combat commanders will be increased, and this should create a positive incentive to preserve the experience of management in the army. The Cabinet of Ministers will approve a specific mechanism, and the first new additional payments should begin in June.

Second, I am grateful to all the volunteers from other countries who are fighting for our freedom in Ukraine, understanding that this concerns the freedom of many other peoples. Here, in Ukraine, we must protect the right of our people to live freely, which will definitely help many other peoples. I have instructed to open much more opportunities to attract foreign volunteers to the Ukrainian army, and there will be more recruitment mechanisms for this.

Third, further simplification of transfers for soldiers, more opportunities to grow in the army and more positive incentives to join the defense. Direct funding for combat brigades has already proven itself very well. A more equitable distribution of personnel for our brigades is already working every month. We are already increasing the brigades' ability to independently conduct BZVP. These are good foundations for implementing terms, specific terms of service, thanks to increased payments and new contracts. I expect that each element of the changes that are currently being implemented will demonstrate their effectiveness this summer. The Ministry of Defense will present the details of the solutions.

And be sure to pay attention to air alerts every day – today and in the coming days – please pay attention to air alerts. We understand who we are dealing with and what Russia is counting on. Instead of peace, they are choosing missiles. They have no other “cards”. We must rely on our strength, our attentiveness. Be sure to protect your lives.

Glory to Ukraine!