Dear Ukrainians!
Today we spoke with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga about the situation around Transnistria. The day before, there was a new step by Russia regarding Transnistria: the Russians simplified the possibility of obtaining citizenship for people from this region of Moldova. The step is specific - it means not only that Russia is looking for new soldiers in this way, because citizenship means military duty. This is also Russia's designation of the territory of Transnistria as supposedly its own. They in Moscow often tell various interlocutors that they are only interested in Donbas. In fact, it is far from only Donbas. We must respond to this. Especially since the Russian military contingent and the location of special services in Transnistria are also a challenge for us. We are interested in a stable, strong Moldova. I instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to contact Moldova accordingly regarding a joint assessment and joint actions. I also expect proposals from Ukrainian special services, from our intelligence on the format of the response. Russia needs to think more about its refineries and its oil processing, not about the citizens of other countries and the land of other peoples.
I want to thank all our units involved for this week and for our long-range capability. Ukrainian long-range sanctions have been active all week. Soldiers of the Special Operations Forces, the Unmanned Systems Forces, our missile forces and other components of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, soldiers of the Security Service of Ukraine, our intelligence – the State Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service – thank you all, soldiers, for your accuracy.
We are also actively working on the traditional sanctions front. The key is to cut off all supply channels to Russia of components for the production of missiles and drones. In this week's attack on Kyiv, the Russians used missiles that were produced this year. Without components from companies from Europe, Japan, and the United States, the Russians simply would not have been able to make these missiles. The same goes for most of the other means of destruction that these bastards use to strike our cities, ordinary Ukrainian homes. Russia's ties with the world, which are working for war, are a direct threat to life. Not only here, in Ukraine. If the Russian war machine holds out, its next strikes could be against Europe and against other neighbors of Russia, in more distant regions: Russian evil has already shown itself in Syria and in African countries. Now the Russians are largely constrained here by our defense. But what happens next, where will the Russians go next? We need determination to push this country to become a safer place for the world. Sanctions, all other forms of pressure, are the best tools for that.
One more thing. Today I spoke with the President of France. We are currently negotiating with partners to give the format “Ukraine plus E3 countries” – France, Britain, Germany – additional meaning to this format. There will be meetings, there will be results. We are preparing important foreign policy matters. I thank everyone who helps us!
We also do not stop, so that there are further stages of exchanges. This week was the first stage of the 1000-for-1000 exchange. We are preparing the next ones. Work is ongoing on the lists, all the necessary approvals. I thank those who are involved. We must return Ukrainians from captivity. We must continue to strengthen our ties with the world, our state, our people.
Glory to Ukraine!