President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about the upcoming, historically significant week for our country and the situation in Donbas.

"Ukrainians and Ukrainian women!

All our defenders and defenderesses!

On Sunday, there were many greetings in our country. June 19 is Doctors' Day, Father's Day, and Farmer's Day.

Of course, I want to thank today all of our doctors, all Ukrainian nurses who have been literally on the front lines since February 24. Thank you for tens of thousands of birthdays that you gifted to our soldiers, civilians, and Ukrainian children. Thank you for saving lives at the front, in hospitals across our country.

Ukrainian doctors are countless examples of extraordinary heroism. Heroism of those who performed surgeries under shelling. Who worked during the blockade in Mariupol. Who endured occupation and captivity and even under such conditions saved lives — above all.

I want to thank our farmers today as well. Those who defended their communities with bare hands when stopping Russian troops. Who ensured the sowing campaign despite the war. And those who were even called "tractor forces" when they took Russian trophy equipment from the battlefield. And now, as Russia has blocked our export through Black Sea ports, the entire world saw what real Ukrainian farmers are and how valuable is the work of our agricultural sector.

Indeed, I want to thank all fathers in Ukraine today. All those who raised their children simply good, decent, brave people. People who defend the state and do everything to help their loved ones get through wartime. Ukrainian bravery that inspires the world, Ukrainian freedom that strengthens all of Europe is possible only because Ukrainian parents raised exactly such children. Children with an understanding of values and capable of being true heroes.

Tomorrow starts a truly historic week. A week when we will hear from the European Union regarding our candidate status. We already have a positive decision from the European Commission, and at the end of this new week there will be an answer from the European Council.

I think it is clear to all that since 1991 there has been little as momentous for Ukraine as what we are expecting now. And I am confident that a positive decision serves the interests of all of Europe.

During this week, there will be new appeals from me, including to Europeans. I will use every opportunity to defend our European perspective, for each one of us, and to gather more supporters for us.

Clearly, we should expect an intensification of enemy activity from Russia. Deliberately — demonstratively. This very week. Not only against Ukraine but also against other countries in Europe. We are preparing. We are ready. We warn our partners.

Occupants are accumulating forces on the Kharkiv front, in Zaporizhzhia region. They have once again shelled our fuel infrastructure — they want to worsen the situation with fuel supplies. Of course, we will respond to this as well.

Fierce battles continue in Donbas. The Russian army is using there the largest amount of artillery and offensive forces. But Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Avdiivka, Krasnogorovka, and other hotspots are holding on. People like ours — they hold on. Our army holds on. And I am grateful to everyone whose strength today is our victory tomorrow.

Eternal glory to every one who fights for Ukraine! Fight strong!

Glory to Ukraine!"