President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, detailing a new aspect of Russian blackmail in the energy sector and outlining developments in relations with the Association of European Cities.

"Ukrainians!

Ukrainian women!

All Europeans!

It has been 177 days — a time when reports about events in Ukraine matter to the entire continent.

Ukrainian diplomats, our partners, representatives of the UN and IAEA are working on specific details of a mission that is to be sent to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This mission could mark the beginning of restoring full safety at ZAES and in Enerhodar. And I am grateful to everyone who has joined this work and initiative.

If Russian radiation blackmail continues, then this summer may go down in history as one of the most tragic for various European countries. Because no instruction on any nuclear power plant in the world foresees a plan of action if a state-terrorist turns an AES into a target.

Of course, today we must also pay attention to another aspect of Russian blackmail in the energy sector. The first «North Stream» gas supply to Germany is being restricted again and absurd claims are being made that somehow compensation can be provided through «North Stream 2». These «streams» are needed by Russia exclusively to supply Europe with problems, not help anyone there with gas. This is now absolutely clear.

The longer the state-terrorist remains on the European and world energy market, the less stability will be there. And the sooner everyone in Europe prepares their energy systems for existence without any supply of energy carriers from Russia at all, the sooner they can calmly survive any winters.

Today a very important visit to Ukraine by representatives of the Association of European Cities led by the Mayor of Florence took place. This association unites mayors of over 150 cities in Europe and representatives of dozens of city partners.

We will cooperate with them directly: Ukrainian cities and communities — with European cities and communities.

The key issue is, of course, the reconstruction of our cities. Today we signed a corresponding memorandum. But this will not be the only subject of our important cooperation.

The current development of any country — this is primarily the development of cities, creating new opportunities and institutions in cities, exchanging experiences between cities and municipal institutions. And therefore, it's new jobs, greater social capital and a higher level of security for people.

From Ukraine's side, the subject of relations with the Association of European Cities will be our Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. I want to assure that every city in our country will benefit from this. We are interested in sustainable development across all of Ukraine — and it will be so. Without any exceptions.

And today, I would like to address separately the residents of all our cities in Ukraine who suffer constant brutal shelling from Russia's side. Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, all cities in Donbas, Dnipropetrovsk region, Zaporizhzhia Oblast... All those who are enduring this constant horror of life destruction and ruin of everything that gives normalcy to life. We will not leave any of these attacks unanswered. We will identify each occupier who issues orders and carries out these strikes on cities. And we will hold them accountable — in one way or another — all of them. No killer will hide.

And we will definitely restore everything that the terrorists try to leave in ruins. The word "ruins" will never be a word about Ukraine, it will never be a word about our cities. This won't work for Russia either.

Eternal glory to all who bring us closer to victory!

Eternal glory to all who fight for our beautiful strong Ukraine, for our people!

Glory to Ukraine!»