President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, informing about a series of intense negotiations with world leaders and about a new package of defensive support for our country.

"I wish health to all dear Ukrainians!

Our main task now is to coordinate actions with partners in response to the organized Russian fake referendums and related threats. This is not 2014 anymore. Everyone understands this, and they will definitely act.

I held a whole series of talks today. President Erdogan of Turkey, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, Prime Minister Truss of the United Kingdom, UN Secretary-General Guterres, European Council President Charles Michel.

Thank you to all for clear and unequivocal support. Thank you to all for understanding our position. Ukraine cannot and will not reconcile with any attempts by Russia to seize any part of our land.

I thanked President Erdogan again today for his help in freeing our people from Russian captivity. The commanders from "Azovstal" who are now in Turkey will soon be able to see their families. We are working towards this.

Also, by the way, the implementation of a plan to assist each person recently freed has already begun. They receive emergency assistance first and foremost medical support — all of them need recovery after what they endured in captivity. This work is under the control of the ombudsman, representatives of the Office, intelligence services, Ministry of Internal Affairs, SBU, Ministry of Health, Command of Medical Forces. And we will extend appropriate measures that are now being detailed to all our people freed from occupation.

Once again I emphasize: We remember everyone and strive to free each person from captivity; no Ukrainian is forgotten.

Today, we discussed with President Erdogan further defense cooperation and our response to all the aggressive steps that Russia has already taken and is preparing to take.

With Chancellor Scholz, we covered a wide range of issues — political, financial, defense, energy. In the defense sphere, I highlighted our expectation for a missile defense system from Germany — thank you for your readiness to help with PPS. We also discussed other points of defense cooperation in detail — there are quite a few and they are clear. Of course, we touched on energy issues, including gas supply to Europe and diversions at the Nord Stream pipeline.

We talked about preparing a new EU sanctions package with Chancellor Scholz — together we need to make it really strong, not symbolic. As of today, there is still room for additions to the eighth sanctions package.

The conversation with Prime Minister Trudeau was as always very specific and mainly concerned how Canada can increase support for Ukraine. Among other things, we discussed demining. Canada has both relevant technologies and humanitarian ambitions.

I proposed to Prime Minister Trudeau that Canada lead global efforts to clear our land of Russian mines and shells. Due to the Russian war, Ukrainian territory is one of the most heavily mined in the world. And while there are similar examples of large-scale contamination elsewhere, we must do what others have not done before: create a precedent for rapid and extensive demining, not leaving this problem for decades. I thank Canada for its readiness to help us.

With Prime Minister Truss, we discussed the possibilities of Britain in strengthening sanctions against Russia as well as increasing defensive support for our country. I thank her for principled condemnation of Russian farce under the guise of a referendum, full support and readiness to go with us towards restoring freedom to all our people — everywhere in Ukraine, without any exceptions.

The conversation with UN Secretary-General concerned fake referendums as well as obvious preparations by Russia for attempts at annexation of our territory. These brutal violations of the UN Charter must be punished.

We discussed with Mr. Guterres the implementation of our export grain initiative. We agreed that it is necessary not only to preserve and protect this initiative from any attempts to dismantle it, but also to expand it. Ukraine is ready to significantly increase the export of its agricultural products to countries in need and appropriate cooperation with the UN for humanitarian purposes and assistance to such countries as Somalia, Ethiopia, etc.

I recently concluded a conversation with Charles Michel. As always, this was a talk between true friends. Thank you for full support on fake referendums and readiness to expand help to Ukraine. Of course, we also discussed the preparation of new sanctions.

Tomorrow I will continue such intensive consultations with leaders.

Today, I would like to thank the United States of America and President Biden personally for a new package of defensive support for our country worth over one billion dollars. This is truly significant.

If anyone in Russia thinks they can "slip through" with everything they are doing on occupied territory, if anyone there hopes that the world will betray its values out of fear of some new Russian announcements about annexation, then they — in Russia — are mistaken. Each next escalatory step by the occupier only confirms the fact that the world must act even more firmly.

In the evening I signed another decree on rewarding our defenders. State awards were awarded to 71 National Guard fighters, 21 emergency service workers, and 52 border guards. For brave and effective actions in liberating Kharkiv region areas from occupation, 320 combatants are being honored.

Regarding the situation on the front — for us everything is clear. Therefore, I repeat once again... For those who understand only Russian.

Want to live — run away. Want to live — surrender to captivity. Want to live — fight on your streets for your freedom. You have nothing left anyway. Or do you have oil wells? Palaces? Vineyards? Maybe, do you have yachts? Or a bank? What are you fighting for at all? You only have debts, something to eat in the evening and now — mobilization. Fight for yourself! Do not come into our land, into our soul and our culture.

Glory to Ukraine!"