President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about the historic task facing today's generation of world leaders and about an important meeting regarding the spiritual independence of our state.

"I wish good health to all Ukrainians!

Report for this day.

Conducted a session of the General Staff. The main issues were the defense of our ports and the continuation of food exports by sea. This is a strategically important issue, not only for our country.

Last year, thanks to our Black Sea Grain Initiative, we managed to prevent a price crisis on the global food market. A political and migration crisis would inevitably have followed the price surge, especially in African and Asian countries. It is clear that Russian leadership is now trying to provoke these crises. Without our exports, there will be a significant deficit on the global market, unfortunately, affecting not only the poorest countries but also others like Libya, Egypt, Bangladesh, and China. We are working with our partners to prevent this.

From our side, we are developing options for agreements to preserve Ukraine's role as a guarantor of food security globally, maintain our maritime access to the world market, and provide jobs for Ukrainians in ports and agricultural industries. We fight both for global security and for our Ukrainian farmer.

By the way, I met with representatives of African media—print publications, radio, television—from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire. They were not only in Kyiv—they also visited Kherson and Bucha, spoke to relatives of those who died in this war. Every time journalists from other countries come to Ukraine and see the consequences of Russian aggression with their own eyes, they return home with the truth about this war. And we speak to them during interviews not in English or French but in the language of truth, which greatly helps us maintain and increase global attention to Ukraine, our struggle for freedom. We spoke with African media representatives, among other things, about the situation with grain exports and Russian aggression against global food stability. I am grateful to everyone in the world's media who honestly tells their audience what they have seen in our region, in our country.

Of course, at the General Staff there were reports from military personnel, intelligence, security services, MVS [Ministry of Internal Affairs]. The issues were clear—the situation on the front lines, all hot spots—from Kupyansk to Kherson region, Donetsk region, southern areas of Zaporizhzhia region. We discussed questions related to ammunition supply and protection against Russian missile and drone attacks.

I want to thank our air forces and all defenders of the sky from other branches of the military. Thank you for every downed Russian rocket, every downed "shahed," for saving lives and infrastructure, especially in Odesa and the region. Particularly grateful to the 160th Odeska Air Defense Missile Brigade, the 208th Khersonska Air Defense Missile Brigade, the 302nd Air Defense Missile Regiment of Kharkiv and soldiers of the 14th Radio Technical Brigade named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky for timely detection of targets. Thank you!

And every use of components from free countries in the production of Russian terrorists' weapons, especially rockets and "shaheds"... Every such fact will be our argument that existing sanctions against Russia are insufficient. The world must limit trade relations with a terrorist state so much that no component from the free world can be used for terror.

I held an important meeting today about Ukraine's spiritual independence and our further steps to protect citizens' rights and legal interests in religious matters. There will be news soon.

We continue working on preparing the doctrine of Ukraine, on our wartime transformation, and already making decisions for helping our people. The Minister of Health and the Minister of Social Policy presented me with a concept for creating a network of rehabilitation centers in Ukraine. Different levels and functions but absolutely necessary services for rehabilitation. Implementation has already begun. Ministers present all details.

Met with the head of Japan's International Cooperation Agency. This is one of the largest institutions supporting economic and social development worldwide. Its work is similar to that of USAID, which Ukrainians know well. The Japanese agency is currently implementing a program for emergency recovery in Ukraine worth half a billion dollars. And overall since the start of full-scale aggression, this Japanese agency has provided over a billion dollars in support to Ukraine. We have potential for increased cooperation—this was discussed: demining, energy, infrastructure projects, education. Very important—the construction of rehabilitation centers to overcome war consequences.

And one more thing.

Signed decrees honoring our soldiers. Seven decrees. In total 1255 soldiers honored. Combat brigades and subunits. Different sectors of the front line. Equally highest bravery! Since February 24, state awards have been given to almost 51 thousand Ukrainian soldiers.

I thank everyone who fights for Ukraine! Glory to all our heroes! To every one fighting for Ukraine, training our soldiers, treating and rehabilitating the wounded!

I thank everyone around the world who helps! And I thank today's "Ramstein" partners, especially US Secretary of Defense Austin for very clear, unambiguous, and powerful statements. Overcoming Russian aggression, punishing Russia for terror is a historic task facing today's generation of world leaders. And the world will fulfill this task. Ukraine's victory will be!

Glory to Ukraine!"