"Free people of the most beautiful country!"

A country that has a future. This is certain. It's what motivates us to fight now. On the battlefield and around-the-clock diplomatically, informationally, and economically. It's what allows us to plan life after the war. Our free, sovereign, and democratic future. Definitely peaceful. Definitely with development.

I held a meeting today dedicated to rebuilding our cities. Of course, this is an enormous undertaking. But still smaller than defending the state in war. Smaller than what we all—every Ukrainian, our army, and our entire people—are already doing. So there's no need to fear the scale.

What's important in our project of rebuilding Ukraine? The task is not only to physically restore houses, apartments, bridges, roads, enterprises, and social infrastructure that were destroyed by Russian troops. Not just to return everything people lost and give them a new foundation for life.

Now—this is an historic moment. A moment when we can finally solve many long-standing problems in our living environment. When we can do quality urban planning where it didn't exist before. Take into account real traffic flows. Guarantee energy efficiency, ecological materials, inclusivity. This if we talk about organizing the space of life and the quality of reconstruction.

But there's also what concerns justice. For decades, lines for housing have existed and never ended. It was still from Soviet times. Millions of people know how hard it is—to get their own home, earn money to buy an apartment, build a house. Especially painful this always was for military personnel, law enforcement officers, public sector workers. Those who work for society and receive very little from the state.

Last year I set the government task—to ensure housing for all veterans in line by this year. Then we planned to move on to ensuring housing for all our military personnel. And now we are actually expanding last year's task to a national scale and detailing it so that it becomes true modernization of Ukrainian cities and communities. We also combine this with the program of home energy modernization. As a result—there will be several stages.

I set today the task for the first stage—to provide temporary housing to all our displaced persons. Whose homes were destroyed by war. Temporary, until we restore their housing. Or until people receive compensation in square meters or money.

On the second stage—we will restore what occupiers tried to destroy. All cities and communities that suffered.

And on the third stage—provide housing for all those who have defended or are defending the state, who work in the interests of society but do not have their own home. There can no longer be a situation where a person dedicates their entire life to military service and ends up retired without an apartment. There can no longer be a situation where a son or daughter defend Ukraine at war while parents don't have their own home and are forced to live in temporary housing or look for other options. There can no longer be a situation where a doctor, nurse, teacher, law enforcement officer dedicates their entire life honestly to the cause but ends up living in a dormitory for decades if not for life.

The government, all central authorities together with local authorities must ensure this. And they will ensure it. Everyone in Ukraine has the right to housing, to their own home or apartment. To safe and comfortable living space that is designed for anyone.

All whose homes were destroyed by occupiers and those who stood in line for a long time. All our people who deserve to live in modern conditions.

To implement this project, we are already involving leading architects, the entire potential of the state, and international support. We will add participation from companies, partner states, international donors. I have absolutely no doubt that we will succeed. Not only in restoring what was destroyed but also in restoring justice for those whose right to housing was violated.

We also discussed the issue of memorializing what Ukrainians went through during this war. How to preserve parts of this experience so it always reminds all generations of our people from which ruthless and senseless onslaught Ukraine managed to repel.

As an example, a project for a memorial complex is being prepared that will tell the story of the destroyed bridge in Kyiv region connecting Irpin and Bucha with Kyiv. The story of people who escaped via this bridge and road from Russian invaders to Kyiv.

Today I met with military personnel of the State Special Communication and Information Protection Service. Awarded them.

The contribution of communicators to our defense, to our movement towards victory, to peace cannot be overestimated. Their work needs to be remembered more often, gratitude expressed louder.

Since the first day of war we have had a stable connection both within our country and with partner countries of Ukraine. I sincerely thank everyone who ensures this!

Today I spoke with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. About defense and other support for Ukraine. About strengthening sanctions policy against Russia. About the situation on various fronts of military operations in Ukraine, especially—Mariupol. And about variants of help to defenders of the city and civilians.

The situation in Mariupol remains extremely harsh. Simply inhuman. Such it was made by the Russian Federation. Deliberately made. And deliberately continues to destroy the city. Deliberately tries to destroy everyone who is there, in Mariupol.

We can influence this only through two ways. Either partners give Ukraine all necessary heavy weapons and planes without exaggeration immediately. So we could reduce pressure on Mariupol and unblock it. Or—the negotiation path where the role of partners must also be decisive.

I want to make sure you hear me right now: there hasn't been a single day since the start of the blockade of Mariupol when we haven't sought solutions. Military or diplomatic—whichever is needed to save people. But finding this solution is extremely difficult. There's still no one hundred percent real option yet. This concerns both military action variants and negotiation process.

Although we've heard many intentions from those who wanted to help and indeed have international authority, but none of them has been realized so far. Still, we won't give up on these efforts. And every day either I or Chief Commander of the Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, or other military personnel, or head of our negotiation team Davyd Arakhamia—stay in touch with our defenders of Mariupol. Every day.

Traditionally before evening address I signed decree on awarding our defenders. 186 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 13 servicemen of the Main Intelligence Directorate. Two employees of the Security Service of Ukraine. And one National Guard fighter.

Eternal glory to all who defend the state!

Eternal memory to each one who died for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!">