"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!"

Our defenders and defenderesses!

We have three serious updates. First, the European Union is gradually moving towards implementing its sixth sanctions package. Frankly speaking, this is very difficult to achieve. The main purpose of this sanctions package is in oil.

The world finally refuses Russian oil. Other countries that extract much higher quality and lighter oil are preparing to replace Russia's supply. Therefore, for the state-aggressor, huge sums are being lost on this front.

Of course, Russia is trying to counteract constantly. It has long enjoyed a stream of petrodollars and does not want to give up. But it will have to. It will have to get used to the fact that very painful revenue cuts are an inevitable consequence of war for its perpetrator, for the Russian state.

The second news is that the United States has confirmed at various levels that modern rocket systems HIMARS are being sent to our country. This weapon will really help save lives and protect our land.

I am grateful to President Biden, all of our American friends, and the people of the United States for this support. We await it. Very much so.

We also expect good news about arms supplies from other partners. For example, today we have a new package of military aid from Sweden. I am very grateful to the leadership of the country.

We are working on increasing the volume of supply of modern combat systems to a significantly higher level.

Thirdly, full-fledged diplomatic activity is being restored in Kyiv by an increasingly larger number of embassies. As of today, there are already 50. This is important not only practically—for the work of diplomats—but also symbolically. Every new embassy that returns to our capital is a testament to faith in our victory. In the belief that Ukraine will be able to defend its statehood in this war initiated by the Russian Federation on our land.

We have started today a new and, I believe, very important tradition. From now on, the ceremony of presenting credentials to foreign ambassadors who start their work in Ukraine will take place not just in Kyiv but within the territory of our St. Sophia Cathedral.

And the first ambassadors, whose credentials I received today as part of this new ceremony, were those from Moldova, India, and the United States.

Why there? Why at St. Sophia? Because it is a sacred, historical, and state center of our people. By receiving credentials there, we demonstrate who Ukrainians are, what we stand for, and what stands behind us. We express the highest respect to representatives of other nations. We open up to them. And simultaneously show that we expect such respect, such sincerity towards the Ukrainian people, their interests, and their history from them.

Immediately after the ceremony, I spoke with the new ambassadors. The impressions were pleasant. Hope for productive work.

Today there were two important addresses: to the parliament of Luxembourg and to participants in a security forum in Bratislava, where President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputová, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and other friends and partners of our country also participated.

Of course, the key task, as before, is to accumulate maximum support for Ukraine. Defense first and foremost, financial, and political too. Almost every address leads to an increase in assistance to our state.

It is very important that now—in a few weeks—we are expecting a response from the European Union regarding the candidate status issue for Ukraine. We are waiting with great anticipation.

And I am grateful to everyone who has already expressed support for our state, for our candidacy. Especially in response to my questions addressed to parliaments of various countries, forums, student and expert communities, people on squares of various European cities who demonstrated in support of Ukraine and its people.

We must understand that Russia has now mobilized all its forces to derail the European movement for Ukraine. And every instrument, especially public discussions and appeals, should be fully engaged.

The situation in Donbas did not change significantly over the day. We have certain successes in battles around Severodonetsk. But it is too early to say. It is the hardest there now. As well as in nearby cities and communities—Lysychansk, Bakhmut, and others. Many towns where such powerful Russian attacks are taking place.

The Russian army uses all available military capabilities, completely disregarding people. Particularly cynically, those very people who were conscripted into the army from previously occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions often end up in the first line of attack. Russian soldiers often simply hide behind these so-called mobilized individuals.

The longer the war lasts, the more despicable, disastrous, and cynical things Russia will forever inscribe into its history.

Absolutely senseless shelling from Russian territory of our northern border regions continues, including Chernihiv. Strikes were carried out on Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kharkiv region. The entire temporarily occupied territory of our state is now a zone of continuous catastrophe for which Russia bears full responsibility.

We have already started working on new sanctions packages against Russia. Step by step, we will make the Russian state remain without all elements of modern economy. For destroying the lives of neighbors, occupiers will pay the full price. And no lobby in this or that country of Russia will help.

I signed a new decree today on awarding our defenders and heroines. 223 participants in combat operations have been honored with state awards, including 72 posthumously.

Eternal glory to all who gave their lives for Ukraine!

Glory to every one of our heroes!

Glory to Ukraine!"