Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky gives his annual press conference. The meeting with journalists takes place in secret.
The head of state Vladimir Zelensky gives the final press conference on Tuesday, December 19. The meeting with journalists is kept secret: the place and duration of the briefing are not announced. Correspondent.net conducting an online text broadcast of the incident.
TEXT BROADCAST
19.59. The President believes that many Ukrainians will return to the country when the air defense is strengthened and the aid to our people in the European Union and the United States is reduced.
19.55. There will be no reduction in aid to displaced people, Zelensky announced.
19.45. “The opening of Boryspil airport is very seriouswe ask this question to our colleagues, we need more air defense, we are doing the opening“, – Zelensky.
19.42. When asked about the production of drones in Ukraine and providing them to the army, the president said: “I have a positive attitude towards increasing the production of drones and creating units… Headquarters is strong, because 26 thousand drones are lying in a warehouse and do not reach the front, we will overcome it.“.
Ukraine will produce a million drones next year, Zelensky promised.
19.37. Zelensky said that will not sign the Women’s Mobilization Act. And according to the mobilization age of 25 years old, he said: “If all the arguments about the need for it are presented, I agree with it“.
19.36. “We had difficulties during the counter-offensive in the Southbecause everyone talked about it and analyzed it, it It doesn’t work like that in the Russian Federation, they have more weapons“, – Zelensky.
19.35. The president said that because of Russia, the exchange of prisoners has slowed down, but “the path will open, work is now underway on a new exchange.”
19.20. Zelensky: “I’ll give a little to protect civilians… One warrior – six civilians to pay taxes. Get 500 thousand people and tell us how we can find +3 million paid contributions this month?”
19.18. When asked about the conflict with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Zelensky replied: “I have a working relationship with Zaluzhny. I will not build the topic of conflict or help anyone here. We need powerful measures and results from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine… I plan to work. I expect very specific things on the battlefield from the military’s mobilization decisions… I don’t have any personal questions with them. Everything is personal to me and my wife.”
19.12. When journalists asked if Zelensky would change the military leadership because of the situation on the front, he replied: “By the end of the year, Ukraine will have an understanding of its next steps on the front.”
19.08. “We are not invited to NATO. SAsome partial proposals… We have never received such an offer“, – the President.
“If part of Ukraine is in NATO, then Putin will start a war with NATO. And the question here is whether the countries of the Alliance will be ready to fight for part of Ukraine, because we will not recognize the occupation of Russia in our territories.”
19.03. Zelensky on closing the Polish border (both the grain blockade and the current one): “Poland did not allow us to export our grain. I’m not some kind of wimp. I defend the interest of my country. Blocking the border is a pre-election policy.”
The President is already talking to the new government of the country on the border blockade and grain issue.
18.57. Zelensky: “We recognize the independent people of Palestine“
18.54. Trump’s policies will be completely different, the president said.
18.53. “Help from the US is needed now and I think it will come soon“, said the president.
18.50. The President acknowledged that the war in the Middle East is having an impact on aid to Ukraine.
“There is a Russian trace there, on this track the Kremlin achieved victory“, – he said.
18.41. In response to one of the questions about corruption and the journalist’s suggestion about possible “purges” in the Office of the President, Zelensky said: “If I remove my team, then we will weaken – there will be less help … less. air defense.”
18.39. “The policy of Orban (Hungarian leader – ed.) is not very friendly to us, I told him about it… I have many questions for him… I asked Orban: Victor, name at least one reason why you don’t support us joining the EU, maybe we can find a diplomatic solution. He struggled to answer why we cannot organize a meeting to resolve all issues,” Zelensky said.
18.36. The President said that “The Verkhovna Rada will not dissolve, despite the scandals on foreign holidays”because elections would be necessary, and they are impossible in time of war.
18.30. Zelensky said that Ukraine’s GDP grew by 5% throughout the year.
18.26. To a journalist’s question: if the war ends in 2024, the president replied: “No one knows the answer to this… Opinions often differ from reality.”.
“You can live with skepticism, but you can also live in a country about ***** with skepticism. I’m not ready for it.”
18.21. Zelensky: “We did not control the sky, it had an impact on the special operation in the direction of the South in 2023.”
18.19. “I am confident that the United States will not betray us and the agreements will be fulfilled… I think I have found agreements with Biden… the only question is the dates,” said the head of state.
18.14. Mobilization in the format taking place today will cost Ukraine 500 billion hryvnia, the president said.
12.18. Zelensky: “The military proposed to mobilize an additional 450-500 thousand people”.
18.08. Zelensky announced the transfer of a “batch” of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. He said he had promised his allies not to reveal the exact number of systems.
18.02. The press conference has started. The President gave opening remarks.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.