On Tuesday, December 19, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi will hold a press conference on the results of 2023. The President's office announced the event yesterday, December 18.
During the event, the head of state spoke about topics that were touched upon by media representatives. It was about both mobilization and the opening of Boryspil airport.
A day before the press conference, the President's office gave journalists the opportunity to obtain accreditation to attend the event. One correspondent, cameraman and photographer were allowed to be accredited from one mass media.
The main theses of the final press conference of Volodymyr Zelenskyi
Several new Patriot air defense systems will arrive in Ukraine this winter.
"I would like to note our partners of the Air Defense Forces of Ukraine and my team, what is happening with the strengthening of Ukrainian air defense. It is important. This winter is very important," — the head of state said.
According to him, we are becoming more powerful every month.
"I had a serious business trip with my team. Several, I will not say the number, several new Patriot systems will be in Ukraine to protect our country in winter. This is a very important result. I promised not to tell the number until they are protected," — Zelensky noted.
Zelenskyi on the "victories" of the Russian Federation: the occupiers did not achieve any results this year
"Russia has not achieved any results this year. I do not characterize the year past 2022. I am talking about the year 2023. Russia has not achieved any goal."
The uncontrolled sky from the side of Ukraine affected the southern operation of 2023
"The uncontrolled sky from the side of Ukraine had little influence on the southern operation of 23. We don't control the sky, we don't have enough of the right ammunition. But this does not mean that we will not find a way out or have not already found it, but for this we really need support, because we simply do not have some things from ammunition. We are working on it."
""Demobilization processes" are needed: Zelensky spoke about additional mobilization
"The question is very sensitive, I think. They addressed the defense of our state and potential counteroffensive actions, regarding the deficit. And their eyes were on Stavka, that they offered to mobilize an additional 450-500 thousand people. This is a very serious number."
Zelensky is convinced that aid will reach Ukraine.
"I am sure that the USA will not betray us, and what we agreed with the USA will be fully implemented. serious work is underway to provide financial assistance to Ukraine. We are working very hard on it."
He added that the country expects serious financial support from the USA. "We are working on a very powerful figure. Our American partners should know that we expect this help. They know the details of what it is needed for, how it will affect. And how does the transfer affect the stability of our economy, the stability of the people of Ukraine".
"Let's end the war earlier": Zelenskyi named the condition for 2024.
"Will the war end in 2024? I don't think anyone knows the answer. Even those respectable people, commanders, ours or the West, when they say that this is a war for many years, they do not know. These are thoughts. Opinions very often differ from reality," — said the head of state.
According to Zelenskyi, war, victory, defeat, stagnation depend on many decisions, many risks, many directions, but mostly on you and me.
Zelenskyi on scandals with deputies: I cannot dissolve the Council during the war
There are questions regarding the deputies, but the Verkhovna Rada cannot be dissolved against the background of scandals with people's deputies during the war.
"Regarding my team. If I lose my team, I have a small one, 5-6 managers, then we become weaker with you. There will be less air defense, there will be less aid. I can't afford it." said the head of state.
The President noted that he still has no idea how joining the Alliance can be implemented while part of Ukraine is under occupation
"We know that this is the most powerful option for us now. We are not invited to NATO, and signals about some kind of partial participation, frankly, are delusional".
Zelenskyi noted that there are now certain messages about partial membership in NATO. However, Ukraine has never received clear proposals in this regard, and even the president has a hard time imagining the implementation of any of these proposals.
Zelenskyi has said he is working on further shrinking the government. He noted that it is very difficult to manage the country without people.
"Today we are reducing government officials' expenses as much as possible. I'm still working on making the government smaller. But if there are no people there, it will be difficult for us to manage the state.".
The President of Ukraine was asked about the possibility of creating a "unity government, which would include technocrat professionals"
"I want to reduce this government, I have no money - I was asked for 500 billion for mobilization", Zelensky emphasized.
Russia is behind the war in the Middle East.
He noted that this war is a tragedy and a challenge in Europe today, because "the influence of the Russian Federation is behind it." According to him, due to the war in Israel, attention and assistance to Ukraine has decreased.
"This is not business during the war": Zelensky spoke emotionally about the blockade of the border with Poland
"I had a strong relationship with your Cabinet. I came with my wife. We were grateful, supported as much as we could. Then there was the blockade of our borders. Understand, this is not business during the war - the blockade of our borders, this was survival. At that time, we did not have a corridor - a free, independent, Black Sea corridor through which grain could be exported. What did we have? We had problems in Slovakia, we could have problems with Romania, we had problems with Hungary, and we have problems with our closest friends, Poland. So what do we have if we don't have the sea. And when they said about a compromise, I said: What is the compromise? Can't we all survive? Do not export this grain? We said that we will not sell grain to Poland. Let me take it out," said the head of state.
According to Zelenskyi, it was very difficult for Ukraine from April to September, we lost hundreds of millions of dollars.
"We lost part of the harvest. We lost it daily. Every day, farmers inside the state asked me how to do it, because we have mined fields, how to at least get something out. And that's what happened. And we began to lose political relations. I emphasize once again, I am grateful to your people. But you understand me, I'm not some rag, I protect the interests of my country during the war, and I said, just let us take it out. We were not allowed to take it out and it was wrong. It's just wrong".
Zelenskyi: I will not sign the law on the mobilization of women
At the same time, according to him, if the law contains the right arguments regarding the mobilization of men younger than 27 years, then he will support this initiative.
"Women - no, I will not sign. Regarding 25 years, if all the arguments are laid out (today I see why this is necessary), then I will agree with this".
Zelensky put an end to the issue of "conflict" with Zaluzhny.
When asked by journalists whether he was going to "fire Zaluzhny" and why he did not react to the rumors.
"And why help someone and develop all sorts of rumors? I have a working relationship with Zaluzhny, he should be responsible for the result on the battlefield as the head together with the General Staff. There are many questions. There is also the commander of Tavria (Commander of Tavria direction Tarnavskyi). This is a difficult question, next. Something was there, something is missing. It's a very complicated story.".
Zelensky assessed the impact of Trump's possible election victory on the course of the war
If Donald Trump is elected US president, the US policy towards Ukraine may change.
"I think he will definitely have a different policy. He is a different person, if he will be the president of the USA - not for us, but for their people to choose their president - I do not think that the policy of the USA will change towards Ukraine."
According to him, it is necessary to soberly look at the fact that the country's leader has influence, like any other leader, on his society, especially after election.
The President of Ukraine noted that the opening of the airport can be a powerful economic step
"Boryspil Airport is like the Black Sea, a very serious operation, I'll tell you honestly. The opening of Boryspil is a victory for the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces. This will indicate that Ukraine is winning very seriously. This is a powerful economic step as well."
Why the counteroffensive did not go as planned and what are the realistic goals that Ukraine plans to achieve in the next 12 months.
"I can't tell you about the goals. We had difficulties in the south, because everyone around us said what our goals were. I tell you frankly, all these places, everyone said: where we are going, everyone considered in detail how we will get there, how we might not get there, how better it will turn out, this will be enough, and this will not be enough, no problem, it is better to go south, it’s warm there, it’s possible later, because it’s winter there, it’s okay, let’s wait for some kind of ammunition, winter will come later there... Well, sorry, it’s not going to take off from the Russian Federation, which weapons are there more”.
The President noted the importance of increasing the production of drones and creating special units.
"I have a positive attitude towards the increase in the production of drones and the creation of special units. There must be an infrastructure for drone management. I had Stavka now and I wanted to understand one of the key issues – drone production and supply. I really don't like it when we still have a bureaucratic Soviet process for logistics, when 26 drones were lying in one warehouse and did not reach the front.".
"As for production, we will produce one million drones next year. We will do everything to make it so, and I know that it will be so."
A separate issue was the visit of the Ukrainian president to Israel, which never took place. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was immediately ready to support Jerusalem with his presence and gave a similar signal to his Western colleagues. As a result, he never reached Israel for various reasons.
"I was ready from the beginning and that's a fact. This was my direct signal to colleagues abroad. They probably had other priorities. I can't play too much with my schedule and priorities because I'm running a country that's at war.".
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