We Will Work with Our Partners in Europe to Make the Most of Each Planned Step – Address by the President

11 October 2024 – 19:53

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

It is an important week of meetings with our friends in Europe – the largest defense donors and also the strategic region of the Balkans and Southeast Europe in general.

Today it was Berlin, talks with Chancellor Scholz, and just now a meeting with President Steinmeier.

There will be a new defense package for Ukraine from Germany. I am especially grateful for the assistance with air defense systems – Germany is the undisputed leader of support in this area. I am grateful for another IRIS-T.

We discussed with the Chancellor what kind of support will be provided this year and next – it is very important for us that the amount of aid from Germany remains stable, and this will be a signal that the path to peace will remain assured despite everything. We discussed how to further consolidate the world to bring peace closer.

I informed President Steinmeier about our work with partners and how we can strengthen Ukraine’s positions so that all of Europe can benefit from it.

This morning, in the Vatican, I met with Pope Francis and Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin. A very sensitive issue for Ukraine, for many families in Ukraine – the release of our people from Russian captivity. Warriors and civilians, children and adults. Thousands of Ukrainians. Yesterday, we learned of the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna in Russian captivity. My condolences to her family.

But she was on the exchange list.

Doing this work – pushing for the exchanges – is very difficult, and that is why we need special assistance, including the efforts of the Vatican.

We agreed that Ukraine will provide a list of journalists who are currently held captive in Russia. We discussed in detail the return of civilians, the return of deported children. We hope for support.

We are preparing a meeting in Canada for this month – specifically on this point of the Peace Formula, on humanitarian issues. I have invited the Vatican to participate.

Here in Germany, and yesterday in three countries in one day – Britain, France, Italy – I presented our Victory Plan to European leaders. To Prime Minister Starmer, to President Macron, to the Head of the Italian Government Giorgia Meloni. And today during my conversation with Olaf. All the details of our strategy for achieving peace – geopolitical, military, and economic.

We explained in London what kind of long-range capabilities we need now, and what our vision is for strengthening the front. We had a very good conversation with Emmanuel, and France has already helped us in many ways to unite other partners; we are now counting on such leadership. Italy – Giorgia’s very principled position, a clear understanding of our motives and Europe’s needs. I thank Olaf for our conversation today; Germany has all the details – regarding military aspects as well as geopolitical and economic ones. We must act together – everyone who has the necessary strength, the necessary influence – to guarantee a sustainable peace, to force Russia into peace. But we must act right now, in these months. To strengthen our guys at the front. To strengthen our common positions. Now, at the team level, we will work with our partners in Europe to make the most of each planned step; and this Plan of ours should lead to an effective second Peace Summit, to bring the war to an end. And that it be a just, fair end to the war.

And one more thing.

I am grateful to Croatia and to all our partners in the Balkans and in the region of Southeast Europe for our third Summit – this format that helps to preserve European unity. I thank everyone for supporting the Peace Formula and the Peace Summit format. I am confident that the Victory Plan – if our partners are truly resolute in standing with us – will become a reliable bridge between the current situation and the peace we all strive so much for.

I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine! I am proud of our people. The world has been with Ukraine for the third year of this war, because our people, especially the people – millions of Ukrainians – they deserve support!

Glory to Ukraine!

Germany:

As he mentioned in his daily address, President Zelenskyy presented the Ukrainian Victory Plan to Olaf Scholz today.

Today is our third meeting this fall with Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz @Bundeskanzler, and perhaps one of the most important throughout the entire period of the full-scale war. We are now presenting our key friends with our strategy for bringing peace to Ukraine—a plan of… pic.twitter.com/Klter03FRB

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 11, 2024

Today is our third meeting this fall with Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz @Bundeskanzler, and perhaps one of the most important throughout the entire period of the full-scale war. We are now presenting our key friends with our strategy for bringing peace to Ukraine—a plan of absolutely clear and realistic steps that can push the whole situation towards real peace.

Restoring a just peace for Ukraine is a victory for us, and that is what we are striving for. And we can achieve this together—with all our partners. We count on Germany’s support.

I am grateful for all the assistance Germany has provided to Ukraine—air defense, significant defense and economic aid, our political cooperation, support for the Peace Formula, and joint efforts for the effectiveness of Peace Summits. It is very important for us that next year’s aid does not decrease — that it is sufficient to protect people and life.

🇺🇦🇩🇪

Germany has been a top supporter of Ukraine’s air defense, saving thousands of lives. But defense alone isn’t enough anymore. Zelensky has urged Scholz to consider funding Ukraine’s production of long-range weaponry— a game-changer that could shift the balance. pic.twitter.com/BVdpTuNbyJ

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) October 11, 2024

We stand firmly by your side.

Our hearts are with you and your people, dear @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue our support with vigour. It is clear: we want a just, lasting peace – not a peace dictated by Russia!

Ukraine can rely on us. pic.twitter.com/Jba3ZkT8zd

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) October 11, 2024

Then release the Taurus.

Germany, together with Belgium, Denmark and Norway, will deliver another military aid package to Ukraine by the end of the year valued €1.4 billion.

In particular, it will include air defense systems like IRIS-T, Skynex and Gepard; howitzers and self-propelled guns; armored… pic.twitter.com/EK6G1882jc

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) October 11, 2024

Germany, together with Belgium, Denmark and Norway, will deliver another military aid package to Ukraine by the end of the year valued €1.4 billion.

In particular, it will include air defense systems like IRIS-T, Skynex and Gepard; howitzers and self-propelled guns; armored vehicles; combat drones; radars; ammunition – Scholz at a meeting with Zelenskiy in Berlin.

Germany provides a new military aid package for Ukraine valued at €600 million.
The package includes Iris-T SLM air defense system, tanks, artillery systems and drones.

We are grateful to our German friends for their unwavering support. Together, we will win!
🇺🇦🤝🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/C2NhSJ8hEe

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 11, 2024

President Zelenskyy also met with Pope Francis today:

Zelenskiy arrived in the Vatican where he will meet with the Pope pic.twitter.com/OgGYpUrWP3

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) October 11, 2024

Today, during my visit to the Vatican, I met with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

We discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula, with a… pic.twitter.com/FJvxW0Dax6

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 11, 2024

Today, during my visit to the Vatican, I met with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

We discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula, with a particular focus on the point regarding the return of deported children and the release of civilian hostages and prisoners of war. Special attention was given to the preparation of a conference based on this point of the Peace Formula, which will take place on October 30-31 in Canada.

Among other topics, we also talked about the results of Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s recent visit to Ukraine. I am certain that this will help unite international efforts in the process of restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

For all of us in Ukraine, the issue of captured and deported people remains incredibly painful. These are adults and children, many civilians who are now held in prisons and camps in Russia.

Yesterday, it was reported that Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna died in Russian… pic.twitter.com/9AECwB6ncY

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 11, 2024

For all of us in Ukraine, the issue of captured and deported people remains incredibly painful. These are adults and children, many civilians who are now held in prisons and camps in Russia.

Yesterday, it was reported that Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna died in Russian captivity. For many Ukrainian journalists who knew Victoria, her death is a heavy blow. Many other journalists, public figures, community heads from occupied territories, and ordinary people who were captured during the Russian occupation remain in Russian captivity.

The issue of bringing our people home from captivity was the main focus of my meeting with Pope Francis
@Pontifex. We are counting on the Holy See’s assistance in helping to bring back Ukrainians who have been taken captive by Russia.

The painting titled “The Massacre in Bucha. The Story of Marychka,” which President Zelensky presented to the Pope during their meeting. pic.twitter.com/hotmVuyADI

— Maria Drutska 🇺🇦 (@maria_drutska) October 11, 2024

Georgia:

From the Ukraine-Georgia football match tonight. Two countries attacked and partly occupied by the same enemy, standing united. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/VXJeLquDSH

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) October 11, 2024

Poland:

❗️Polish general Rajmund Andrzejczak: “If Russia attacks even an inch of Lithuanian territory, the response will come immediately. Not on the first day, but in the first minute. We will hit all strategic targets within a radius of 300 km. We will attack St. Petersburg directly”.… pic.twitter.com/HqhHxKiPqM

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 11, 2024

❗️Polish general Rajmund Andrzejczak: “If Russia attacks even an inch of Lithuanian territory, the response will come immediately. Not on the first day, but in the first minute. We will hit all strategic targets within a radius of 300 km. We will attack St. Petersburg directly”.

He said it in the context of a possible defeat of Ukraine: “[in case] of a Russian victory in Ukraine, we would have a Russian division in Lviv, one in Brest, and one in Grodno…Poland and Lithuania would then be surrounded by Russian forces…Russia must realise that an attack on Poland or the Baltic countries will also be its end”

Source: http://onet.pl, BILD

GEN (ret) Andrzejczak is correct in his assessment.

The US and Russia:

Minutes after Mike Johnson throws Ukraine under the bus, Medvedev comments on it, saying that they will still destroy Ukraine no matter what deal Trump makes with Putin. pic.twitter.com/kbyvuiALMC

— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) October 11, 2024

North Korea:

Ukrainian soldiers could soon be fighting North Korean soldiers for you as well. https://t.co/zTeTadifF2

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) October 11, 2024

Here’s the full text of Rob Lee’s tweet:

“A Ukrainian military intelligence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive security matter, said “several thousand” North Korean infantry soldiers are undergoing training in Russia now and could be deployed to the front line in Ukraine by the end of this year.

The official said North Korean officers are already on the ground in Russia-occupied Ukraine to observe Russian forces and study the battlefield, but Kyiv hasn’t seen any North Korean units fighting yet.”
@myhlee @kostiantynwp @ikhurshudyan
https://washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/11/north-korea-russia-ukraine-military-cooperation/

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor: Without Ukraine in NATO it will “never be safe from the Russian aggression that has menaced it for 300 years, and Europe as a whole will not be secure.”

He argues: “Had NATO started Ukraine and Georgia on the path to NATO membership… pic.twitter.com/CU4Ta7j8TR

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) October 11, 2024

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor: Without Ukraine in NATO it will “never be safe from the Russian aggression that has menaced it for 300 years, and Europe as a whole will not be secure.”

He argues: “Had NATO started Ukraine and Georgia on the path to NATO membership in 2008, Russia might not have invaded the two nations and Ukraine might not be enduring today’s terrible Russian war.”

https://nytimes.com/2024/10/11/opinion/ukraine-nato-membership-russia.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Ukraine warns nuclear plants at risk from Russian missiles flying overhead via ⁦@IKoshiw⁩ https://t.co/kJyXXN68vT

— Valentina Pop (@valentinapop) October 11, 2024

From The Financial Times:

Ukraine has accused Russia of routing its missiles to fly over nuclear power plants “every day”, a military tactic that heightens the risk of atomic accidents.

Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko told the Financial Times that Russian attacks had forced one plant into shutdown on August 26 after a substation was hit. Since then, he said, Russian missiles had increasingly flown over Ukraine’s three nuclear facilities, which generate almost 60 per cent of the country’s electricity.

“This is about three operating nuclear stations,” Galushchenko said, adding that while the facility that went into “emergency blackout” was in central Ukraine, the other two that have been targeted are much further west, near the border with the EU.

The minister said the August attacks and the subsequent flyovers had heightened the country’s fears of a nuclear disaster. Similar fears flared up when Russia seized control of Ukraine’s largest plant at Zaporizhzhia in 2022 and in subsequent attacks on the facility, where the reactors have since been shut down.

A proponent of expanding nuclear power in the country, Galushchenko said that despite the high costs, this form of energy would provide Ukraine with the stable energy it needs.

Russia’s strikes this year have become more precise compared with its first attacks on Ukraine’s energy system in autumn 2022, according to Ukrainian energy companies and officials.

The August 26 attack only led to minor disruptions for consumers as Ukrenenergo, the company that owns the energy grid, was able to repair the damaged transformers quickly. But emergency work in other cases was delayed as Russia used cluster munitions — rockets filled with small mines.

Galushchenko said that the fact that Russia had targeted the substations connected to the nuclear plants showed that it was calculated attack.

For the past month and half, he said, “they have changed the routes of their drones and missiles . . . to go near or above the nuclear power station”. While in the past such occurrences were rare and would prompt complaints at the UN atomic agency, “now it is happening every day”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his UN address last month that Russia had plans to target his country’s three nuclear plants.

More at the link.

Kharkiv:

Distant explosion in Kharkiv ‼️russian glide bombs struck suburbs

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) October 11, 2024

I often post pictures and videos from this spot because it illustrates life in Kharkiv perfectly. We are having coffees next to ruins. Living next to death. pic.twitter.com/ietPQu3lh6

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) October 11, 2024

просто північне сяйво у спальному районі Харкова, гортайте далі pic.twitter.com/MpVpHxDXrb

— Новіков🗿 (@mr_delson) October 10, 2024

Here’s the machine translation of the tweet:

just the northern lights in the sleeping area of ​​Kharkiv, keep scrolling

Kherson:

In Kherson, the Russians are using drones to hunt down ordinary passersby.

They don’t even drop them on cars anymore. And they post the videos themselves.

Russia is a terrorist state. pic.twitter.com/86G8PdkPio

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 11, 2024

The Donetsk Front:

Russian T-90M destroyed on the Donetsk front.https://t.co/WxHuJ8qswi pic.twitter.com/r2W2NjSYac

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) October 11, 2024

Instead of a thousand words.

Ukrainian Defender and northern lights in the sky over Donetsk region.

“The land, where the war has not stopped for more than 10 years, seems to reflect all the blood shed by the defenders of these lands,” Azov Brigade wrote.

📷: Brigade Artillery… pic.twitter.com/IsTR7pXC4f

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) October 11, 2024

Instead of a thousand words.

Ukrainian Defender and northern lights in the sky over Donetsk region.

“The land, where the war has not stopped for more than 10 years, seems to reflect all the blood shed by the defenders of these lands,” Azov Brigade wrote.

📷: Brigade Artillery group of Azov

The Pokrovsk direction:

Here’s that assessment from Kriegforscher I mentioned last night. I was waiting for it to come up in the Thread Reader App:

One year ago the RUAF started their strategic offensive in Donetsk oblast (especially in Pokrovsk area)

If the battle for Avdiivka is well known a heroic defence of a small village that lasted for 6 months is not.

The 79 brigade still holds positions at this direction. Thread🧵

Ukrainian paratroopers showed how effective and heroic in the same time they can be.

For 6 months they destroyed 300 armed vehicles. And I am going to show part of them. 

Two undocumented BMP-3 losses:

1) 155 marine brigade;
2) 10 tank regiment

Two more destroyed BMP-3 from the 10th tank regiment:

Two BMP-3 from 155 brigade after failed attack:

A combination of destroyed BMPs:

More BMPs. Two BMP-3 were, again, from the 155 infamous marine brigade:

The first two BMPs are new:

1) wrecks of destroyed BMP-1 and MTLB;
2) two destroyed T-80BV;
3) destroyed BMP-1(?);
4) heavily damaged and abandoned BMP-1

Destroyed and abandoned BMPs and MTLB:

1) two destroyed MTLBs and abandoned BMP-1;
2) two abandoned MTLBs;
3) two destroyed MTLBs;
4) destroyed MTLB

08.01.24: three Russians MTLBs tried to attack UAF positions but were stopped by land mines and a couple of artillery shells.

Two MTLBs were destroyed:

Destroyed MTLB:

Destroyed lonely standing MTLBs.

Fog, wind, cold weather. Attack after attack. But UA paratroopers are holding positions. January 24:

1) destroyed BMP-1;
2) destroyed MTLB;
3) destroyed MTLB;
4) destroyed MTLB (right corner)

1) old but gold: 4 MTLBs and BTR-50;
2) damaged and abandoned BMP-1 and T-62M;
3-4) destroyed MTLBs

More destroyed MTLBs:

Just more MTLBs. Not surprised they just gone from the storage bases:

Well…

Seems like that some Russian general is a big fan of MTLBs:

And more.

1-2 was a very strange move. Maybe it was a kamikaze MTLB that found a land mine and got destroyed.

The last photo. He migh’ve thinking what he was doing somewhere in the field in Ukraine.

A little bit tired of the amount of MTLBs…

🫣

Two destroyed MTLBs. March 24 and December 23:

We want to ask you to help us. My company needs a powerful Jackery 1000 Pro and paratroopers need special cables for their drones.

Goal is 5500$:

PP: [email protected]

BMAC:

BTC: 1FReGBr9vRwgyTKuwSqhKpuvB2MxrcrsSS buymeacoffee.com/ukranianmarine…

Wishlist | freedomfighterThe main goal of this page is to share my memories and thoughts about the war.https://buymeacoffee.com/ukranianmarines/wishlist

Unfortunately, we have an anti-record. Managed to gather only 450$.

Nevertheless, I am very grateful everyone who still supports Ukraine, my company and different fundraising that I have here for different units🤝

Chenya:

We have more on this week’s installment of How the Kadyrov turns:

Have interethnic strife and blood feud started in Russia?

Putin, as a true tsar and authoritarian leader, must now act as the judge in this case of “blood feud”.

Kadyrov’s statement about blood feuds is an attempt to indirectly contrast Putin’s power with “traditional ways”.… https://t.co/cKtS3pBxcn pic.twitter.com/78bJhB33un

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) October 11, 2024

Have interethnic strife and blood feud started in Russia?

Putin, as a true tsar and authoritarian leader, must now act as the judge in this case of “blood feud”.

Kadyrov’s statement about blood feuds is an attempt to indirectly contrast Putin’s power with “traditional ways”.

Putin is now well aware that everyone is waiting for his reaction. Everyone knows Putin’s style of stalling for time before deciding anything. Remember Prigozhin? Putin, having given his word not to kill, then went ahead and killed Prigozhin.

For now, Putin needs Kadyrov. But right after Prigozhin’s murder, I wrote that Kadyrov could be next. It may not be as demonstrative as the murder of Prigozhin. Kadyrov might simply have “health issues.”

Putin promised Wildberries to Kerimov and now he can do that.

Putin needs to simultaneously protect Kerimov and “satisfy” Kadyrov.

Putin’s reputation as a “tsar” will depend on what he does now.

Many people say that after Patrushev was demoted, the institution of a “coordinator” of the security forces disappeared in Russia, and now they all report directly to Putin. This means that they coordinate on an ad hoc basis. This freedom of action can eventually lead to certain imbalances in the repressive system.

So, Russia is becoming more and more unstable. Which is good.

Krasnodar Oblast, Russia:

Satellite images of the destroyed Russian storages with Shahed kamikaze drones in Krasnodar region of Russia. https://t.co/nbR2CuJ5iD https://t.co/jwqjuvhpb8 pic.twitter.com/Z4xy53IY0T

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) October 11, 2024

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material.

The four-legged friends of 🇺🇦 warriors.
They remind us, that even in the darkest times, friendship shines bright.

📹: @United24media pic.twitter.com/OnKvLbLAwh

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 11, 2024

I made @ZelenskyyUa smile.
Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/VAZkypGneB

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) October 11, 2024