The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in his address to his compatriots on Monday evening, said that although some people in the frontline cities seem to have “completely forgotten about the war”, in the main operational areas, especially in Donbas, fierce battles continue and are ignored. War “is a luxury that no one can afford,” says News.ro.

“Sometimes it seems that someone in the hinterland completely forgot about the war and began to ignore reality, using the protection of our heroes. Ignoring war is a luxury that no one can afford,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said before announcing that he had signed a number of decrees, including one that prohibits public servants, including high-ranking ones, from traveling outside the country with another purpose service.

“If they want to rest now, they will rest outside the state office. Civil servants will no longer be able to go abroad on vacation or for any other non-state purpose,” Zelenskyi said.

“Ukraine will not show weakness. The state will not show weakness”

Fierce battles continue in the main operational areas, especially in Donbas, where bombings and enemy offensives are constantly taking place, the President of Ukraine noted. “However, the struggle for Donbas continues. The battle for the south continues. We see what forces Russia is gathering, and we know how to respond. We will definitely respond to the enemy’s regular terrorist attacks in our border regions – Sumy and Kharkiv regions,” the head of state assured.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyi also said that air defense on Monday gave Ukraine a “good day”, as “Russian planes, helicopters and missiles” were shot down.

“I also want to thank the fighters of the 35th Marine Brigade and the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade for their courage and for the results that Ukraine needs in the Donetsk direction,” Zelenskyy added.

“Ukraine will not show weakness. The state will not show weakness,” the Ukrainian leader said, probably referring to the new measures he is considering to fight corruption.

“It is important that Americans at all levels know how necessary cooperation between the United States and Ukraine is”

Zelenskyi also told Ukrainians that the diplomatic marathon he started after his visit to Washington in December last year gave Ukraine the results it needed – “a real strengthening of defense.”

He noted that he has held more than 30 negotiations at various levels with the leaders of the partner states, and these are only those that can be made public. “We are currently working on filling February with even more meaningful contacts with the leaders,” Zelenskyy said.

The president informed his compatriots that on Monday he addressed the participants of the winter meeting of American business leaders. “There are more than 100,000 entrepreneurs who employ about half of the American workforce. It is important that Americans at all levels know and feel how important and historically necessary our cooperation is – cooperation between Ukraine and the USA,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

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