On Monday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi spoke to his compatriots about the “good news” from Romania and thanked Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the opening of the F-16 pilot training center in Fetesht, all the more so. Apparently, rejecting the proposal of former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for Ukraine to join the alliance without the territories occupied by Russia, the Ukrainian leader repeated the goal of liberating the entire territory of the country, including Crimea, and announced that the enemy would be dealt a “fair and hard blow” both on land, as well as in the Black Sea, in particular thanks to the activities of the Ukrainian special services.

“There is important news from Romania: the F-16 pilot training center has been launched, our guys will be trained there. I am grateful to President of Romania Iohannis and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rutte for the fact that all our agreements are being fulfilled,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in the address he sends to Ukrainians, as he does every evening, News.ro quotes.

• PHOTO The European F-16 Training Center in Romania was inaugurated at the Fetesti Air Base

On the other hand, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again insisted that Kyiv’s goal remains the liberation of all territory occupied by Russia, including Crimea, apparently rejecting the proposal made a few days ago by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh. Rasmussen. According to him, Ukraine should be admitted to the North Atlantic Alliance only with the territory it controls, without the regions occupied by Russia, because in this way it will give a signal to Moscow that it cannot prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.

The reason for Zelensky’s request was a statement about his meeting with the leader of the ethnic Tatars in Crimea, Mustafa Dzhemilev, who turned 80 on Monday and whom Zelensky awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Zelensky noted that Dzhemilev is “a worthy person, a courageous person, a defender of his people and all of Ukraine,” and the title of Hero is absolutely deserved. “I thanked him for what he did for our people, for our freedom. He is truly a moral authority. I also thanked him for being with us in the fight against Russian aggression. Of course, I talked with him about Crimea, about protecting our people from the peninsula. We remember all corners of our country and must restore freedom throughout Ukraine without exception,” the Ukrainian president emphasized.

“Thank you to everyone in the world who remembers that Russia’s attack on the rules-based international order began with Crimea. With the capture of Crimea, Russia began this aggression and destabilization. And it is difficult to imagine the restoration of peace in the world if we do not return to Ukraine what Russia stole from it. Restoring our territorial integrity is a global necessity,” the Ukrainian leader said.

In this context, he said that he is asking to improve Ukraine’s “international communication” so that partners “understand and hear Ukrainians.”

“Today we had several meetings regarding our new international events, which are planned for the coming weeks – negotiations with the leaders of our partner countries, new support packages for our military and Ukraine’s international communication. We can and must ensure an absolutely clear result: regardless of the information agenda of the world, our partners must understand us and listen to Ukrainians. And it will happen,” the Kyivan assured.

On the other hand, he highly praised the activities of the country’s special services, thanks to which “Ukraine knows and will know what the enemy is preparing and how to respond to him – correctly and strongly. Both on land and in the Black Sea,” Zelenskyy said, noting that on Monday he was briefed by the head of the Intelligence Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (SBU) Kyrylo Budanov and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Intelligence Service (SZRU). , Oleksandr Lytvynenko. “I am grateful to both structures – to each of those who serve in them,” the president said.

The situation at the front remains difficult, says Zelensky

As for the front line, Zelenskyi admitted that the situation remains difficult in Avdiivka, Maryintsa, Bakhmut region, Lyman region, Kupyansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson region. “Each of these areas is difficult. But I thank everyone who resists. I am grateful to all those who do not lose power and positions. I thank all the commanders who take care of the soldiers. I thank all visiting doctors who save lives. To all our people who remember that Ukraine is alive, because there is someone to stop the enemy,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The head of state also noted that despite the war it is waging, Ukraine must reform its legislation and implement all the recommendations of the European Union in order to receive an “unconditional decision” to start negotiations on joining the EU, a decision that is expected next. month. “The success of the country and our people – economic, social and in the development of Ukraine’s relations with the world – can only be achieved as a joint success of all of Europe. To this end, we are gradually strengthening our institutions and legislation, even in times of full-scale war. And I am grateful to everyone who helps us do this, who supports relevant decisions, who implements them,” Zelenskyy said.

According to him, during the day he had a “long meeting” with diplomats, government officials and parliamentarians to prepare Ukraine for the European Council’s political decision to start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. “It is extremely important for Ukraine to implement all the recommendations of the European Commission, all seven recommendations, and to do what is necessary at this stage of our path to the European Union,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Last week, the European Commission recommended that the European Council invite Ukraine, together with the Republic of Moldova, to start negotiations on joining the EU. The decision will be made by European leaders at a summit in December.

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