During a working trip to the Kherson region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the presentation of the Regional Development Strategy for 2021-2027.
In his opening speech, the Head of State noted that the trips to Ukraine give an understanding of how the regions and local residents live.
"Such trips are an important bridge with the reality of Ukraine, which you will never feel in your office on Bankova or on Facebook. When traveling around the country, I clearly understand what really worries Ukrainians, what I can be useful for, how I can help personally," the President noted.
That is why, according to him, development strategies of Ukrainian regions are important.
"We are building our own house called Ukraine together with you. We do not paint it. We do not patch holes. Namely, we are building. And, let's be honest, we are actually building almost from scratch," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President noted that the foundation of the state is local self-government and the success of each region, because Ukraine begins with the community, village, city and region.
"The strategy of each region is created not in high-ranking offices in the capital, but directly on the spot, in constant dialogue with people. What your region will be like depends only on you. So, it depends only on you what our country will be like. Because Ukraine is you," the Head of State stressed.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the common task of the central and local authorities and all citizens is to maximize the potential of the region and overcome the challenges facing it.
"The Kherson region has an incredible potential in agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, transport. The Kherson land is incredibly fertile," the President said.
"The Kherson region has everything. It doesn’t have only one thing - it has no choice but to become a diamond of the Ukrainian South. This is not a desire, but our task," he said.
The Head of State also stressed that the Kherson region shares borders with the occupied Crimea, and expressed confidence that the peninsula will definitely return to Ukraine.
"I am sure that when there is a prosperous, brilliant, successful Kherson region next to it, this return will take place much faster," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
