President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a United Nations delegation led by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
The President expressed gratitude to the UN for its significant support of the Ukrainian people, particularly those who were forced to leave their homes due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“You visited not only the capital but also the southern part of Ukraine, as well as Dnipro, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions, particularly Kupyansk. This is very important, and I thank you. You saw the people there and understand what war means and what its consequences are,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The President emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine has caused one of the most severe humanitarian crises of our time, and international organizations must compel the aggressor state into a just and lasting peace.
The Head of State highlighted the importance of the UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2025 and the Regional Refugee Response Plan by the UNHCR, which collectively aim to consolidate nearly $3.3 billion to support Ukrainians this year.
The meeting also addressed the potential for leveraging Ukraine’s experience in providing humanitarian assistance to affected populations in other countries. Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined Ukraine’s recently launched humanitarian initiative, Food from Ukraine, which supplies essential goods to Syria, and invited the UN and its member states to join this program.
Tom Fletcher and Filippo Grandi reaffirmed their commitment to continuing support for Ukrainians affected by Russia’s aggression.