President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian authorities would respond fairly and within the law, defending the interests of citizens, to any intimidation attempts by any groups.
"I am quite calm about any intimidation, but it seems to me that this is a transition to another level of relations between certain groups and the authorities. I believe that we will definitely respond, solely at the level of legislation, absolutely fairly and defend the interests of Ukrainian citizens, who gave us these rights to change the state," the President said in a comment to the media in New York.
According to him, the investigation has yet to find out the reasons for the attack, who was its object and who were its subjects.
"Thank God, everyone is alive. This is the most important conclusion. The driver receives medical aid. They will not intimidate us. I spoke about it at a press conference held on the occasion of two years of my presidency. We already understood this by the number of calls, intimidation, threats, and so on. They will not intimidate us, whatever they may do,” the Head of State stressed.
The President ruled out the accident, as those who attacked Serhiy Shefir knew exactly which way his car would go.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that after speaking at the general debate of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, he would return to Ukraine and study the situation in more detail.
"If I did not have that status and that trust, if I was not the President of Ukraine, my priority would be to stay close to my friend. But we understand that first of all I am the President, and then a father, husband and son, and then a friend. Life has set such priorities. As President, I must first represent the state," he said.
The Head of State stressed that he had no right to disrupt talks planned in New York within the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, as they are important for Ukraine.
In particular, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will discuss the issue of Euro-Atlantic integration, which is one of the priorities for our country.