President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Ukrainian diplomats and diplomatic service employees, congratulated them on their professional holiday and thanked them for their work for the interests of Ukraine and our people.
“Being an ambassador of Ukraine, being a Ukrainian diplomat, means being someone who can give a clear and specific answer to the question of what exactly you have done to bring peace closer and to protect the interests of Ukraine and Ukrainians. The coming year will be decisive in terms of this very mission. We must do everything to make 2025 the year of a just peace for Ukraine,” the President emphasized.
The President called for strengthening relations with key partners – the United States and European countries – while responding to shifts in the internal balance of power and sentiments in the Middle East, the Gulf region, North Africa, the Sahel, and Latin America. He also emphasized the importance of advancing Ukraine's interests in relations with China, India, and other Asian countries, developing genuine partnerships with Japan, and fostering more meaningful ties with South Korea.
“There are hundreds of areas of relations in the world in which Ukraine needs real, concrete, tangible results. And this is your job – to be present in all the right offices, in the media, and in communication with all the people Ukraine needs, and to make your position clear, ensuring the desired outcomes for Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
Key priorities include the European Union – ensuring everything necessary for full membership – and strengthening cooperation with NATO.
“Partners need to understand what Ukraine can offer the Alliance, why this will benefit everyone, and how it will stabilize global relations. Alliance for Ukraine is achievable, but only if we fight for this decision at every necessary level,” the Head of State emphasized.
Another key task for the next year is to establish a systemic approach to all aspects of achieving a just peace for Ukraine. This includes holding Russia accountable for the war, maintaining sanctions against the Russian Federation, and identifying Russian assets that have not yet been frozen.
“Your task is also to work as much as possible with all partners who are already investing or could become investors in our domestic Ukrainian weapons production and our joint reconstruction projects,” the President added.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized that a number of new appointments for Ukrainian embassies have already been approved, including public and civic leaders.
Additionally, the President honored employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Orders of Merit, III class.