The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) should make decisions on the country's environmental security, stipulating, in particular, the provision of citizens with drinking water in the required amounts. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting on the state and problems of development of the water management within a working trip to the Rivne region.
"Problems of aquatic ecosystems are typical for the whole of Ukraine, and for the Rivne region as well. The urgency of this issue is growing in the context of global natural and climatic changes, which are already taking place and significantly affect both human life and the world economy," the President said at the beginning of the meeting.
The President noted that in previous years the issue of conservation and development of water resources was largely ignored.
"At the same time, water resources are one of Ukraine's natural resources, and today I would call it the world's most important deficit," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He stressed the need to maintain a sustainable water balance, which has a direct impact on agriculture and fisheries in Ukraine, technological processes in industry and the quality of drinking water supply for the population.
"We have seen that this year there has been a drought in many regions of Ukraine: in the Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, especially in the Bessarabian direction, conditions are really difficult," the President reminded.
According to him, now help to farmers affected by the drought is being worked out in various areas: credit programs, crop insurance, etc.
"The issue of conservation and restoration of rational use of water resources needs to be considered at a high level. We expect a decision from the National Security and Defense Council on Ukraine's environmental security, one of the issues of which is to strengthen the right of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution of Ukraine to a sufficient standard of living and environmental security by providing drinking water in the necessary amounts," the President said.
He noted that the draft state budget for the next year envisages funding for the implementation of the insurance system and expansion of irrigation programs in Ukraine, especially in the south. The President added that this could also be done at the expense of state guarantees.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that it is important not only to outline the problems, but also to propose constructive solutions.
