On Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainian diplomats and employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their professional holiday and outlined the country's foreign policy objectives for the coming year.
“Today, on Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Day, on behalf of all our people, our entire Ukrainian society, I thank you – the entire Ukrainian diplomatic community – for your work in the interests of the state of Ukraine, in the interests of our people. Everyone knows their own results. All those who are effective for the sake of Ukraine, all those who add – and this is important – to Ukraine's strength every day, all those whose ideas have worked and whose energy opens up new opportunities for Ukraine, whether in the diplomatic service system or outside it, but as Ukrainian representatives, our missions... I am grateful to all of you and congratulate you on your professional day!” the Head of State said, addressing the Ukrainian diplomats.
According to the President, this year Ukraine achieved things in the international sphere that seemed almost unattainable at the beginning of the year, and the main political result of the year is the opening of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union.
“It was really difficult, to put it mildly. Many people around the world thought Ukraine was doomed to always depend on old perceptions of geopolitics and spheres of influence in Europe. But we changed that,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President named the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense as the main defense result, the work on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula as the main strategic result, and the rapprochement with NATO on the platform of the NATO-Ukraine Council and the creation of a new security commitments architecture under the Vilnius Declaration of the Group of Seven as an important institutional result.
In addition, according to the President, the geography of Ukraine's foreign policy now covers all continents. In particular, Ukraine's presence on the African continent is expanding, and historically the most meaningful relations have been achieved in traditional directions of cooperation.
“It is very important that the Ukrainian position is now represented and understood in all the most influential international organizations. These are all good results. But the best is yet to come,” he is convinced.
The President also outlined the foreign policy objectives of our country for the next year. Among the priorities is bolstering defense support for Ukraine.
“We need more weapons because no one is going to give up. Ukraine will emerge victorious,” the Head of State emphasized.
In addition, active cooperation with the European Union should continue, namely, the elaboration of a negotiation framework and the start of full integration with the EU in all areas.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized the importance of filling each defense coalition with maximum content within the Ramstein format and in other formats that bolster the capabilities of our warriors and the resilience of the state.
Similarly, sanctions against Russia for the war against Ukraine must be continuously tightened, the President is convinced. He also noted the importance of cooperating with partners in the search, freezing and confiscation of Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.
“It is fair for the assets of the aggressor state to work for protection against the aggressor state, and your task is to ensure the world's readiness to back this up. As it has been throughout all these months with these 12 powerful packages,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State also drew attention to developing and increasing the number of long-term support programs for Ukraine, which is one of the keys to the resilience of our country in times of war.
The President separately focused on the development of defense production.
“Each of you who can help Ukraine ramp up the production of weapons, shells, equipment, and air defense in Ukraine or enhance relevant cooperation with partners must do so,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the importance of ensuring continued maritime exports and the implementation of the humanitarian program "Grain from Ukraine", as well as developing cooperation with Latin America, Africa, Arab and Asian countries in general.
According to the President, work on Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration should continue at various levels.
“I have already said with regard to NATO that it is not easy and that we need a key to the decision on the Alliance for Ukraine. And this key should be sought not only in top-level political offices. We need to convince societies, just as we were able to unite them around Ukraine at the very beginning of the war. We need to convince their hearts, the hearts of people,” he stressed.
The representatives of Ukraine should also pay maximum attention to the work on the Ukrainian Peace Formula, as stated by the President.
“And, of course, Ukrainian diplomacy must continue to be a reliable advocate for Ukrainian citizens in all parts of the world, wherever Ukrainians are. Our people must be confident that Ukraine will help. Always,” the Head of State noted.
“Millions of Ukrainians here at home, in Ukraine, are displaying the very best qualities that can be found in people, in human character, and in human hearts, defending our state. It is an honor to represent such people, such a nation, such courage in the world. And I ask you to always remember this,” the President urged the Ukrainian diplomats.
For his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, on behalf of the entire diplomatic service, thanked the President for his consistent support and for the ever-higher standard set by the entire diplomatic team in the interests of Ukraine.
"This is what inspires us, helps us move forward and defend our country. These are the words from the entire team, from the entire diplomatic service, both here and abroad. Thank you for the kind words, for the new instructions, for the new bar that we have all heard about," the Minister said.
"It is a great honor to represent this heroic nation and this legendary country – Ukraine," he added.
For a significant personal contribution to the strengthening of interstate cooperation, fruitful diplomatic activity and high professionalism, the Head of State presented the Order of Merit, II class to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, the Order of Merit, III class to Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna and the Order of Princess Olga, III class to Deputy Director of the MFA Department Svitlana Khachaturyan.
