Distinguished colleagues! Fellow Ukrainians!

Today, the Verkhovna Rada has appointed Oleksiш Mykhailovych Chernyshov to the position of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Unity of Ukraine.

Congratulations to Oleksii Mykhailovych!

When presenting the Internal Resilience Plan, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine needs institutional strengthening of the policy towards Ukrainians abroad - towards our people from all the waves of migration.

This will be one of the core missions for the new Ministry and the Minister. A strategy, programmes and incentives on how to bring Ukrainians back to live and work in Ukraine.

Since the first day of the russian invasion, unity has been our main weapon. Unity within the country and unity of Ukrainians around the world. It should remain the same in the future. Unity is one of the key principles in the formation of new state policies and programmes.

The principle of unity is also at the heart of the Winter Support initiative of the President and Government of Ukraine.

We understand all the challenges. We understand that the winter will be challenging.

That is why the Government, at the initiative of the President, is introducing new programmes to support Ukrainian families. We are also expanding and adapting existing programmes so that as many people as possible can benefit from them.

What does Winter Support include?

First. This is Winter ePidtrymka - a payment of a thousand hryvnias for all citizens.

We can see a huge demand for this programme. Ukrainians have already submitted 4 million applications through Diia.

This week, we are launching the option to receive payments through Ukrposhta. The funds will also be paid through partner banks.

People will have an opportunity to buy Ukrainian goods, pay for utilities, medical and educational services, purchase medicines, donate to the Armed Forces or make other charitable contributions.

What's important is that charitable payments will be available only to accounts of legally registered charitable organisations. This will prevent any abuse and misunderstandings.

A prerequisite for receiving Winter ePidtrymka is a residence permit in Ukraine. In this way, we support those who stay to live and work in our country.

When submitting an application through Diia, each participant confirms the fact of their stay in Ukraine. After that, the state will verify the accuracy of the information in the registers of the State Border Guard Service.

The second programme of Winter Support is affordable subsidies.

Anyone who needs help paying utility bills can apply for a subsidy.

We have fixed subsidies for electricity.

Additionally, frontline communities can receive payments of up to UAH 21,000 for firewood and coal to heat their homes.

Another programme is the Teacher's Supplement.

Starting in January, every teacher will receive an additional cash payment of at least UAH 1,000. From September, this amount will increase to UAH 2,000.

The fourth Winter Support programme is the unchanged winter utility tariffs.

The Government has committed itself that tariffs for gas, heat and electricity will not increase until the end of the heating season. We are not planning any increases.

The fifth programme is even more affordable medicines.

We are planning the largest ever scale-up of the Affordable Medicines programme, which already provides Ukrainians with more than 500 different medicines free of charge or with a small surcharge.

For remote villages and frontline communities, we have launched the Mobile Pharmacy and free delivery of medicines through Ukrposhta. Every citizen in every corner of our country should have access to medicines.

Another part of the Winter Support for Ukrainians is assistance to IDPs.

In addition to monthly payments, this includes compensation for accommodation and employment of IDPs, soft housing loans, temporary housing, adaptation and employment services.

Starting next year, IDP families will also be eligible for rental subsidies.

The seventh Winter Support Programme is a free hot meal for primary school students.

In every school, pupils in grades one to four can get a hot breakfast or lunch. Next year we plan to extend this programme to all schoolchildren.

The eighth Winter Support programme is called the Warm Winter. In December 2024, every low-income family and IDP families with children or adults with disabilities of the first group will receive UAH 6,500 per each child.

These funds will be used to buy warm clothes, shoes and other winter essentials for children. This is additional support for families who need it most.

These eight Winter Support programmes are not the end of the story, and we will be adding and expanding this initiative in the near future.

More support for every person, for every family, for all Ukrainians.

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Also on the agenda today are several important decisions to strengthen our country in various areas.

We authorise the Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery to sign a document that will allow us to attract almost EUR 16.5 million from the European Investment Bank. These are funds for the modernisation of transport in Kyiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk and Mykolaiv.

We are introducing the post of Government Commissioner for Customs Reform to coordinate customs reform. This position will be held by Ihor Smiliansky. We are also setting up a coordination working group. The Commissioner and the working group have a wide range of tasks: synchronisation with the EU, infrastructure modernisation, implementation of a risk-based system, digitalisation and much more.

I thank everyone who defends Ukraine. To everyone who works in the rear. To all those who provide light and warmth in the homes of Ukrainians.

Thank you to each and every one of you who is doing everything possible for Ukraine's resilience and our common victory.

Thank you for your attention!

Glory to Ukraine!