Statement by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at Government session

Dear colleagues, fellow Ukrainians!

This week, without exaggeration, Ukraine has won one of the biggest financial victories in the 2.5 years of the great war.

The European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom have decided to provide financial support to Ukraine from frozen russian assets.

The EU will provide up to EUR 35 billion.

The U.S. – up to USD 20 billion.

The UK – GBP 2.3 billion.

In total, Ukraine will receive about USD 50 billion from the G7 and the EU, and these funds should be available this year.

We have been defending this decision for two years. In the spring of 2022, when the principle of “russia must pay” was first voiced, we were told that it was impossible.

That russian frozen assets were protected by “sovereign immunity”. That there was no legal mechanism in place to use or confiscate these funds.

Thousands of hours of work by hundreds of people, and today we have the relevant decisions.

The russian money will actually be used to support Ukraine. To finance our most important needs in defence, reconstruction, and support for our people.

These USD 50 billion will lay the foundation for the financial and economic stability of the state in 2025.

It is important that these funds are not the only ones available to Ukraine next year.

We are also continuing our four-year EUR 50 billion programme with the EU under the Ukraine Facility. We continue the programme with the IMF. We continue joint financial, economic, energy and other projects with our allies.

Today, we thank everyone who has worked tirelessly over the past 2 years to ensure that russia’s frozen assets work for Ukraine.

This interim result is a demonstration of how we can all come together and achieve results.

Why did I say this is an interim result?

Because Ukraine will continue to insist on the full confiscation of all russian frozen funds.

russia has destroyed hundreds of our cities and villages, caused hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage to Ukraine, and must pay for it.

War criminals must be brought to justice.

russian money must be fully confiscated for the reconstruction of our state.

We do not stop and continue to work.

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The financial stability of our country is converted into strengthening defence, development programmes for the regions, and the restoration of Ukraine.

Today, we have several important decisions on the agenda in this regard.

Firstly, the Government has decided to create the necessary reserve for the construction of fortifications and engineering structures.

This will be a stock of necessary materials that will allow us to quickly start building fortifications where it is necessary and where our military will decide.

Second. We are allocating an additional UAH 142 million for six other reconstruction projects.

UAH 64.5 million will be allocated for the reconstruction of a hospital building in Zaporizhzhia. UAH 60 million to repair three apartment buildings in Irpin. Another UAH 18 million was allocated to repair two apartment buildings in Bucha.

Step by step, we are returning homes to people and rebuilding our country.

Today we are also adopting two decisions aimed at developing our education sector.

This year, the Government, together with partners and communities, plans to completely renovate 100 training and practical centres in vocational education institutions.

New workshops for vocational schools mean a new quality of education and new opportunities for students of these institutions.

Today, we are changing the procedure for granting subventions from the state budget in terms of co-financing. This will speed up the completion of all projects and improve the quality of work.

The second educational decision is to create an electronic safety passport for an educational institution.

Each of our schools should have such a passport, because for us the safety of children is a top priority.

The electronic passport, which will be accessible to police and rescue workers, will help create a safer educational environment and correct existing problems in educational institutions.

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Finally, I would like to mention another important decision of the Government today.

Pursuant to the decisions of the National Security and Defence Council and the President, the Government approves a plan to combat corruption and other malpractices in the Medical and Social Expert Commissions.

The Medical and Social Expert Commissions in their current form will be liquidated this year.

A group is being set up to review the decisions of the MSECs. The inspections will continue for the next three months.

In November, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Digital Transformation will present a decision on the digitalisation of all stages of the MSECs.

The Pension Fund, together with the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine, should conduct a rapid audit of all disability pensions paid to prosecutors and other government officials.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Policy should immediately submit draft laws to the Government on comprehensive reform of the MSECs.

This plan sets very clear deadlines and those responsible for its implementation. This issue should be a priority for all ministries and ministers personally. Based on the results of the implementation of the decisions of the President and the National Security and Defence Council, we will draw appropriate conclusions.

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I am grateful to all those who honestly fulfil their duties.

I thank everyone who is defending Ukraine and our statehood on the frontline.

I thank everyone who selflessly works in Ukraine and for Ukraine.

Thank you for your attention!

Glory to Ukraine!