Distinguished colleagues, fellow Ukrainians.

Today we celebrate the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine, a symbol of our might and unity.

Wherever the blue and yellow flag flies, there is freedom, there is a dream of a European future, and there is courage to fight for our national land.

Our flag is our memory of those who fought and are fighting for Ukraine.

Under this flag, we are advancing. Under this flag, we will win and rebuild Ukraine.

Today, on the National Flag Day, and tomorrow, on the Independence Day, we recall the importance of our symbols, our history, our identity.

Because russia wants to destroy not just our cities and physical space. They want to destroy the very idea of Ukraine as an independent, free and European state.

And each of us today is fighting to make Ukraine flourish. Day after day we are fighting for our independence.

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We are aware of the kind of country we want to live in. Peaceful, strong, European, economically developed.

We are building a country with a strong army and the most technologically advanced defence industry.

A country where all services are digitised, where education is modern and medicine is affordable.

We are building a country that will definitely become a member of the European Union and NATO.

I thank everyone who defends and works, who rescues, cures, teaches, restores and makes our Ukraine stronger, who brings us closer to victory.

We bow our heads in memory of those who gave their lives for Ukraine's independence, freedom and dignity.

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Today, we also have a number of decisions on the agenda that strengthen Ukraine and are part of our strategic priorities. 

We are to approve a document that creates legal grounds for the 'transport visa-free regime' with the European Union to continue to operate.

The ‘transport visa-free regime’ is a liberalisation of freight transport, allowing Ukrainian companies to transport goods to Europe without special permits.

This saves money and time, and expands the access of Ukrainian goods to European markets.

We have agreed with the EU that the Agreement will be extended until the end of June 2025. And now we are working to make it unlimited.

Second. We proceed with building a digital state. This applies to absolutely all areas. Education, economy, medicine, and the social sector.

Today, in order to receive various types of social support from the State, a person must submit a whole package of various documents, most of which are already digitised and available in electronic databases.

Hence, we endorse a decision that social security authorities will not require any paper documents from people if they are in the electronic database.

This simplifies people's lives, as well as improves the transparency and efficiency of State support.

Also, today we are to approve a decision to develop a new veterans' policy.

Ukraine already has a Register of War Veterans, and we collect data on the support our defenders receive. And, accordingly, what else we can do for them.

Today we include changes to improve the work of the War Veterans Register. A service is also being launched for veterans to see what data about them is already in the Register.

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Not a single day goes by without decisions, work and preparation for the heating season.

This winter is going to be quite challenging. Despite 24/7 repairs and restoration, we still have so many damaged energy facilities.

Today the Government will prolong the special preferential gas price for heating providers and household consumers.

The decision will be valid until 30 April 2025, i.e. until the end of the upcoming heating season.

We exert every effort to ensure that every Ukrainian home has light and heating this winter.

Thank you all for your attention.

Glory to Ukraine!