Statement by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal at a Government session

Good afternoon, distinguished colleagues, dear Ukrainians.

I will start with the visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States of America, which is truly historic.

The meeting with President Biden and the speech of the Head of our State in the Congress demonstrated an unprecedented level of solidarity with the Ukrainian people. America has clearly stated that it will support us till the victory. This is a consolidated opinion of all political powers of the United States and the American people.

Following the negotiations in Washington, we will receive a military assistance package worth about USD 2 billion. It includes new HIMARS systems and a Patriot complex. It will help to better protect Ukrainian skies from russian terrorists.

We count on the approval by the Congress of a support package for Ukraine in the amount of almost USD 45 billion. It concerns military, economic and humanitarian assistance. This amount is included in the United States federal budget for 2023. Yesterday, the Senate has already passed the bill. Now the decision is up to the House of Representatives.

The G7 finance ministers also confirmed their common vision of supporting Ukraine next year. Up to USD 32 billion has already been mobilized. This includes, in particular, assistance from the European Union in the amount of EUR 18 billion and a package of American support. We also expect a loan from the World Bank and a support budget from Japan.

We have special hopes for cooperation with the IMF. The G7 countries praised the IMF Program Monitoring with Board Involvement. They urged to agree and implement a full-fledged program of cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF as soon as possible. We expect it to start in 2023.

I thank the United States and the G7 countries for their leadership in supporting Ukraine! We are fighting for common values, for a free world and for our future in it. We will win together.

Yesterday, Ukrainian diplomats and power engineers celebrated their professional holiday.

These are people of strategically important professions today.

Diplomats have created a powerful international coalition in support of Ukraine. Unprecedented sanctions against russia have been introduced. Thanks to diplomatic activity, we are receiving assistance with weapons faster. Diplomats have made a breakthrough in European integration. Now Ukraine has the status of a candidate state for accession to the EU and seeks to open negotiations on full membership as soon as possible.

Ukrainian diplomacy strengthens the state economically. It attracts macro-financial assistance from partners and resources for the energy sector, works on attracting foreign investments, protects the interests of Ukrainian producers in the world markets.

I thank the entire diplomatic corps and each diplomat for their professionalism, tirelessness and initiative.

In turn, the soldiers of the energy front successfully counteract the russian barbarians every day, every hour, every minute. Thanks to their heroism, we have withstood nine large-scale and many smaller attacks on the Ukrainian energy system.

Power engineers are returning light to our homes. Even more importantly, they return light to our hearts. They add faith that darkness will never prevail.

Praise and honor to the brave power engineers who are the backbone of Ukraine.

Every day new initiatives in support of Ukraine and Ukrainians emerge in Europe and in the world. More than 200 cargoes with energy equipment have already arrived. The European Union has promised to mobilize 900 generators for us. We thank and appreciate this gesture of solidarity.

500,000 mostly low-power generators were brought to Ukraine this year by businesses and people. In addition, our partners provide us with larger generator units that can power important facilities. For example, medical institutions or pumping stations of water utilities.

Thus, we are building an impenetrable energy wall that the aggressor will not be able to overcome.

Development of a network of Points of Invincibility continues. Our goal is to reach the figure of 15-17,000 points in all regions of the state. To strengthen financial capacity of communities, today we are making a decision on a mechanism for transferring 13.4% of fuel excise tax to local budgets. In 2023, we will leave these funds within communities so that local authorities have additional resources for the restoration of infrastructure and social expenditures.

We continue to support business and encourage it to create jobs. Today, we are allocating UAH 400 million to provide grants to entrepreneurs under the eRobota program. The funds will be used for the development of horticulture, arrangement of greenhouses and providing microgrants for the establishment or development of one’s own business.

We are aware of all the challenges, we are ready for the most difficult scenarios, we are resolute in our intentions towards the enemy, and we are moving forward to the victory.

Thank you for your attention!

Glory to Ukraine!