Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects a decision in the defensive war against Russia next year. “We will continue preparing the armed forces and security of Ukraine for next year. It is a crucial year,” Zelensky said Tuesday evening after meeting with the military leadership.
“We understand the risks of winter. We understand what needs to be done in the spring,” Zelenskyy added in his daily video address on Thursday evening. The president of Ukraine also announced that he will deliver his annual State of the Nation address in parliament. “I want this message not to report, but our dialogue with you over the coming year,” said the 44-year-old.
The speech must take place before the turn of the year
It is about formulating the tasks for the future. The speech is expected before the turn of the year. Selenskyj did not name an exact date. Last year, he gave the December 1 speech to the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada, almost three months before the start of the Russian aggression against his country.
Zelenskyy also reported on his meeting with the General Staff. The situation in the Donbass in eastern Ukraine and especially around the small towns of Kreminna and Bakhmut was discussed. The industrial city of Bakhmut in northern Donetsk region has been the target of fighting for months. The situation has recently worsened near Kreminna, a small town north of it in the Luhansk region. Both parties are fighting for the initiative there. The day before he described the situation on the Donbass front as “painful and difficult”.
The president also informed his compatriots about his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. According to him, Rome is currently examining the supply of anti-aircraft systems for Ukraine. “I believe that Italian support will enable us to strengthen the defense of Ukrainian airspace,” Zelensky said.
Meloni invited Zelenskyj to visit Italy
After the victory of the right-wing alliance in Italy in the autumn, there was speculation whether the country would end its support for Ukraine. The coalition includes former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party, one of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s closest allies in the West. Meloni has made it clear that she wants to continue to support Ukraine.
As her office announced after the meeting with Zelensky, she also invited the Ukrainian president to visit Italy. Zelenskyj left Ukraine for the first time since the outbreak of war last week and visited the US capital Washington.
Source: Krone
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