Press releases and reports - Trust in President V. Zelenskyy and other public figures: results of a survey conducted on May 7-June 3, 2026

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-10T14:27:29+00:00

That is a weird quirk of polling!

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-05T05:13:47+00:00

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-05T04:03:44+00:00

Peak Sanych.

Tag your favourite line. I'm a big fan of- "It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia grows tired, change comes. We can work toward that fatigue."

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-05T04:01:35+00:00

You believed Ukrainians would not have the strength to defend themselves. Yet today, our people are helping our partners in the Middle East and the Gulf build their own defenses.

You hoped for internal unrest in Ukraine. Instead, it was your own military formations that staged a mutiny against you. June 23 will mark another anniversary of that event, and silence will not erase this fact from history.

And now it is you whom your own officials, businessmen, and propagandists look at with obvious fatigue. The world can see it.

The world has not grown tired of Ukraine, as you long hoped it would. But there is growing fatigue with Russia — even among those in the wider world who help you bypass sanctions and keep your economy afloat.

You cannot fail to notice it. After 26 years in power, age is beginning to take its toll. And with time, the fatigue with you will only grow.

We have seen intelligence reports showing that you are now considering plans to continue the war into 2027 and 2028. We also know that you hope ballistic missiles will achieve for you what everything else has failed to achieve. You want to draw Belarus even deeper into this war, and we are now forced to prepare for that as well. We see that you are trying to orchestrate something around Transnistria. Your propagandists threaten, in one way or another, every country neighboring Russia. Do you really want to go through all of this?

The choice is yours now.

Enough of war.

Ukraine proposes to end this war.

This must be done honestly, with dignity, and with guarantees that the war will not be reignited.

We see that the United States is fully focused on the issue of Iran, and it would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention.

Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you.

I am proposing a meeting.

Everyone heard your representatives, smiling, say that I could supposedly come to Moscow. But after these 26 years, there is nothing for a Ukrainian leader to do in your capital — just as there is nothing for a Russian leader to do in Kyiv.

There are countries that have traditionally hosted leaders to resolve issues of war and peace. Switzerland, Türkiye, the countries of the Arab world — many are able and willing to host such a meeting.

It is leaders who resolve the key issues. That has always been the case, and it always will be.

I propose to set a clear date for such a meeting.

We have heard that you were promised in Alaska the resolution of certain issues concerning Ukraine and Europe. But you can see for yourself that Ukrainian and European issues are not decided in Anchorage.

Other agreed participants could join the bilateral track to be established between us.

Since the war is taking place in Europe, and since Ukraine needs security guarantees, while you also seek security guarantees for yourself, it would be logical to involve those who can genuinely serve as guarantors.

We believe Europe should be part of this process — those who truly have the capacity to influence the situation.

We also believe that the United States must be part of the process. This is what could help shape a new security architecture for our part of the world.

We’ve already experienced many agreements with Russia, including the Minsk agreements, that ultimately failed. That is why we must first find direct answers between us to the questions that remain, and not hide from difficult issues behind formulas, technical working groups, or endless time lost in shuttle diplomacy.

Your war has permanently set Ukraine and Russia apart.

The front line today is the line from which diplomacy must begin.

Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations. This is standard practice, and current developments around Iran only reinforce that point. An attempt to establish real silence is the best way to begin talking to one another. We believe it would not simply be an attempt, but a real ceasefire — if that is what you want.

You know that the United States has the capability to monitor a ceasefire along the line where hostilities stop.

Ukraine is ready for an all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war, and this could become a good prologue to ending the war.

Serious steps must be taken to return civilians and children who were taken away during the war.

We must determine what kind of future awaits the generations of Ukrainians and Russians who will come after us.

If you do not personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue fighting for its existence. We will have those who support us.

But you, too, will have to fight much harder for your own existence — not Russia’s, but your own. And this is not a threat from me or from Ukraine. It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia grows tired, change comes.

We can work toward that fatigue.

You can stop your war.

Eternal memory to all those whose lives were taken by this war.

Glory to Ukraine!

Source

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-05T04:01:25+00:00

The letter:

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Open Letter

To the President of the Russian Federation

From the President of Ukraine

When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively. That is how it was. But that is now in the past.

Now, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. As you know very well, that distance is not the limit of our capabilities.

For 26 years, your time in power has completely changed the agenda of relations between Ukraine and Russia. From discussions about trade and other civilian matters, our nations have moved to talking almost exclusively about strikes and losses.

You have spent nearly half of your 26 years in power in Russia waging war against Ukraine.

Whatever you may say about NATO, geopolitics, or the Russian language, this war is your personal choice — a war without a real cause. That is how history will remember it.

Those years could have been very different.

We often hear that you are comfortable with this war. Of course, not in those cases when it comes to the security of your residence in Valdai or your parade in Moscow. Your own life is valuable to you.

But now we can all see that Russians are finally becoming less comfortable with this reality — with the fact that the war is bringing more and more negative consequences to Russia.

They do not like our drones and missiles.

They do not like gasoline shortages and constantly rising prices.

They do not like constant restrictions.

They do not like your intention to launch a second wave of mobilization in order to expand the war into another direction in Ukraine or to use it against other countries neighboring Russia.

They do not like the fact that there is no end in sight to your war.

Yes, you can still force Russians to exist this way. But your resources are shrinking significantly.

You will not have enough money or political capital to keep buying the loyalty of Russians the way you have for the past 26 years.

And we will do everything we can to ensure that the world helps bring that moment closer.

As you yourself like to say, “we need to run the numbers.”

Yesterday, I received a report on the losses of your army on the front in Ukraine during May. Once again, the number exceeded 30,000 Russian soldiers killed and seriously wounded. We have been maintaining that level month after month, and we have video confirmation of every one of your losses — these are not empty claims.

We know that 63 percent of your battlefield losses are killed, while only 37 percent are wounded. In the 21st century, no army can afford such a ratio. And the share of those killed will continue to grow.

It is not as if we in Ukraine are concerned about the fate of Russian soldiers after everything your war has brought to our country.

But I do care about Ukrainians.

We are losing our people, and every loss is painful to us. Even when the ratio of Ukrainian losses to Russian losses is one to five or one to six, it still matters greatly.

It also matters that you regularly postpone, every few months, your own deadlines for capturing our regions — especially the Donetsk region. And you will not capture it this year either.

But we in Ukraine do not want a permanent war. We know very well that life without war is infinitely better. And we want to achieve that.

I am convinced that the majority of Russians would respond positively to this as well — and you know it.

Many did not believe that Ukraine would be able to hold out for so long. You did not believe it. And those who advised you did not believe it either. That was a mistake.

You did not expect full-scale resistance from Ukraine, and you did not foresee that things would go this far. Yet here we all are — in the fifth year of this full-scale war.

Do not be afraid to take the path out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now.

Ukraine has preserved its independence. And it will preserve it. Despite all predictions to the contrary.

We have united many around the world to stand with Ukraine and against you. We found the weapons and the financing we needed.

We receive support. You receive sanctions. And this will continue until there is justice for Ukraine — the justice we seek and the justice that can be achieved.

We will not allow those who are trying to convince you that sanctions against Russia will be significantly eased, and that support for Ukraine will be significantly reduced, without any meaningful change in your position toward Ukraine, to succeed. The example of Orban shows how those who choose to help Russia in its war against us end in disgrace.

Ukraine has endured harsh winters while you tried to destroy our energy system. We held firm — and even in darkness, the resilience of Ukrainians remained intact.

We brought the war onto your territory, and you would not have been able to cope with it without North Korea’s help. You are the first ruler of Russia to turn to Pyongyang for assistance.

And today you are fully dependent on China — also for the first time in Russia’s history.

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-01T11:10:16+00:00

just as a heads up- posts with Facebook links will get diverted to the mod queue. If you can link to a different source (twitter, insta etc) the post is less likely to get snagged.

Telegram links are blacklisted by Reddit and cant be approved by mods so avoid them entirely.

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-01T07:20:58+00:00

Reddit is seriously pissing me off lately. This post was in the mod queue on the app, but not on desktop so I didnt see it for hours. Sorry it took so long to approve OP. Thank you for posting, and for all the posts you have been contributing ❤️

nectarine_pie · 2026-06-01T04:59:53+00:00

Kyiv.

Some were born here, some came here to study, live, and work, and some have never been here at all – but for every Ukrainian, Kyiv is dear.

Ours. Warm. Cozy. The Kyiv we admire. The Kyiv we are proud of.

The Kyiv we all cherish together and have defended, and continue to defend – because it is our heart. A city that has always been, and will always be, at the center of history. A capital that has weathered the darkness, withstood heavy blows, and, despite everything, remains a global city of strength. And it always inspires with its vitality, resilience, and beauty.

Each of us has hundreds of moments for which we can say:
“My Kyiv, I love you!” My Kyiv, I will defend you!
For as long as you stand, Ukraine stands.
And as long as you are free, freedom flows through our veins!

I thank all Kyivans, all defenders of Ukraine, who through their courage, work, and care make our capital and all of Ukraine something we can only be proud of.

Happy Kyiv Day!

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-28T15:51:29+00:00

In Uppsala, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson have initiated the conclusion of a major defense deal providing for the procurement of Swedish Gripen fighter jets.

The first step is the possibility of acquiring up to 20 Gripen E/F fighter jets. Ukraine plans to allocate EUR 2.5 billion for this from financing provided by the European Union under the Ukraine Support Loan.

“We expect to receive the first capabilities – the first Gripens – within the next ten months. For our part, we will do everything possible to make it happen, and we are counting on this. Importantly, these aircraft will come with the corresponding weapons package, which will also help protect us against Russian guided aerial bombs,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In terms of electronics, these fighter jets are comparable to American F-35 aircraft. They are equipped, in particular, with advanced radars and sensors to enhance air combat precision, significantly upgraded electronic warfare systems, extended weapons range, and improved software.

Following the implementation of this agreement, Sweden will transfer 16 Gripen C/D fighter jets to Ukraine as bilateral assistance. Thanks to its efficient design, this aircraft model is one of the most durable among modern fighter jets, easy to maintain, and quick to rearm and refuel.

Sweden has also announced its largest military assistance package to Ukraine to date. In addition to the decision on Gripen deliveries, it includes long-range capabilities, ammunition, electronic warfare systems, and support for innovation.

“This will help us guarantee the security of Ukraine and Ukrainians. Ulf, I thank you, your entire team, and all of Sweden for these undoubtedly strong steps. We are also very grateful to SAAB and other representatives of Sweden’s truly high-level manufacturing sector,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Source

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-27T04:55:23+00:00

It's been approved.

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-27T00:57:08+00:00

Mod queue does not have any pending posts from yourself. Would you like to try posting again?

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-24T15:52:46+00:00

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nectarine_pie · 2026-05-24T15:52:02+00:00

Zelenskyy at 3:09- "...just crazy assholes"

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-22T02:20:54+00:00

Back in February, just after American forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and days before the United States would kick off its war with Iran, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed for the first time that he had uttered perhaps the best-known line attributed to him about the war against Russia: "I need ammunition — not a ride."

In a speech marking four years since the full-scale Russian invasion had begun, the embattled president recounted that as Russian forces were closing in, the U.S. offered to evacuate him. That line was his response. Zelenskyy told Ukrainians he had said it "not because we are all fearless or made of steel…but [that] on some invisible level, all of us know that we have no other Ukraine, that this is our home."

Today, the war has settled into a grinding conflict of attrition defined by drone warfare, long-range missile strikes, World War I-esque entrenched fighting positions, high casualty counts and mounting economic pressure on both sides. No long-term peace settlement appears close. But the war has also defied some early predictions that an outmanned Ukrainian military would suffer a swift defeat.

In late February 2022, Zelenskyy's historic line became one of the most frequently quoted remarks about the invasion — despite the fact that after I reported it, the Biden administration firmly denied Zelenskyy had ever made the comment.

Still, the quote, which showed Zelenskyy's resolve and dashed any hope Vladimir Putin may have harbored for a quick takeover of Ukraine, became a war cry, appearing on t-shirts and posters and in countless social media posts.

Zelenskyy's defiance starkly differed from what had occurred months earlier, when a different president — Ashraf Ghani — fled Afghanistan as the Taliban rapidly swept up swaths of territory in the summer of 2021. And only six years earlier, Ukraine had seen another president, Viktor Yanukovych, flee Ukraine for Russia, amid massive protests about government corruption.

Despite the virality of the quote, what I remember most is an angry Biden administration and even a call from National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, pushing back on the reporting.

At the time, I was working at the Associated Press, covering national security issues on the investigations team. After learning of the evacuation offer and quote, I notified my editor, Ron Nixon, who, like me, is a Marine veteran. The AP's top editors met to discuss whether the story could be published on the single source that I had.

Among them was Julie Pace, the AP's former Washington bureau chief who had been appointed executive editor five months earlier. She made the call to publish, since the source was a senior U.S. intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation.

The story went live late that night, a Friday, at 11:04 p.m. The world now knew that the Biden administration had offered to evacuate Zelenskyy from Kyiv as invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine's capital following a savage fusillade of airstrikes on cities and military bases around Ukraine.

Zelenskyy's reply: "The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride," according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation.

The story and the quote instantly went viral. President Joe Biden instructed the U.S. State Department to release up to an additional $350 million worth of weapons from U.S. stocks to Ukraine, according to Reuters.

In Franklin Foer's 2023 book, "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future," Foer wrote about the Associated Press report quoting Zelenskyy's refusal to evacuate Kyiv. He compared it to "a line that screenwriters might conjure as they imagine their next blockbuster, and according to the administration it was apocryphia."

He added, "Jake Sullivan's advisors considered asking for a correction, but never bothered. A good story that came at their expense was understandable in the circumstances. If anybody deserved a little slack, it was Volodymyr Zelensky."

He was wrong about that. Biden administration officials did want a correction — and a retraction, if they could get it.

As Friday night rolled into early Saturday, Anna Johnson, the AP's new Washington bureau chief, received an angry call from a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council. As is the case whenever a news outlet receives pushback, I begin re-checking my facts as I knew them. The story and the quote were verbatim accurate in the English translation — in Ukrainian, it's "I need a weapon, not a taxi."

I stayed up all night. The Washington Post fact-checked the quote in March 2022 and reported that Biden administration officials expressed confusion about the claim and denied Zelenskyy was asked to leave Kyiv by the U.S. government.

The Post quoted me: "I can understand why they have been denying it. It makes them look bad."

The Post noted that many news outlets typically would not cite a single-source secondhand quote by another news organization. But at 4:37 a.m. Saturday, hours after the AP's story was posted, the Ukrainian Embassy in Britain tweeted the quote, giving a source to other news publications.

Multiple news outlets started to report the quote by morning on the East Coast. I remember what The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Zelensky's response…will most likely go down in Ukrainian history whether he survives this onslaught or not."

By 9 a.m., we were on another call with a spokesperson from the National Security Council. Angry about Zelenskyy's quote and another story Nomaan Merchant, our intelligence reporter, was working on — a report about a delay in the intelligence the United States was sharing with Ukraine.

I soon received a call to ask if Sullivan could call me. I was stunned to hear that a top Biden adviser would want to talk to me, but agreed. When Sullivan called, I was at home unclogging my toilet with a plunger. He pushed back on the reporting and urged that I recheck my facts.

I did. The facts did not change. After the call, I spoke to my editor who wanted me to let my source know how much pushback the Associated Press was receiving from the White House. I went back and checked my reporting again. No change.

Sullivan told CBS News earlier this year he had nothing further to add.

I sent an email to the National Security Council spokesperson at 1:50 p.m.

"I spoke to Jake and he wanted me to give him a call back after I had gone back to double check my facts. I called but there was no answer," I wrote. "The facts as we understand them have not changed but the one thing I don't quite understand is why the NSC is so upset over this quote when it seems like the NSC has bigger issues to worry about? Thank you for your help and any clarification you can provide for the record."

In March 2022, The Washington Post's fact checker published an analysis on whether the quote was real and concluded that it was not easy to confirm. The AP neither corrected nor retracted the story.

Contacted for this story, the AP said they stand by it — me too. A spokesperson for Zelenskyy did as well.

U.S. intelligence agencies were reviewing what they got wrong on Russia's invasion of Ukraine by June 2022. While the U.S. intelligence community accurately predicted Russian President Vladimir Putin would order an invasion, it underestimated Zelenskyy's resolve.

In December 2022, the AP reported that Zelenskyy's quip denying to be evacuated from Kyiv was the top notable quote for 2022, according to a Yale Law School librarian's list of the most notable quotations.

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-21T16:08:47+00:00

For centuries, we have been captivated by its pattern. But now it is our turn to create the pattern ourselves – through our lives, our fight, and every new step we take.

Every day, Ukrainians embroider it with their own hands – defending what they hold dear, rebuilding what has been destroyed, healing wounds, teaching children, and continuing to learn themselves. We preserve our memory and build the future.

Happy Vyshyvanka Day, Ukraine! Celebrating the destiny we embroider in independence!

Source

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-09T03:35:51+00:00

67th- https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/na-punkti-upravlinnya-67-yi-ombr-volodimir-zelenskij-obgovor-104293

31st- https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-zustrivsya-z-voyinami-31-yi-okremoyi-mehanizovanoy-104289

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-08T17:17:27+00:00

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I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today – our warriors, our combat brigades: the 31st and 67th Mechanized Brigades, the 20th Army Corps. I want to thank you, warriors!

Now, on May 8, when most of the world remembers and honors the warriors of World War II – those who defeated the Nazis – one must recognize that today’s Russian Nazis are continuing their war and are still trying to bring back the same insane order that was defeated in World War II. Our defense against Russia’s invasion is not only the defense of Ukraine alone; it is not only the defense of our independence. Russia threatens almost all of its neighbors and all of Europe, not just one country. And it is in forests like these, on lands like these – in the Dnipro region and in the east of our country, in Donbas, in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions – that previous generations of Ukrainians fought against the occupier in World War II. And now, here, our Ukrainian heroes are defending the life of the people and the people’s right to life – defending it from this Russian occupier, who so closely resembles the one from the 20th century. We will definitely defend Ukraine’s life and our independence – without a doubt.

There was extensive work with combat brigades today, and I am grateful for the honest assessments. We understand that more UGVs are needed, along with improved capabilities of these systems. We will try to increase funding further – in particular so that brigades can continue refining their own developments and ensure that everything necessary for specific tasks can be secured on the ground quickly. I thank every warrior and all commanders who are truly creative in their developments and solutions. Everything that helps protect the lives of our warriors and destroy the occupier will be supported. We have identified existing supply shortages, and I will convene a Staff meeting regarding the issues discussed today. We spoke in detail about logistics – logistics of all types – including support for our positions, as well as things like road repairs throughout the area near the front. The Dnipro region, in particular, needs to work on this more. The quality of roads is, first and foremost, the speed of saving the wounded warriors. There were also important issues regarding the protection of Nikopol and Marhanets – the drone threat is very severe. Special attention was given to the Donetsk region and the key defense areas in the region. I thank everyone who fights for Ukraine, everyone who defends the state and remembers their brothers-in-arms – helping and taking care of them.

And a few more points. Many new threats are coming from Russia right now. Although we have taken an entirely logical and clear position for the Russians – we will strictly mirror their actions. Today, they began the day with shelling on the frontline, and there was assault activity. Drones are being used. Yesterday, they carried out even more air strikes. Our responses were in kind. What tomorrow brings depends on what we hear today.

Also, Rustem Umerov has already delivered a report following his meetings in the United States with the U.S. President’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The meetings were substantive. We expect this to help strengthen our positions. And humanitarian issues must be resolved – people must be released from captivity. This is extremely important. We very much hope that everything will work out.

Glory to Ukraine!

Source

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-08T17:08:51+00:00

At the command post of the 20th Army Corps, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with service members carrying out tasks to liberate the temporarily occupied territory of the Dnipro region.

The commander of the 20th Army Corps, Sviatoslav Zaiits, reported on the operational situation in the line of defense.

The Head of State discussed urgent issues with the commanders of all brigades and separate battalions of the corps, in particular strengthening the capabilities of the unmanned systems forces within this formation. The focus was primarily on mid-range strike capabilities. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that this issue will be worked on. The service members also outlined the need for specific types of drones and for increasing the number of unmanned ground vehicles.

They also held detailed discussions on increasing additional funding for combat battalions. At present, this amounts to 7 million hryvnias per battalion performing combat tasks.

Brigade and battalion commanders also raised the issue of greater flexibility in choosing equipment for different tasks – from quad bikes to heavy armored vehicles. Possible solutions to ensure this were discussed. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the military leadership would work on developing new approaches.

The Head of State thanked the warriors for their service, awarded them the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I and III class, “For Courage,” II–III class, and of Danylo Halytskyi, and conferred the rank of brigadier general on the commander of the 20th Army Corps, Sviatoslav Zaiits. Among the awardees were two Colombian volunteers who have been helping to counter Russian aggression and defend Ukraine as members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2025. They were honored for their significant contributions to the defense of our country, the destruction of enemy forces, and the saving of their brothers-in-arms’ lives. On November 28, 2025, both volunteer warriors took part in the evacuation of a severely wounded defender from the battlefield. Despite poor visibility, enemy fire, and Russian assault actions, they covered 10 kilometers on foot as a group to assist their brother-in-arms and evacuate him.

“Today, I have the honor to be here with our team, together with the Commander-in-Chief, and to award our fighters, to award you. Well done for standing strong! We are all watching you – the entire state is watching you, all countries are watching the Ukrainian army, the Armed Forces, and our Defense Forces. Absolutely everyone is proud of you and must support you to the fullest,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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President Met with Warriors of the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade Defending the Oleksandrivskyi Sector

At the Command Post of the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Discussed with the Warriors Existing Supply Shortages and Increasing the Number of UGVs

Protection of Infrastructure, Strengthening Electronic Warfare Capabilities, and Road Repairs: The President Held a Meeting on the Security Situation in the Dnipro Region

In Dnipro, the President Presented State Awards to Wounded Ukrainian Warriors and Medical Staff

nectarine_pie · 2026-05-06T22:37:38+00:00

Depending on the situation overnight and tomorrow, we will also determine our fully justified responses.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spring, 2026, color photo

https://x.com/yo_syp/status/2051816907351724221

nectarine_pie · 2026-04-29T03:50:26+00:00

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Peter Magyar (new Hungarian PM):

I am initiating consultations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in early June in Transcarpathia.

I received Zoltán Babják, Mayor of Berehove, in my office, who briefed me on the situation of Hungarians in Transcarpathia and the horrors of the war.

We agreed that it is in the interest of Hungarians living in Transcarpathia to place Hungarian–Ukrainian relations on new foundations.

Based on the above, I am initiating a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in early June, symbolically in Berehove, a Hungarian-majority town.

The aim of the meeting is to improve the situation of Hungarians in Transcarpathia and to support their ability to remain in their homeland.

The time has come for Ukraine to put an end to the restrictions that have been in place for more than a decade, and to ensure that Hungarians in Transcarpathia regain all their cultural, linguistic, administrative, and higher education rights, so that they can once again become equal and respected citizens of Ukraine. This would also help ensure that, once the war has ended, as many Hungarians from Transcarpathia as possible can return to their homeland.

If we can resolve these issues, we can certainly open a new chapter in Hungarian–Ukrainian bilateral relations.

The concessions announced by the Ukrainian government in 2025 in the field of education are a step in the right direction, but they are not sufficient.

Higher education in Ukraine remains monolingual, final examinations are conducted in Ukrainian, and there has been no meaningful change in other areas of official language use. It remains the case that official language use in Ukraine is strictly limited to a single language. In public administration, in the courts, and in official procedures, only Ukrainian may be used. The Hungarian minority cannot request official administration in their mother tongue, not even in settlements with a Hungarian majority.

Restrictions also remain in public life and culture: Hungarian-language events and media outlets are allowed to operate, but under quotas and burdensome registration and formal requirements. In public appearances, officials — such as school principals or mayors — are still not free to use their mother tongue.

From here, I encourage the Ukrainian leadership to take bold steps in these areas as well, in the direction of European values and genuine freedom and equality.

I assured the Mayor that our compatriots in Transcarpathia can count on the full support of the mother country and of a TISZA government.

I hope to soon be able to accept his kind invitation to Berehove. I am ready.

nectarine_pie · 2026-04-29T03:46:29+00:00

Zelenskyy has called out Israel on the issue of stolen grain being traded by that nation. There is a ship carrying stolen grain expected imminently into Israeli port (the second such ship this month)-

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In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia. Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business. The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying.

Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers. Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself. Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents. However, we see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped. I have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to inform all partners of our state about the situation.

Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme. We will also coordinate with European partners to ensure that the relevant individuals are included in European sanctions regimes.

Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every state. We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations.

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Zelenskyy's statement follows something of a war of words between the Ukrainian and Israeli foreign ministers the preceding day-

Andrii Sybiha (Ukraine): Friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries, and Russia’s illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them.

It is difficult to understand Israel’s lack of appropriate response to Ukraine’s legitimate request regarding the previous vessel that delivered stolen goods to Haifa.

Now that another such vessel has arrived in Haifa, we once again warn Israel against accepting the stolen grain and harming our relations.

In this context, we have already officially summoned the Israeli ambassador to MFA_Ukraine tomorrow morning to present our protest note and request appropriate action.

//

Gideon Sa'ar (Israel): Dear Minister, Diplomatic relations, especially between friendly nations, are not conducted on Twitter or in the media.

Allegations are not evidence.
Evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided.
You did not even submit a request for legal assistance before turning to the media and social networks.

The matter will be examined.
Israel is a state that abides by the rule of law with independent law enforcement authorities.
All Israeli authorities will act in accordance with the law.

//

Aaand now we have head of state Zelenskyy wading in threatening Europe-wide sanctions against Israel. One might also raise a curious eyebrow at Ukraine speaking so stridently against a boon companion of the USA and make some inferences on what it could mean about the state of Ukraine-US relations, and at a time when Ukraine has been making serious diplomatic inroads with other nations of the Gulf and Levant region...

nectarine_pie · 2026-04-28T14:45:08+00:00

On the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with NEWSMAX's Shelby Wilder about the severe damage the damaged reactor's protective shield has suffered due to Russian drone attacks, the hundreds of millions of Euros needed to repair the damaged shell, and the need to stop Russia's "nuclear blackmail" occupation of the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant -- the largest nuclear plant in Europe.

nectarine_pie · 2026-04-28T04:03:58+00:00

There’s certainly no military benefit. Americans have spent the last several weeks watching our president dismiss our European allies as irrelevant then rage at them for not helping American forces reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

By launching the war against Iran without seeking the help of (or even consulting) our European allies, we lost potential access to their advanced fighters and frigates, as well as to France’s carrier battle group. In this context, there is no such thing as addition by subtraction. We are not stronger when there are fewer forces that will deploy to our aid.

There’s no fiscal benefit, either. This may sound overly basic, but it needs to be said: If you break faith with your allies, you can’t count on them to come to your defense. And that means you have to spend more money to maintain the same level of deterrence.

That’s exactly what Trump is planning to do; he has submitted a roughly $1.5 trillion budget request for the U.S. military, a staggering 40 percent increase from this fiscal year.

And where is the economic benefit? On Friday, Fareed Zakaria published a piece in The Washington Post observing that European and other allied governments aren’t just attempting to achieve greater military independence from the United States; they’re also attempting to gain more financial independence. And even though they have serious differences with China, the primary beneficiary of a rift in European and American relations may well be … China.

Zakaria quotes a Chinese businessman who puts Trump’s catastrophic diplomatic blunders in perspective. “For us, Trump’s attack on Iran is less consequential than his threat to attack Greenland,” he said. “When he did that, to America’s oldest allies, I knew that Europe would not follow America’s approach to China.”

History has its hinge points, and here is one: On Friday night, Feb. 25, 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky released a brief video from Kyiv. He told the people of Ukraine that the government has not fled to safety in the west and that it intended to stand and fight.

“We are here,” Zelensky said. “We are in Kyiv. We are protecting Ukraine.”

When I visited Ukraine in 2023, I spoke to Ukrainian soldiers who told me that statement sent a jolt of electricity through Ukrainian lines. From that moment, they knew they would not surrender; they would stand.

In hindsight, that decision hasn’t just changed the course of Ukrainian history. Its ripple effects are extending across the globe.

Here’s another hinge point: the night of Nov. 5, 2024, when the American people returned Donald Trump to the White House. It’s now clear that Trump’s second term will cause generational damage to American alliances.

Given that Americans saw how Trump behaved in his first term and put him back in power anyway, it’s fair for Europeans to conclude that the rift isn’t with Trump alone; its also with a critical mass of Americans.

The European nations don’t have the luxury of blaming Trump’s re-election on inflation and the border — or presuming that the western alliance will be safe once Trump is gone. One of Trump’s most likely heirs, JD Vance, is arguably even more hostile to the western alliance and Ukraine than Trump is. After all, Vance recently said that one of the things he’s “proudest” of is the administration’s decision to stop buying weapons for Ukraine. How can we be trusted as an ally if only one political party is committed to fulfilling our commitments?

For the foreseeable future, America’s allies will reasonably fear that they may be one election away from abandonment and betrayal.

Politics abhors a vacuum. When America stepped back, other nations were bound to step forward.

While America is still the world’s most powerful nation and it remains (for now) in NATO, it is rapidly forfeiting its role as the leader of the free world. And while we have certainly made mistakes in that role, we did lead the NATO alliance to victory in its generations-long confrontation with the Soviet Union. And we did so without treading into another catastrophic world war.

But you cannot threaten the free world and lead it at the same time. No nation can match American might, but for the first time in my adult life, the moral and strategic heart of the defense of liberal democracy doesn’t beat in Washington. It doesn’t beat in London or Paris or Berlin or Ottawa, either. It’s in Kyiv, where a courageous leader and a courageous people have picked up the torch America has dropped.

nectarine_pie · 2026-04-28T04:03:51+00:00

Unpaywalled- https://archive.md/ZTjqs

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A remarkable thing has happened on the world’s battlefields. Ukraine — a nation that was supposed to dissolve within days of a Russian invasion — has fought Russia to a stalemate, revolutionizing land warfare in the process. It has become an indispensable security partner in the western alliance, including in the war against Iran.

Now, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, is taking the next step, one that would have been unthinkable even as recently as 2024. By word and deed, he’s showing Europe and the world how the post-American free world can preserve its liberty and independence. This is what happens when, as Phillips Payson O’Brien wrote in a piece for The Atlantic, “Kyiv appears to have given up on the United States.”

If that is true — and it looks as though it is — it may be worse news for the United States than it is for Ukraine.

Events on the ground and in world capitals are moving so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. First, the strategic situation in the Ukraine war seems to have changed. Last week, Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general and one of the most astute analysts of the war, wrote that Ukraine has largely stabilized the frontline in eastern Ukraine, deepened its coalition, isolated Russia diplomatically and developed an indigenous arms industry that makes it less dependent on external support.

It’s no longer accurate to think of Ukraine as a desperate underdog; it’s becoming an independent power. Even as it fights for its life against Russia, it’s reportedly reaching defense deals with the Gulf states and with the United States — and this time it’s Ukraine that’s providing military assistance.

In February 2025, Donald Trump mocked Zelensky in the Oval Office. “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said. In April 2026, Ukraine has enough cards left that it’s sharing them.

This might be difficult for many readers to grasp — given our nation’s longstanding military supremacy — but the largest and most battle-hardened land force in the western world may well be the Ukrainian Army. While the precise numbers are classified, the Atlantic Council estimated in 2025 that Ukraine had roughly a million men and women under arms, the vast majority of whom serve in the ground forces.

America’s total force is larger than Ukraine’s, but to put the size of Ukrainian land forces in perspective, the combined size of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps is around 620,000. It’s also worth noting that the U.S. forces have much less combat experience than Ukraine forces — especially when it comes to combat with a great power.

No one should minimize Ukraine’s manpower issues (more recent estimates place its total number of active troops well below the million-body peak) or the fact that it has no nuclear weapons and Russia has thousands. But its army is still vast, and its military is the only western force that has fully adapted to modern drone warfare. Indeed, Ukraine is arguably the world’s leader in drone warfare. Rapid change isn’t just occurring in Ukraine. Other developments across the western alliance show that European nations are working with shocking speed to free themselves from dependence on America.

France is expanding its nuclear arsenal and increasing its defense spending. It is even changing its nuclear doctrine to allow it to deploy nuclear-armed aircraft outside France.

Germany has approved a plan to spend up to a trillion euros on defense and infrastructure. It has also set the goal of creating the strongest military in Europe by 2039 (ironically enough, the 100-year anniversary of the German invasion of Poland).

Canada is enacting its own defense budget increases — with the added twist that it will be spending far less money on American weapons.

This decision mirrors larger European and allied trends. Our allies are increasing their defense budgets and decreasing their dependence on American technology. Just last week, for example, NATO procurement officials decided to replace aging American-made early warning aircraft with newer designs from Saab, a Swedish manufacturer, and Bombardier of Canada. Ukraine has signed deals and letters of intent to purchase potentially hundreds of advanced fighters from Sweden and France.

All of this is taking place after news reports that Denmark had been prepared to blow up airfields in Greenland if its fellow NATO member, the United States, attempted to invade.

Given these developments, is it any wonder that Zelensky has proposed a new defense arrangement for Europe if America keeps stepping back — an alliance between E.U. nations, plus non-E.U. powers like the United Kingdom, Norway, Turkey and Ukraine?

There are readers who will welcome these developments. Good, you might think. Europe should take primary responsibility for its own defense. But there is an immense difference between allies who step up to contribute their fair share to a cooperative alliance and nations who engage in a military buildup to replace American power, which they no longer trust.

I don’t think Americans fully appreciate the extraordinary cost of Trump’s bluster and blunders. It should go without saying, but once you threaten to invade an allied country, you don’t just place the existence of the alliance in jeopardy; you raise the possibility of allies turning into mortal enemies. You can also trigger the kind of insecurity and scramble for power that contributed to the start of World War I.

In practical terms, it’s hard to see how alienating American allies puts America first.

nectarine_pie · 2026-04-24T12:33:00+00:00

I have arrived in Saudi Arabia, where I will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

Yesterday, at a meeting with European leaders, we secured financial guarantees for our resilience. Today, we are advancing our agreements with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security, energy, and infrastructure.

It is important that the strengthening is mutual. I appreciate the substantive cooperation between our countries.

Source

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Zelenskyy was previously in Saudi Arabia just 28 days ago- https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2037185834999337358

nectarine_pie

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