Thread by @ZelenskyyUa

I addressed Ukraine Recovery Conference #URC2024 and emphasized the importance of comprehensive efforts to defend Ukraine, ensure societal resilience, and preserve our common European way of life against Russian aggression.

This war has various levels of confrontation: the frontline where our people defend against military strikes, our economic defense to maintain normal social life, and political resistance against attempts to divide and weaken the democratic world.

Withstanding and winning this confrontation requires comprehensive efforts. It involves defending Ukraine from Russian aggression, ensuring the resilience of our society, and preserving our shared European way of life, which Putin's Russia seeks to destroy.

First: the frontline. Over two years of this war, Ukrainians have proven we can push out the occupier and achieve necessary victories. We have secured Black Sea and demonstrated our ability to destroy any Russian missiles and drones.

Our key challenge now is to destroy Russia’s air superiority, which includes its missile and bomb terror. Only by depriving Russia of this advantage will Putin consider a just peace. Air defense is the answer.

Germany is a global leader in helping us with air defense. Thank you for the Patriots, IRIS-Ts, and other systems. We need at least 7 Patriot systems to protect our major cities, ensuring the survival of normal life in Ukraine.

With Germany, the Netherlands, the U.S., and other partners, we are working to provide more air defense to Ukraine. This will restore confidence that peace is approaching.

Second: energy. One of Putin’s main targets in Ukraine is energy infrastructure. He views energy resources as a weapon of influence and subjugation. Nowadays, Ukraine suffers from the most destructive form of this vision.

Russian missile and drone strikes have already destroyed 9 GW of power capacity. This is greater than the energy consumption of Berlin and Munich combined. 80% of thermal generation and one-third of hydro generation are destroyed.

We must preserve existing generation and restore lost capacity. This task is vital not only for Ukraine but also for Europe. Putin aims to refine practices for destroying energy objects.

Rebuilt and protected energy infrastructure in Ukraine will serve both Ukraine and Europe for decades. It will prove that Russia's blackout arsenal cannot succeed. Ukraine has the natural resources for modern energy but needs your financing and investments to realize these plans.

We need high-yield investments for your companies and credit programs for your institutions. Together, we will create a new energy foundation, thousands of new jobs, and significant economic growth.

In the short term, we must quickly and cost-effectively restore all energy facilities that can be repaired before winter. We need your equipment and financial support to respond now and maintain normal life.

Another element is highly efficient, decentralized gas generation. It will solve energy shortage today and switch to hydrogen tomorrow, balancing new green energy.

European and especially German companies are technological leaders in this field. We have a clear plan to build up to 1 GW of capacity this year and another 4 GW over the next three years.

We are signing the first contracts at this conference. We need your leadership in export-credit financing and your expertise and real experience, especially from German communities.

Third: politics. Regardless of political changes in Europe, all Europeans need the EU. Every nation that shares European values and wants to live in peace needs the EU. Ukrainians, Moldovans, Georgians, and Balkan states all respect Europe, freedom, and the rule of law.

Ukraine has already fulfilled all the prerequisites for opening membership negotiations with the EU. This June must see the negotiation framework approved and talks begun. This is about keeping Europe’s promises and proving that Europe cannot be broken.

Fourth: motivation. In the 20th century, Europe underwent massive recovery. The continent, battered by world wars, rebounded to become a global power. This happened through social strength, production traditions, industrial culture, and appropriate path.

At the start of this year, when I spoke with Chancellor Scholtz about this conference, I asked for it to be practical and concrete. We wanted to leave with agreements that would drive economic growth and strengthen our communities in Ukraine and Germany.

I am glad this nature of the conference was ensured. Hundreds of agreements between our governments, communities, and companies are being prepared, including with partner countries outside Europe.

We will conclude this conference with agreements worth billions of euros for Ukraine’s defense, energy, and social life. This includes education, housing, and medical equipment.

I want to highlight support for entrepreneurship in Ukraine. This adds resilience and a sense that life will prevail. Ukraine will realize its national recovery project, which will become a European recovery project. This cannot happen without Germany.

This is a case where Germany's global power will have a clear affirmation through the strength of Ukrainian life. Thank you for your attention and support!