Speech
Volodymyr Zelensky  ·  2026-08-17 00:00

[жестова мова] Працюємо з командою, щоб були нові обміни. Звернення 17.08.2026

Dear Ukrainians, briefly about this day. Meeting with the military and the Minister of Defense. The front is a key issue. We have identified additional organizational solutions and the necessary means to strengthen the capabilities of our units in the Slavyansk direction, in Kostyantynivka, and in the Pokrovsk areas . It is very important that experienced commanders receive more capabilities. act. There will be decisions at the corps and group level. I also approved the first part of the personnel appointments that we discussed with Mykhailo Drapaty. There are already five solutions, and there will be more. We continue our long-range operations. There was a report on the results for the first half of August. The priorities for deep strikes by September have already been determined. And we also talked with Yevgeny Khmara about additional finances, additional resources, and additional interventions that Ukraine needs. In addition to the kinetic sanctions of our long-range work, we are working on all other areas of sanctions. Today we coordinated with intelligence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and special services on when and from which of our partners we expect new packages of sanctions in those areas that are capable of limiting Russia's active military capabilities. Some things that are critical to Russian aggression, but they are still being supplied to Russia even from countries that are part of the Group of Seven and are definitely not interested in Putin dragging out the war and increasing the scale of the data. All our partners must know what depends on them and how each sanction step affects the approach of peace and the saving of lives. A few more things. We are working with the team to make new exchanges. We hope for results. We also spoke with Igor Klymenko, a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council will be held in the near future on the situation that, unfortunately, exists on Ukrainian roads. Another completely inappropriate incident occurred in the capital today, when a car collided with another at speed and flew onto the sidewalk. Behind the wheel was a person who, to be honest, should have lost his right to be a driver a long time ago. There were petitions about the situation on the roads, there were appeals, in particular, from Oleksiy Hlushich, the father of a 12-year-old boy who was killed in a road accident. We need to increase the responsibility of those who systematically violate traffic rules and disrespect life. And what is needed is not cosmetic changes to rules and responsibilities, but effective steps. I expect that the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council will involve parliamentarians, public organizations, and all necessary state institutions to prepare the appropriate changes. We must protect every life and create conditions where life is truly protected. Thank you to everyone who cares about our state and our people. Glory to Ukraine!