Today, we are with our communities. The meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities took place with the participation of our government officials and members of parliament. Here in Zakarpattia, there was also a meeting with our Ukrainian Hungarian community. It is important that there is attention and respect for all communities in Ukraine.

First of all, I thanked every community that was active and effective this winter. We got through this winter thanks to all our people who work for our state, for their communities, thanks to the professionals in energy companies and municipal services. I want to thank you all.

Business also performed well – supplies, logistics. This is truly our shared national success that Russia’s plans for the winter were thwarted. We have already begun preparing for the next winter. We must not lose time. Although it is difficult to meet all the needs due to the blocking of European funds for Ukraine – funds that were supposed to go toward recovery, new protection measures for the winter, and developing alternative grid infrastructure and generation.

Right now, we are relying on internal resources, but we are working with partners to unblock this key support package. It is important that our communities are also active and speak to partners at their level – to their partner communities – about why blocking support for us, for Ukraine, is effectively playing into Russia’s hands.