President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today, December 19, gave a press conference. The meeting of the head of state with journalists was devoted to the results of this year and lasted for two hours.
Several new Patriot will protect Ukraine in winter
"This winter is different, and unfortunately, with losses, but still with smaller ones. We become more powerful every month. I had a serious business trip with the team. A few, I will not say a number, a few new Patrio systems will protect our country in winter," Zelensky said.
However, he did not specify the number of systems until they are for weapons.
He later stated that Ukraine is expecting one Patriot from German Chancellor Olaf Solz.
About the request for mobilization of 450-500 thousand people
The President said that the General Staff and the head were asked for the mobilization of 450-500 thousand people. But, he said, arguments are needed because it is a matter of extra money and security.
"The head and the General Staff turned at a level of mobilization rates. Issues were sensitive. They addressed the protection of our country and potential counter-offensive actions, about a deficit. And their view was, they suggested mobilizing additional 450-500 thousand people. This is a serious figure and I said that I needed more.
As for finances, mobilization in this format will cost Ukraine an additional UAH 500 billion, Zelensky added.
US will not betray Ukraine
"As for financial assistance. We work very much on this. I am sure that the US will not betray us and what we have agreed in the United States will be fulfilled in full," the President said.
Will the war end in 2024?
The president in response to RBC-Ukraine about whether the war of Russia against Ukraine in 2024 said that no one knows it.
"I think no one knows the answer. Even those respectable people, commanders, ours or western. When they say that the war for many years, they do not know. These are thoughts. Thoughts are very different from reality," Zelensky said.
The head of state replied that long -term help would still be a shoulder if there are risks. Today is for sure: Belgium - 1.7 billion, Denmark - 4.2 billion, South Korea - 2.3 billion, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands - are hundreds of millions, Norway - 7.5 billion, France - 2 billion, Germany - 8 billion, Sweden - more than 0,5 billion.
"This is a powerful basis, if we have risks. We will count on the corresponding amounts ... A very large amount is the military," he said.
About scandals with deputies
"Elections to the war are difficult. There is a percentage of people's deputies that are still working.
At the same time he noted, the following: I do not think that a deputy who walks is something different from a businessman who launches salutes on his birthday.
"All statesmen should be an example - unfortunately, what I can do? I can not dissolve them, because then there will be elections, and the elections cannot be held during the war," Zelensky added.
About Orban
Zelensky said he had never communicated with Hungary's premier Viktor Orban about peace talks with Russia.
He also said that he suggested that Orban had an official meeting, but the Hungarian prime minister could not give any answer.
"Sometimes his policy is not very friendly to us. I told him about it," Zelensky says.
“I want to reduce the government”
The head of state said he wanted to reduce the government, but there is no money. He also said he could not afford to get rid of someone from his team.
"I cannot change them, we will become weaker. There will be less air defense, less help. I can't allow it to myself," Zelensky said.
The war in the Middle East and the defocus of attention from Ukraine
The President acknowledged that the war in the Middle East. He also stated that he was ready to go to Israel after the Hamas invasion.
"This is a reflection of attention, I spoke about it, it is not new information for you. The redemption of the world, the redemption of consolidation around Ukraine, the redevelopment of support of Ukraine at different international sites, the renovation of the topic of Ukraine in the information space. All this comprehensively and very badly affects Ukraine's sustainability and assistance," says Zelensky.
About Trump
The head of state expressed the opinion that Donald Trump will have exactly a different policy if he came to power in the United States again.
"He is another person if he becomes President of the United States but not to choose. We have to look soberly that the leader has an impact on society. But if Trump's policy is very economical, it will greatly affect the course of war in Ukraine.
About relations with the leadership of Poland: “I am not a rag some”
"When the Ukrainians saw the conflict of leaders (Poland and Ukraine - ed.), They began to defend Poland. We lost hundreds of millions of dollars, we lost part of the crop, we lost it daily. And we started to lose political relations. I am not a cloth, I defend Ukraine's interests."
The President added that Ukrainians protect Poland's independence with their lives.
The war strategy will not change - it's the borders of 1991
"The strategy of protection of Ukraine cannot be changed according to our Constitution. Tactics may change, after the results of the counter -offensive are taken into account, it will be clear by the end of 2023," Zelensky says.
He also noted: "Life has changed so much that I now need a translator from Russian."
The Ukrainian leader also commented on security guarantees. He noted that the process was slower than he calculated.
About relations with Zaluzhny
"Relationships with Zaluzhny workers. He is responsible for the result on the battlefield as a commander -in -chief. I will not help someone develop a conflict," Zelensky said.
He noted that he plans to continue to work with the Commander -in -Chief of the Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny.
"I am waiting for a decision to mobilize, I am waiting for the results on the battlefield, I am waiting for the decision to help the soldiers at the front. There is a strategy - I am waiting for results and details," the President added.
“1 warrior is 6 people who pay taxes”
The President emphasized that he is waiting for details about mobilization, since "he wants to intercede for civilians, because 1 military" hold "6 civilians."
"One warrior is 6 people in taxes paying taxes. When we talk about mobilization, multiply 500,000 necessary mobilized by 6 taxpayers. And understand how to find a plus 3 million taxpayers since January," the president explained.
The process of sharing prisoners complicated
"The exchange process is complicated, this track works, it slowed down for the reasons of the Russian Federation, the track will open, now work on a fairly good number of our boys to return them," the head of state emphasized.
He also added that the Ukrainian side worked with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, but so far - unsuccessful.
About NATO Introduction
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's full -fledged introduction to NATO is the "most powerful option" to guarantee our country's security.
"But we are not invited to NATO," the President says.
The head of state stressed that Ukraine has not received any proposals from official partners at the moment about the so -called "partial introduction" of Ukraine to the Alliance, but has heard the discussion of these ideas and is treated by them.
"Signals about the partial participation of some (in the Alliance - Ed.) Is a beacon. Without an image for those who say that," the President added.
About the possibility of negotiations from the Russian Federation and the "formula of peace"
"I do not see a request from Russia, I see only arrogance and murder in rhetoric," Zelensky says.
He noted that the only platform is the "peace formula".
Zelensky also announced meetings in the format of the formula of peace in the World Economic Forum in Davos and the summit at the level of world leaders.
“The law on mobilization of women will not sign”
Zelensky stated that he would not support the bill on the possible mobilization of women: "Women - no, I will not sign (the bill - ed.)".
As for the mobilization of younger age (25 years), provided that all arguments regarding the need, the President will agree.
"As for 25 years-if all the arguments are set out and today I see that they need it, then I will agree with that," the head of state added.
About goals at the front in 2024
"I cannot tell you about goals. We had difficulties in the south, because everyone talked about our plans, everyone looked at the details ... Well, it does not take off from the Russian Federation, which weapons are more. I cannot tell you any details from our counter -offensive and defense actions next year," the President explained.
Ukraine will produce 1 million drones next year
The President has promised the production of a million drones of domestic production, as well as an increase in artillery production.
"Many different issues have to work on it," he said.
About the opening of Boryspil Airport
"Boryspil is like the Black Sea, the opening of Boryspil - it will be a victory for Ukrainian air defense, it will say that Ukraine wins, we ask our colleagues such a question," Zelensky assured.
Decrease in displaced persons will not be
"As for the increase, I cannot confirm yet because of the challenges related to the increase in the defense budget. I cannot say now, everything will be calculated by the end of the year. In the New Year we will have a complete understanding," Zelensky said.
About the possibility of multiple citizenship
The President believes that many Ukrainians will return to Ukraine when the air defense will be intensified and helping our people in the EU and the US. In connection with what Zelensky called for those who went abroad, especially women and children, "do not rush to give up Ukrainian citizenship."
The President also believed that Ukraine should return to multiple citizenship in order to return home as many Ukrainians who left the country through the war as possible.
"Multiple citizenship is normal. Ukrainians are indeed 60 million in the world and not everyone must live in Ukraine," the President said.
About Bezugla
"As for Facebook comments, I do not do it, I do not have time for unnecessary dialogues ... And as for Maryana (Bezubless - Red), there are a few more people, it is very difficult. They like to comment on lying on Facebook ... I think we all need to give the result the state is a permanent one,"
What were the previous conferences of Zelensky
We will remind that before that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with media representatives on June 6, this day in our country celebrate the day of the journalist. Then the event lasted only an hour and a half and took place at the Mariinsky Palace at a round table. Journalists were collected only from Ukrainian publications, there were 18 representatives.
Prior to the same, Zelensky was a major press conference on the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2023. The President answered about 2.5 hours, and about 320 journalists from 170 editions were accredited to the West, including foreign media.
It should be noted that before the beginning of the full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the head of state conducted one of the record conferences, which lasted 14 hours.