President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the signals from the negotiations with the Russian delegation on the cessation of combat actions "can be called positive, but they do not drown out the ruptures of Russian shells."
He stated this in a video message at the end of the 34th day of the war.
"Wise people of a strong nation! The 34th day of the full-scale invasion of Russia and our full-scale defense ends. Successful defense. I'm sure you saw the news today that the Russian military department allegedly decided to "reduce the fighting in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions..." Well, so we can say about Chornobaivka - as if the Russian aviation simply decided to fly less, and Russian artillery - less to go," - said Zelenskyy.
The President thanked all the defenders and women-defenders - all those who provide the defense of Kyiv. He stressed that their brave and effective actions make the enemy move away in this direction.
He urged not to lose vigilance, as the situation did not become easier, and the scale of challenges did not decrease. The Russian army still has a significant potential to continue the attacks, they still have a lot of military units and "have enough absolutely rightless people that they can send to the pocket of war."
"Therefore, we will not chill and reduce our defensive efforts... Defense of Ukraine is the number one task now, and everything else is derived from it. It is on this basis that I also consider reports on the negotiation process, which continues at different levels with representatives of the Russian Federation. The enemy is still in our territory. Shelling of our cities continues. Mariupol is blocked. Missile and air attacks do not stop. This is reality. These are facts. Therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, our Intelligence, all those who joined the defense of the state are today the only guarantee of our survival. As a people. Like the Country. The guarantee that works," - said Zelenskyy.
The President assured that our delegation sees all risks and sees no reason to trust the words of the representatives of the aggressor country.
"Ukrainians are not naive people. Ukrainians have already learned during these 34 days of invasion, and over the past eight years of the war in the Donbas, that only a specific result can be trusted. Only facts can bu trusted if they change on our land," - said Zelenskyy.
He also added that Ukraine is still committed to negotiations and will continue the negotiation process. Zelenskyy stressed that we are counting on the result.
"There must be real security for us, for our state, for sovereignty, for our people. Russian troops must leave the occupied areas. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be guaranteed. There can be no compromise on sovereignty and our territorial integrity. And it will not," - said the President.
Earlier, today negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian sides took place, and they will continue this week. Representatives of the aggressor country said that Russian troops may stop a massive offensive in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, now the Russian Federation really withdraws some units from the territory of the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, but regroups them to focus their main efforts on Slobozhansk and Donetsk directions.
According to a member of the Ukrainian delegation Davyd Arahamiia, the parties worked on the format of the concept of the security agreement proposed by Kyiv. Deputy Head of the Office of the President, member of the Ukrainian negotiating group Mykhailo Podoliak also told more about a number of contractual positions that the Russian Federation took into consideration, according to the results of the meeting of delegations.