Ukraine's New Military Leadership Announcement

Dear Ukrainians, men and women!

Today, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi, assumed

his duties.

Changes have already taken place.

Together with Mykhailo and Yevheniy Khmara, we determined

that Ihor Skybyuk will become the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The decision has also already been made.

The guys are battle-hardened and experienced. The troops know them: Drapatyi, Khmara, Skybyuk.

It has been agreed that the modernization of the forces

of Ukraine's defense will be prepared.

It is important that everything goes absolutely smoothly.

And that the Russians do not get any loophole or opportunity.

Russia must feel the growing pressure, the growing sanctions.

This includes our long-range sanctions, powerful strikes, and our strong positions on the front.

All of this will be ensured.

We have also defined the tasks in the defense of Ukraine, in the implementation of our operations.

Air defense is a task, countering Russian strikes is a task,

more technology for our defense,

fulfilling the requests of commanders of combat corps and brigades, active defense in all

areas is a task.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine definitely has the capability to ensure the fulfillment

of these tasks, with the support and coordination of the new

command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,

our intelligence agencies, our special services,

the National Guard of Ukraine and its corps.

And definitely in close cooperation with our partners and weapons manufacturers,

which is based on full transparency and trust.

I want to separately thank everyone in Ukraine today,

all military personnel, all civilians,

for their trust in the new military command.

It is important that this trust translates into greater motivation for our defenders.

It is important for the guys to be strong and justify the trust

that society has now shown.

We are giving them all the tools.

Today, the US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, was in Kyiv

together with the commander of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for

Ukraine, Lieutenant General Bazart.

A good meeting.

We spoke about Patriots for us, for Ukraine,

we need missiles to protect the lives of our people.

There cannot be a shortage of anti-ballistic missiles, like now, in recent months,

it is very difficult. It is important that partners help.

This is exactly what we spoke about with Whitaker today.

Licenses, missiles, all of this is needed.

I ask, we need it faster and we need more, to be honest.

We spoke about the drone deal with America,

which our teams are currently working on.

This will definitely be a new level of cooperation with America.

I thank everyone who supports us.

We have just spoken with Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, Sergiy Kyslytsya,

with representatives of the American President, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The diplomatic track,

the diplomatic process for us continues every day.

We do not stop in our efforts to stop this war.

The main thing is for the Russians to truly be ready to stop the war.

Now, of course, the situation at the front,

the situation with our long-range sanctions,

with deep strikes, creates a new atmosphere around Putin.

A very toxic atmosphere.

And only he is the reason that the war started and does not end.

Only Putin is the reason for the losses that Russians are suffering.

His entourage understands this, signals to us, signals to our partners.

Russian society is starting to feel this more and more.

Solutions are needed to bring peace.

Ukraine has long been ready for this.

Now we are doing everything

to ensure a dignified end to this war.

I thank every one of our warriors, every unit for their accuracy.

I thank all our developers, weapons manufacturers.

I thank all our people for their resilience and faith in Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!