Russian terror has to lose, Ukraine and all Europe have to win - President Vladimir Zelensky's address to the European Council
Fortunately, this plan fails. Despite the critical dependence of some European countries on Russian gas, oil and petroleum products, the EU's energy independence has been ensured thanks to effective EU leadership and national governments. European gas storage facilities are filled with alternative supply to the continent. This is your unconditional success.
Unfortunately, there is still a very serious challenge of the pricing crisis that Russia has burned and nourished to provoke social tension in Europe. It is the calculated pressure of Russia on the family budget of each European family. But I believe that socially fair solutions can be found to overcome this challenge. You know that Ukraine has offered its help so that we can all go through this winter in the best conditions. In particular, we started exporting electricity to the EU.
And it was a very significant contribution to Europe's energy and price stability. However, our help has become an obvious target for Russian terrorists. Unable to use energy resources as weapons, the current management of Russia has ordered to turn the power system itself into a battlefield. The consequences of this are very dangerous, again for all of us in Europe.
The attacks of Russian winged missiles and Iranian shock drones have been destroyed by more than a third of our energy infrastructure. Because of this, unfortunately, we can no longer export electricity to help you maintain stability. However, this is only part of the problem. Russia also provokes a new wave of migration of Ukrainians to EU countries.
The Russian terror against our energy sections is aimed at creating Ukraine as much with electricity and warmth this fall and winter and that the most Ukrainians will go to your countries as possible. The terrorist state has already worsened social conditions in your countries, but wants to aggravate yet, provoking a wave of resettlement. This should be answered immediately. The first answer, fundamental, is airfare and anti -missile defense.
We need to do our best to completely destroy our power system with rockets and drones. We have already received a very effective IRIS-T system from Germany. I thank Mr. Chancellor for that. This German system protects not only the Ukrainian sky. It protects European stability, limiting Russian terror that beats both in our country and in the future - in your countries. But we need more air defense systems and about to create a truly reliable air shield.
I know that some EU countries have already confirmed their participation in this work. And I urge you to accelerate the implementation of decisions as much as possible. I now turn to France, Italy, to our other partners, and not only in Europe, but also in the United States. Not only to those who produce air defense and about, but also to those who have the necessary systems. The more protected the Ukrainian sky, the more stable life will be throughout Europe. We have to provide it.
The second answer should be sanctions. New powerful sanctions against Russia and Iran-for community with a terrorist state. Although we have destroyed more than 200 Iranian drones during this month, and tens still hit various purposes, Iran's representatives are still lying that they did not pass the drones of Russia. Russia has to pay for this terror. And this should be displayed in the ninth EU sanction package.
Iran should be deprived of any opportunity and even the desire to supply such drones to someone. Well, there is already the first step: new individual sanctions against Iranian figures and companies have been approved. But several people and companies are not a responsibility. More systematic steps are needed. We can, and therefore we must do everything to make this terrorist plan of the Russian leadership failed. Never again the power system of any country should turn into a battlefield.
Right now, in the example of Russia and Iran, we are able to show that any terrorist expects if she tries to beat European or any other nations. Anyone who calls for the weakening of sanctions against Russia for terror or tries to politically torpedo a sanction mechanism, not only tries to make Russian terror unpunished and not only betrays the memory . Pay attention to such votes in Europe - they are against Europe. Do not forget about the aspect with Belarus.
You know well that we are doing everything to prevent the people of Belarus into the war against our country. But from the Belarusian territory, from the beginning of the Russian full -scale invasion, missiles are launched against Ukraine, now Iranian drones have been added. Therefore, sanctions must be added for such a community. And daily the relevance of our proposal to refer to the border of Ukraine and Belarus of international observers who could control the security situation.
But that's not all. Russia consciously creates the basis for a large -scale catastrophe in the south of Ukraine. We have information that Russian terrorists have replaced the dam and units of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. This is one of the great energy. The dam of this hydroelectric power station holds about 18 million cubic meters of water. If Russian terrorists undermine this dam, more than 80 settlements, including Kherson, will find themselves in the rapid flood area.
Hundreds of thousands of people may suffer. Much of the south of Ukraine may be destroyed by water. This Russian terrorist attack can leave the Zaporizhzhya nuclear station without water for cooling - the water for the NPP is taken from the Kakhovka reservoir. Even the work of the channel, which is built to supply water to the Crimea and which is periodically "baked" in Moscow will be completely destroyed. This is the true attitude of Russia to our Ukrainian Crimea.
In general, the devastating environmental, humanitarian, man -made consequences of one Russian terrorist attack can become one that will be called a historical catastrophe. According to our information, Russia has already prepared everything to carry out this terrorist attack. Ukrainian workers were thrown from the Kakhovskaya station - only Russian citizens. They completely control the station. It is necessary to act immediately so that Russia is not able to realize this catastrophe.
An international observation mission to the Kakhovsk hydroelectric power station is required. It is necessary to return Ukrainian staff there and provide immediate and professional demining of units and dams. Russia does this to have another operation under a fake flag - to carry out a terrorist attack and accuse Ukraine. But we know what is true. We know that the territory is controlled by the occupiers and what they were already capable of. They themselves will not stop. But we can stop them.
We can stop the onset of catastrophic consequences. We can, and therefore - should! And one more. Reconstruction. Whatever terrorist plans in Russia and its accomplices, we have to take care of life. When we have a reliable protection of the sky, that is, the sufficient amount and quality of air defense systems and about, we will be able to guarantee normal economic and social life in Ukraine.
These are opportunities for our cooperation with you, and therefore for economic growth and creation of new jobs. Not only jobs in Ukraine, but also in your countries. When we can guarantee that Russian terror at the Kakhovsky Hydroelectric power plant and at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Station will cease, we will be able to return to the stable energy supply of Ukrainians, and therefore to export electricity to our European neighbors.
Under these prerequisites - protected sky and protected energy - we will be able to move to a larger reconstruction in Ukraine. And this is not just about the economy and social sphere. It's not just about safety. It is also about the prestige of Europe.
I hope that in the near future, namely on October 25 in Germany, during the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, we will discuss how we will prove that the effectiveness of our unity and our institutions is much more powerful than any anti-European terror. Russian, Iranian or any other. But without waiting next week and the beginning of the conference, I will note today: we need more support in the implementation of our Fast Recovery Plan.
That is, in priority events for the reconstruction of Ukraine after terrorist strikes. You have all this data - what we need. We already have an understanding of the necessary funds. It is 3. 5 billion euros this year and about 14 billion euros next year. And so far we have received zero of these funds. And they are vital. As well as the following macrofin tranches for Ukraine are vital.