Politics & Economics

During a meeting in Davos with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked him for mediating the return of 53 children forcibly taken from Ukraine by Russia. The head of the Ukrainian state announced this on social media, Ukrinform reports. [embedded content] “I met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Our country greatly values Qatar’s mediation in bringing home 53 of our children forcibly taken from Ukraine by Russia. We look forward to the expansion of this…

In Davos, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the development of bilateral relations with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev and expressed condolences over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane and the loss of life. The head of the Ukrainian state announced this on social media platform X, Ukrinform reports. [embedded content] “During a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, I once again expressed my condolences regarding the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane and the loss of lives. The evidence from the crash site is clear, and it is essential to pressure Russia to compel it to tell the truth,”…

The European Union may open the first cluster, “fundamentals”, within the framework of the accession negotiations with Ukraine as early as this spring. This was stated by EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernová at a meeting with journalists, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “If EU member states agree unanimously that Ukrainian authorities fulfil the requirements set by the EU member states,  the cluster on fundamentals can be opened for negotiation in spring,” she said. Maternova added that the European Commission prepared and delivered its Screening Report to the EU member states “very quickly, essentially in a month”. Read also: Ukraine to make EU…

Newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that it will be “the official policy” of the United States under Donald Trump's presidency that the war in Ukraine needs to come to an end. He stated this in an interview with CBS Mornings, Ukrinform reports. “It’s a war and it’s a conflict that was started by Russia, but it is now a stalemate, a protracted and bloody conflict. It’s been incredibly destructive… Ukraine is paying the biggest price of all to its energy infrastructure, to the people and lives that are lost, to the millions of Ukrainians that…

Presidents of Ukraine and Israel Volodymyr Zelensky and Yitzhak Herzog have discussed shred challenges and cooperation in the security sector. Zelensky announced this on social media, Ukrinform reports. “We met with President of Israel Isaac Herzog to discuss important issues of Ukrainian-Israeli cooperation,” he noted. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is glad “to see people who were in captivity returning home. Among the main topics of our discussion were shared challenges, collaboration – particularly in the security sphere – and ways to achieve a just peace for Ukraine.” Read also: Ukraine will need a million-strong army for defense against Russia –…

Ukraine will need an army of about one million soldiers to defend itself against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this during a meeting with representatives of the International Media Council at the World Economic Forum in Davos, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “We need a million (soldiers - ed.) for defense if Putin comes with a million and a half,” Zelensky said. He clarified that such a large army will be necessary until Ukraine joins a security alliance. “That is why NATO is the cheapest security guarantee for Ukraine, America, Europe and the Russians,” the President said. He explained that the…

Zelensky, Merz discuss ways to advance just peace for Ukraine Zelensky posted this on social media, Ukrinform reports. “We discussed ways to further advance a just peace for Ukraine, as well as global challenges and the situation on the front lines,” he emphasized.   [embedded content] The head of the state noted that he expressed gratitude to Germany and the entire German society for their unwavering support of the Ukrainian nation and people. Read also: In Davos, Zelensky explains what Putin's goal makes life most difficult for Ukrainians As reported by Ukrinform, during a discussion on the sidelines of the…

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine's membership in NATO depends on the position of the United States. The Head of State said this during a meeting with representatives of the International Media Council at the World Economic Forum in Davos, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “If Trump sees Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in the Alliance,” Zelensky said. He noted that four countries currently oppose Ukraine's membership in NATO: the United States, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary. Read also:…

In his address on the occasion of the Day of Unity of Ukraine, which he delivered on St. Sophia Square in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of the unity of Ukrainians. The President's address was published on the website of the President of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. “Millions of us are together. And together we were able to withstand, to keep Ukraine together, to repel the occupier, to hold back this great invasion together. This word “together” hides the strength of Ukrainians. It's about us, about what we are capable of when we choose not our own ambitions, but…

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine. DAY OF UNITY OF UKRAINE  On January 22, Ukraine celebrates Day of Unity and the anniversary of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR) declaration of independence. ● Day of Unity was established in 1999 to commemorate the unification of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR) and t Western Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR) into a single independent state. ● This event took place on January 22, 1919, with the proclamation of the Act of Unification…