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Photo by Ivan Stanislavskyi/ Tvoe Misto
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi arrived in Lviv for an unannounced visit yesterday, January 11. Together with the head of the President’s Office, Andrii Yermak and his deputy, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, they honoured the Ukrainian soldiers who died in the war with the Russian invaders at the Lychakiv cemetery.
In addition, the head of state held a coordination meeting regarding state border protection and the current security situation in the north-western regions of Ukraine. It was attended, in particular, by Pavlo Tkachuk, the head of the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sagaidachnyi, Oleksandr Shlyakhovskyi, the head of the police of the Lviv region, and Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the Lviv regional military administration.
According to Andrii Yermak, they talked about the operational situation on the border with the Republic of Belarus and the counter-subversive measures in the respective territories.
«The heads of state reported on the condition and strengthening of fortifications on the border, as well as the material support of border guards and military personnel in the regions bordering Belarus. The participants of the meeting also heard information about ensuring the protection and reliable functioning of the Rivne nuclear power plant,» – the head of the President’s Office explained.
The President noted that protection from external risks will contribute to the normal functioning of the economy of these regions.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi also met in Lviv with the presidents of Poland and Lithuania – Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nauseda. During the meeting, they discussed the next humanitarian and military support for Ukraine and assured that Lithuania and Poland will continue to help Ukrainians in their struggle, in particular by providing the necessary equipment to our military.
Gitanas Nauseda said that Lithuania will provide Ukraine with anti-aircraft defense systems and anti-aircraft missile complexes, which will strengthen protection against enemy drones.
«We have overcome all signs of insecurity, and this meeting is evidence of [our] political will,» – the Lithuanian president said.
The President of Poland added that Russia won’t stop destroying Ukrainian lands, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are doing everything to protect the country, but they need more assistance with equipment. When asked whether Leopard tanks would be handed over to Ukraine, Duda promised that Ukraine would receive a company of German tanks. According to him, Leopard tanks will be transferred to Ukraine as part of the international coalition. Other details are not disclosed at this time.
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We will remind you that the last time the head of state visited Lviv was in August last year. He had working meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. First, with Erdogan, they discussed the levels of strategic partnership between Ukraine and Turkey, while at the meeting with the UN Secretary General, the parties discussed steps that could make it possible «to end the war through diplomatic means.»
Olha Koval
Photo by Ivan Stanislavskyi, Maksym Kozytskyi, Andriy Yermak
Translated by Vitalii Holich
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