This September alone (as of September 21, 2026), Russian shelling has killed 288 people, including 4 children, and wounded 1,781, including 62 children. In just 21 days, Russia has launched 136 missiles of various types and 2,100 jet-powered attack drones at Ukraine. In August, Russia launched more than 2,800 such drones — and September is already on track to exceed that figure. This is not the moment for the EU to even discuss easing sanctions on Russian citizens. It is immoral and self-destructive to let Russian businesses and oligarchs escape the consequences of a war they have never renounced. Ukraine is under attack right now. Europe cannot treat Russia’s enablers as friends. Sanctions must stay. Full stop.

Overnight, Russia launched massive strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities, hitting residential buildings, social infrastructure, and businesses. Fires and destruction reported across ten regions: Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, and Rivne. The enemy carried out a series of targeted strikes on Zaporizhzhia, damaging residential buildings, a university building, and a shopping center. At least 5 people injured so far. In Lozova, Kharkiv region, a woman was killed in a drone strike. Our deepest condolences to her family and relatives. Emergency response continues across all affected regions. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the ground. Thank you to everyone helping people right now.

At the Carpathian Economic Forum, we've got over 50 investment and trade projects from all C8 countries — in oil and gas and energy sectors, infrastructure and culture — worth a combined total of over $1 billion. The next step is to move ahead with implementation. We're building the Carpathians into one connected economic space — together with governments, regions and communities across the C8, businesses and international financial institutions. Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Czechia, Austria and Serbia already share an economy joined by production chains, energy links, transport routes and ties across our regions and communities. Now it's time for us to scale that up. We should focus on three priorities: more trade & mutual investment, big international capital via joint regional investment platforms, and C8 involvement in Ukraine's reconstruction as a shared economic project for the whole region. To get there, the Carpathians need their own strategic framework, like other EU macro-regions have. That's the goal of the Carpathian Integration Initiative — launching an EU Macro-Regional Strategy for the Carpathians and today we start filling it in with our partners. Thanks to the President for kicking off this initiative, and to all our partners for their support and drive to grow our regions and communities together.

Working in Ivano-Frankivsk region. I took part in the first Carpathian Eight (C8) Summit, inaugurated by President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is a new format of diplomatic, economic and regional cooperation launched by the President. It brings together Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Czechia, Austria and Serbia. It's important that C8 becomes a permanent format working for the development of the whole Carpathian region. Within C8, almost 100 business projects from the eight countries will be presented, worth a total of around €40 billion. In the coming years, the region's economy could grow twice as fast as the EU average. We're committed to ensuring these few days deliver concrete agreements, new opportunities for Ukraine's economy and security, and stronger ties with our neighbors.

Ukraine has received another €3.3 billion tranche from the EU under the Ukraine Support Loan. These funds will go toward our top defense priorities, including the procurement of missiles and drones. Thank you to European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen, the European Commission @EU_Commission, and all EU member states for the steadfast support of Ukraine and for strengthening our defense forces.

It was a pleasure to welcome Norway’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Lars Ragnar Hansen @NorwayAmbUKR. We focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and protecting people from Russia’s terror. We also discussed economic issues and support for businesses. The Government is working to establish a War Risk Insurance Fund and has already allocated more than $1 billion in the draft State Budget for 2027 to capitalise the Fund. We hope Norway will become one of its key donors. We also talked about ways to hold Russia accountable for the crimes it has committed and the damage it has caused to Ukraine. I thank Norway for its indispensable support for Ukraine and its readiness to continue strengthening our joint efforts to protect people and bring a just peace closer.

Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukrainian cities. Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv regions — including Kyiv city itself — all came under fire. Private homes, social infrastructure, and energy facilities were among the targets. In Odesa, a strike on a residential high-rise injured 3 people, including a child, damaging apartments from the 14th to the 16th floor. Across the city and region, 5 people have been injured so far. In Kyiv, more than ten people sustained injuries, including two children aged 10 and 12. Residential buildings, schools, and a railway line were damaged. All emergency services are on the ground helping those affected. Thank you to our air defence forces, rescuers, medics, police, and everyone working to deal with the aftermath of this attack.

Met in Kyiv with Eisuke Mori, Speaker of Japan’s House of Representatives. Mr. Mori has for many years been personally engaged to advance the Ukraine‑Japan partnership. Above all, I thank Japan and the Japanese people for their solidarity and comprehensive support for Ukraine. Japan stands as one of our closest friends and partners. Since the start of Russia’s full‑scale invasion, financial support for Ukraine’s budget has exceeded $20 billion. We discussed assistance for Ukraine’s energy system. I am grateful to the Government of Japan and JICA for the equipment already delivered. It is essential to accelerate the supply of power transformers that frontline regions will need this winter. I invited Japanese businesses to play a more active role in Ukraine’s recovery in the energy and infrastructure sectors. We are prepared to provide the conditions needed for joint projects. We also look to partnership in developing an insurance mechanism for businesses in Ukraine, operating under constant Russian attacks. I thank Japan for its friendship, principled stance, and continued readiness to stand alongside Ukraine.

Ukraine’s public finances are under critical pressure. Once again, I have called on all members of Parliament to pass as soon as possible the legislation needed to secure international financial support. Following several meetings with MPs, the Government will formally send all MPs and the relevant parliamentary committees a clear timetable setting out deadlines for each of the required votes. If these deadlines are missed, Ukraine risks losing a significant share of the $29.5 billion in planned international financing. This funding is critical to balancing the state budget, meeting social spending commitments and, above all, providing the resources needed by our Defence Forces. The Government also has its own responsibilities. For its part, the Government will deliver in full on its commitments — 42 decisions in total. We had previously announced that we planned to complete this work by 1 November. Given the current situation, we are bringing this forward and now aim to complete it by 15 October. Today, together with the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, ministers, MPs and committee chairs, we met with ambassadors from the G7 countries and EU Member States to discuss in detail the need for coordinated action to secure international financial support. The Government is ready to work with MPs on every bill, every provision and every detail needed to secure the necessary support and ensure these decisions are adopted as quickly as possible. I thank the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada for this discussion and for recognising the seriousness of the situation. I also thank our diplomatic partners for their engagement and willingness to help. The Government will deliver on all the necessary decisions. We count on the same sense of responsibility and commitment from MPs across all parliamentary factions and groups.

Today’s talks in Kyiv with Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius @mindaugassink underscored the strength of Ukraine–Lithuania relations and Lithuania’s steadfast support for Ukraine. We are grateful that he chose Ukraine for his first international visit as Prime Minister. First and foremost, I thank Lithuania for its solidarity and comprehensive support for Ukraine. We highly value Lithuania’s decision to allocate 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraine. This is a significant contribution and an important message to all our partners. We discussed further cooperation in energy, security, defence, logistics and bilateral trade. Ukraine is ready to share its experience and expertise with our partners. European integration is another important area of our cooperation. We value Lithuania’s readiness to make Ukraine one of the priorities of its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027. We also discussed Lithuania’s contribution to Ukraine’s recovery. As part of the Shelters Coalition, Lithuania is funding the construction of modern underground shelters in frontline and border regions, including at schools in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Zhytomyr regions. Once again, I thank Lithuania for its consistent support and concrete decisions that help us withstand Russia’s aggression. We greatly value our friendship and partnership.

Ukraine will shortly receive $841M in budgetary support from the World Bank under the Government of Canada’s guarantees. Funds are provided within the PEACE in Ukraine project. The resource will be directed to reimburse State Budget expenditures on pension payments. Amid budget deficit and fiscal imbalance, this is rather crucial and timely support. Grateful to the Government of Canada and the World Bank for the substantial and consistent assistance.

Happy to welcome Prime Minister of Lithuania, @mindaugassink, and his government delegation to Ukraine. Began his visit in Lutsk. We toured the symbolic Lutsk Castle — a place of our shared European history. Together we honored Ukraine’s defenders. I thanked Lithuania for contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. We discussed further assistance, including direct support from Lithuanian municipalities to Ukrainian communities. This support will be critical this winter. Addressed global food security undermined by Russia’s attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea, business support, prospects for introducing a war‑risk insurance mechanism, as well as projects to support and rehabilitate veterans, servicemen, their families, and war victims. Focused also on reconstruction projects. Lithuania coordinates this work via CPVA — especially in education and healthcare sectors. It matters greatly when cooperation brings tangible results for Ukrainian communities and people. We are working to expand joint projects. We value Lithuania’s support. Thank you!

Met with British Ambassador to Ukraine Sir Neil Crompton @UKAmbUkraine. We discussed Ukraine’s air defence needs and the importance of accelerating planned deliveries. I thanked the United Kingdom for the £100 million winter support package announced today through #PURL# to bolster Ukraine’s air defences. I also stressed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia. We discussed using proceeds from the sale of sanctioned Russian assets to support Ukraine’s humanitarian needs, including the war-risk insurance programme. Macro-financial stability was another key focus. Securing sufficient funding for Ukraine’s Defence Forces in 2026–27 remains a priority. I thank the United Kingdom for its steadfast support and concrete action to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and defence.

Spoke with French Ambassador to Ukraine Brice Roquefeuil about deepening defence cooperation and strengthening our air defences and aviation capabilities. We also focused on economic cooperation and support for Ukrainian producers in the European market. France continues to play an important role in Ukraine’s path towards EU membership, particularly in supporting the swift opening of the remaining negotiating clusters. We also discussed using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and further increasing sanctions pressure on Russia. I thanked France for its leadership in the Coalition of the Willing and its steadfast support for Ukraine.

In eight regions and Kyiv, efforts are under way to deal with the aftermath of Russia’s overnight attack. In Sumy region, Russian drones struck the locomotive pulling the Kyiv–Sumy train. Nearly 100 people were evacuated by bus. In Kharkiv, a drone hit a multi-storey residential building, injuring two people. In Odesa region, a civilian market was hit. Damage has also been reported in Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Two people were killed in the capital, and 10 others are known to have been injured so far. Residential buildings were damaged, with fires and destruction reported across five districts. I thank our air defence forces, rescuers, medics, police officers, railway workers and all those working on the ground and helping people.

Spoke with European Commissioner @VDombrovskis about financial support for Ukraine in 2026–27. The Government is working to deliver on its commitments under the Ukraine Plan and the Memorandum of Understanding on macro-financial assistance, and intends to make full use of the funding available under both instruments. We plan to adopt the necessary government decisions by 1 November. At the same time, we are working with the Verkhovna Rada to pass the required legislation. We agreed to strengthen cooperation between Ukrainian ministries and the relevant European Commission directorates-general, and to step up coordination with the IMF and other international partners. We need a clear, shared understanding of Ukraine’s budgetary and defence needs for 2026 and 2027. I also stressed the need to maintain pressure on Russia, including by tightening sanctions, strengthening enforcement and countering circumvention. Ukraine’s accession to the EU remains an absolute priority. We hope to see the remaining negotiating clusters opened as soon as possible. I thank Valdis Dombrovskis for a productive discussion and his steadfast support for Ukraine.

Together with the Ministers of Finance and Economy, I met national security advisers to the leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom and France, alongside diplomats and heads of mission. We discussed Ukraine’s public finances and funding needs for this year and next, the impact of Russian attacks on businesses and civilian infrastructure, and the Government’s economic and social priorities ahead of winter. We reaffirmed our commitment to advancing the reforms needed for European integration and discussed the decisions needed to secure further macro-financial assistance. The cost of fighting this war continues to rise. Russia has significantly increased its production and use of drones and missiles. Responding to this threat requires more resources. We are counting on joint decisions to secure the necessary funding. Ukraine has a clear plan to meet its commitments and unlock the international assistance allocated for this year. We thank our partners for their continued support and their contribution to Ukraine’s resilience. We agree on the next steps. The message from our meeting is clear: Ukraine and its people do not stand alone.

Today, at the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador @NorwayAmbUKR, I signed the book of condolences following the passing of His Majesty King Harald V. His Majesty’s remarkable legacy of selfless service, unity and moral leadership will continue to inspire generations to come. The Government and people of Ukraine remain deeply grateful for His Majesty’s unwavering solidarity and vital support for Ukraine during our most difficult times. At this time of sorrow, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of Norway.

Met with the IMF @IMFNews mission led by Gavin Gray. Despite the frequent air-raid alerts, the Fund’s team is here in Kyiv and continuing its work. We discussed Ukraine’s financing needs for 2026–2027, preparations for a balanced draft state budget for 2027, and the sources of funding available to meet existing needs. We agreed on a clear plan of action and will remain in close contact. I am grateful to our partners for their support and help in strengthening Ukraine’s financial resilience.

I spoke by phone with Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan @Bolojan following Russia’s overnight attack on the Orlivka–Isaccea border crossing between Ukraine and Romania. I stressed the need to strengthen air defence. We discussed logistics and the development of border infrastructure, which are particularly important as Russia continues to restrict access to the Black Sea and disrupt Ukraine’s export routes. We also discussed the completion of several energy projects. I thanked Romania for all the support it continues to provide to Ukraine.