This month Zelensky has done his bit to meet world leaders.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 10 was in Bucharest for an official visit, meeting the Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu where they talked about over 27 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain that have transited through his country since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Zelensky noted that he and Ciolacu addressed the importance of building new routes for the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through Romanian territory.
The president listed the key priorities for future Romanian support for Ukraine, with a particular focus on the protection of the southern regions and port infrastructure at the Danube River from Russian airstrikes.
Shmyhal praised military cooperation with Bucharest and thanked Romania for setting up a training center for Ukrainian pilots on its territory.
Minister of Agriculture of Romania Florin Barbu stated that Bucharest would allow the import of agricultural products from Ukraine only to Romanian farmers and processors and only if they had licences. Bucharest and Kyiv have made an agreement that aims to double the current transit capacity at Romanian ports, Iohannis said in Bucharest.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Slovak Defense Minister Martin Sklenar discussed cooperation with Slovakia regarding the Ukrainian military’s needs, the situation at the front line, and de-mining.
The Foreign Ministry is working to bring global brands like IKEA, H&M, and Zara, which ceased operations in Ukraine after the full-scale war started in 2022, back to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Oct. 15.
President Zelensky met in Kyiv, American billionaire businesswoman and civic leader Special Representative for Economic Recovery in Ukraine, Penny Pritzker, on October 16, and thanked his U.S. counterpart, the U.S. government, and the American people for providing Ukraine with defence, financial, and humanitarian assistance to resist Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelensky and Pritzker discussed how to ensure Ukraine’s macro-financial stability in 2024, attract private investment for reconstruction projects, and use frozen Russian assets as a significant source of funds for the country’s recovery.
The president of Ukraine said:
“Your visit is a signal of strong support. It is important for us to see that the United States is ready to help Ukraine get through the winter period and protect critical infrastructure facilities.”
Previously, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a video call with Pritzker, and Zelensky met her in person in New York, discussing priority areas in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
President Zelensky thanked the U.S. during his nightly address on October 17 for providing the Army Tactical Missiles Systems (ATACMS), which saw their first use in battle earlier in the day, in Luhansk and Berdiansk, saying they were very accurate and have “proven themselves.” The delivery was secret to preserve an element of surprise and due to concerns Russia would attack the shipment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on October 18 that the U.S. made a “great mistake” by providing Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles, which have reportedly dealt significant damage to Russian forces in a recent attack.
First Lady Olena Zelenska held a phone call with Israeli First Lady Michal Herzog on Oct. 17, during which she expressed her condolences to the victims of Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
President Volodymyr Zelensky met Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in Kyiv on Oct. 18, discussing defence assistance and cooperation in grain transit. Zelensky noted that he and Ciolacu addressed the importance of building new routes for the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through Romanian territory.
The president listed the key priorities for future Romanian support for Ukraine, with a particular focus on the protection of the southern regions and port infrastructure at the Danube River from Russian airstrikes.
As part of his official visit to Kyiv, the Romanian prime minister met his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal earlier on Oct. 18. Shmyhal confirmed that Romania is transiting up to 60% of all Ukrainian grain exports and said that Bucharest has become one of Ukraine’s leading trade partners.
Earlier the same day, Zelensky also discussed ways to strengthen the country’s air defences with French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone call. The two leaders addressed cooperation in long-range and naval capabilities, as well as the Black Sea grain corridor and Zelensky’s peace formula.
President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for Doha’s support in helping aid the return of deported Ukrainian children, the President’s Office said on Oct. 22.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Oct. 23 and invited a representative of Saudi Arabia to the upcoming peace formula talks in Malta.
In an online address to the second parliamentary summit of the international Crimea Platform on Oct. 24 President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will soon have fire control capabilities over occupied Crimea.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and discussed support for Ukraine during an official visit to Germany on Oct. 24, the government’s press service reported.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed strengthening Ukraine‘s air defence and the joint development of their country’s defence industries, referring to the news that German automotive and arms manufacturer, headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, Rheinmetall, will join forces with Ukraine‘s state-owned defence company Ukroboronprom, to repair and maintain Western-produced military vehicles and ultimately to produce them domestically in Ukraine.
This year, Ukrainians will “not only defend ourselves, but also respond” to Russia’s “terrorist attacks” on critical infrastructure,
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 25.
“The enemy knows this very well,”
he added, noting that Russia has begun to move its navy away from occupied Crimea.
A small number of Ukrainian aviators have reportedly started training with the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing earlier this week, familiarizing themselves with “F-16 fundamentals,” Air & Space Forces Magazine reported on Oct. 25, citing a statement by the Air Force’s spokesperson.
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