Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his daily address on Wednesday (March 30) to cast doubts over Russia's promise to "drastically reduce military hostility" against the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Chernihiv following peace talks in Istanbul.
Speaking on day 34 of the invasion of his country, Mr Zelensky remained sceptical despite Russian armoured vehicles being seen moving away from the capital and north towards Belarus. "We should not lose vigilance," he said. "The situation has not become easier. The scale of the challenges has not diminished. The Russian army still has significant potential to continue attacks against our state.
"Yes, we can call positive the signals we hear from the negotiating platform. But these signals do not silence the explosion of Russian shells. Of course, we see all the risks. Of course, we see no reason to trust the words of certain representatives of a state that continues to fight for our destruction. Ukrainians are not naïve people. Ukrainians have already learned during these 34 days of invasion and over the past eight years of the war in Donbas that only a concrete result can be trusted."
And Mr Zelensky appeared to be proven correct when multiple explosions were reported in Kyiv in the early hours of the morning. Paul Ronzheimerm, reporting from Kyiv for German news website Bild, tweeted: "A lot of shelling in Kyiv tonight just hours after Russian side announced they would focus more on Donbas."
Meanwhile, war reporter Nolan Preston tweeted: "Loud night in Kyiv so far — multiple window-rattling explosions."
In his latest speech, the president went on to reveal that in his address to the Danish parliament and the country as a whole on Tuesday he had asked for their help in rebuilding the city of Mykolaiv - which earlier was the subject of a heavy Russian attack - once the war has ended.
"I invited the society of this country to take part in the reconstruction of the city and the region after the war," he said. "In the framework of our programme of Ukraine's reconstruction, we involve partner states, leading companies and the best specialists in order to guarantee the speed and quality of the reconstruction of our state. As I was told, this proposal was very positively received in Denmark."
President Zelensky's speech translated in full:
"Wise people of a strong country!" he began. "The 34th day of the full-scale invasion of Russia and our full-scale defence is coming to an end. Successful defence.
"I'm sure you saw the news today that the Russian military command allegedly decided to 'reduce hostilities in the directions of Kyiv and Chernihiv'. Well, the same can be said about Chornobaivka - as if the Russian aviation simply decided to fly less, and the Russian military vehicles - to drive less. I am grateful to all our defenders, to all those who ensure the defence of Kyiv. It is their brave and effective actions that force the enemy to retreat in this direction.
"However, we should not lose vigilance. The situation has not become easier. The scale of the challenges has not diminished. The Russian army still has significant potential to continue attacks against our state. They still have a lot of equipment and enough people completely deprived of rights whom they can send to the cauldron of war.
"Therefore, we stay alert and do not reduce our defence efforts. Both in the north of our state and in all other regions of Ukraine, where Russian troops have temporarily entered. The defence of Ukraine is the number one task now, and everything else is derived from it.
"It is on this basis that I consider the messages on the negotiation process, which is under way at various levels with representatives of the Russian Federation. The enemy is still in our territory. The shelling of our cities continues. Mariupol is blocked. Missile and air strikes do not stop. This is the reality. These are the facts.
"That is why the Armed Forces of Ukraine, our intelligence and all those who have joined the defence of the state are the only guarantee of our survival today. As a nation. As a state. The guarantee that works. Yes, we can call positive the signals we hear from the negotiating platform. But these signals do not silence the explosion of Russian shells.
"Of course, we see all the risks. Of course, we see no reason to trust the words of certain representatives of a state that continues to fight for our destruction. Ukrainians are not naïve people. Ukrainians have already learned during these 34 days of invasion and over the past eight years of the war in Donbas that only a concrete result can be trusted. The facts - if they change on our land.
"Of course, Ukraine is willing to negotiate and will continue the negotiation process. To the extent that really depends on us. We expect to get the result. There must be real security for us, for our state, for sovereignty, for our people. Russian troops must leave the occupied territories. Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be guaranteed. There can be no compromise on sovereignty and our territorial integrity. And there will not be any.
"These are clear principles. This is a clear vision of the possible outcome. And to those on social networks who perceive words as if they are facts already, I want to remind one thing: we live in a democratic state and fight for our freedom. For freedom for our people.
"Therefore, any decisions that are important for all our people must be made not by one person or a group of people with any political views, but by all our people. The wise people of Ukraine.
"And certain countries should not even expect that certain negotiations will facilitate the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation. The question of sanctions cannot even be raised until the war is over, until we get back what’s ours and until we restore justice.
"On the contrary, sanctions must be strengthened. Intensified weekly. And they must be effective. Not just for headlines in the media that sanctions have been imposed, but for real peace. Real.
"And to ensure this, a team of Ukrainian and international experts has already begun work to assess the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed on Russia. On the Ukrainian side, this area is coordinated by Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, and on the international side by Michael McFaul.
"During the day the rescue operation was ongoing in Mykolaiv. The debris of the building of the regional administration destroyed by Russian missile strikes was dismantled. As of now, 8 people have been reported killed and 30 wounded. It is likely that these are not final figures.
"The Russian troops hit Mykolaiv very insidiously. At a time when people came to their workplaces in the morning. Thank God, most of those in the building managed to evacuate when they heard an air alarm. This one more act of the Russian so-called denazification of Mykolaiv took place in the morning after the anniversary of liberation of the city from Nazi invaders. Mykolaiv residents remember the day of March 28, 1944. And they see who the Russian troops trying to capture their city now look like.
"I spoke about Mykolaiv today in my address to the Danish Parliament and the Danish people. I invited the society of this country to take part in the reconstruction of the city and the region after the war. In the framework of our programme of Ukraine's reconstruction, we involve partner states, leading companies and the best specialists in order to guarantee the speed and quality of the reconstruction of our state. As I was told, this proposal was very positively received in Denmark.
"There is also important news from our government officials. As of today, the new functionality of our 'Diia' state service will be available. As I promised, the state will compensate for the loss of a house or apartment as a result of hostilities. Every citizen of ours can already submit an application in 'Diia'.
"Applications are already available in the mobile application. You need to update the app to see this new service. And in a week it will be available offline - in the centres of administrative services. In itself, the functionality in 'Diia' is quite convenient. But all the necessary details will still be clarified by our government. The main thing is that the state will compensate for every metre of lost real estate.
"In addition, government officials today expanded the programme to help those institutions that support IDPs from the areas of hostilities. Another important decision was to allocate 426 million hryvnias to pay the miners' salaries.
"Traditionally, I signed several important decrees before delivering this evening address. The first is about awarding communications service employees. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who provides the fundamental basis of our lives. Who gives us connection.
"By the way, on the day of the beginning of the Russian invasion, the first missile strike in the JFO area was made against them. 12 people were awarded state awards, 4 - posthumously.
"The second signed decree is on awarding 126 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 34 of them - posthumously. We will always be grateful to each of our defenders for the defence of our state in the Ukrainian Patriotic War against Russia. May the memory of everyone who gave life for Ukraine live forever! Glory to each of our heroes! Glory to Ukraine!"
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