The meeting was focused on the reconstruction and restoration of the territories of Ukraine, in particular, the Kherson region. Andrii Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, opened the meeting.
“Today, the defence forces are liberating the territory of Ukraine from the occupants, bringing our victory closer. We must ensure the normalisation of life wherever possible. And right now, without waiting for victory,” said the Head of the Presidential Office Andrii Yermak.
The meeting was also attended by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, members of the Government, heads of the Civil-Military Administration, representatives of local self-government and international partners of Ukraine.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, for his part, said: “We are clearly aware that Kherson region is not only an outpost in deterring the russian occupation forces, but also an important component of the social, economic, cultural and environmental spheres of Ukrainian life.”
Ruslan Stefanchuk noted that the scale of the destruction caused by the actions of the occupation forces is currently difficult to assess, in particular, given that part of the territory of Kherson is still temporarily uncontrolled by Ukraine, and heavy fighting for its liberation continues.
In addition, he said that on 10 June 2023, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved an appeal to the United Nations, parliaments and governments of its member states, international organisations and their parliamentary assemblies to strongly condemn the russian terrorist act committed at the Kakhovka HPP and to recognise the actions of the russian federation as ecocide and genocide of the Ukrainian people.
“This terrorist act and the continuation of russia’s policy aimed at the destruction of the Ukrainian nation in general pose us with tasks that require urgent solutions,” Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed, adding that these tasks include the protection of people in the area, the restoration of normal life support in the de-occupied areas of Kherson region, humanitarian demining, and support for businesses that have not stopped working despite all the difficulties.
In conclusion, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed hope that in this expanded format and through joint efforts, it would be possible to develop effective mechanisms to address the above tasks.