Mr. Oleksandr Merezhko:

-----we have a very difficult winter. We will have to go through a winter that might be one of the most difficult winters in our history. However, we survive and we need to win.

As for the situation on the front, we can see that our army continues to liberate new territories. Only recently, we liberated several new settlements. The Russian army, despite its huge number and having enough weaponry, is not well motivated; it is demoralised. The Ukrainian army is well motivated. However, of course, we are aware of the fact we are defending ourselves from a superpower that has tremendous manpower, human resources and weaponry. It might not be contemporary weaponry, but still it is effective.

Additionally, the situation became worse because, in fact, Iran joined the aggression of Russia. Iran provided Russia with drones, so-called Shaheds. Russia is using these drones to destroy our infrastructure. One can see now that we are defending ourselves not only from one country, Russia, but we are defending ourselves from the invasion of aggression of three countries – Russia, Belarus, which allows Russia to use its territory for invasion, and Iran.

Additionally, there are big countries that support Russia financially and economically by buying Russian oil and gas. Before we asked our friends in Europe to stop buying Russian gas and oil because it means financing the Russian war machine. Europe listened to our request and stopped buying or limited buying Russian oil and gas. Unfortunately, other countries, such as India and China, are buying more and more Russian oil and gas. That is why it is important for us to introduce secondary sanctions against those countries that help Russia to circumvent western sanctions. We need to reach a new level of sanction policy.

I would like to express my gratitude to Ireland. When I think about Ireland, I recall what President Kennedy said in 1963 when he spoke to Irish Parliament. He said that Ireland is a neutral country, but it is not neutral when it comes to the battle and struggle between tyranny and freedom. It is very true now for the position of Ireland. We are grateful for all the support and help Ireland provides to Ukraine, such as economic help and humanitarian aid. We are also grateful for its position. The Senate of Ireland has recognised Russian actions and crimes against Ukraine as genocide of the Ukrainian nation. It was a very important decision and we are truly grateful to Ireland.

We would like to ask Ireland to recognise Holodomor, the great famine in Ukraine, as a genocide. November of this year is the 90th anniversary of Holodomor. It happened 90 years ago. It would very symbolic because Russia is continuing this, so to speak, tradition of genocide against Ukraine. We have continuity between the Holodomor genocide and contemporary genocide of the Ukrainian population.

I also ask the Irish Parliament to recognise Russia as a terrorist state or a terrorist regime. As members know, recently the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution in which it recognised Russia as a terrorist regime. That means that each member of the Council of Europe can do the same and recognise Russia as such. It is important in terms of isolating Russia politically and economically.

Now, we are thinking about what can be done to stop Russian aggression. The reason we want to do it is to defeat Russia, because we have no options. Any ceasefire would mean Russia will use this as an opportunity to regroup forces to modernise its army and to continue its invasion of Ukraine. Putin and Russia want to erase us from the political map of the world.

Second, recently articles regarding negotiations have appeared in western press. However, the truth is it makes no sense to negotiate with Russia. The first reason is obvious and that is because it is a terrorist regime. There is no sense to hold any negotiations with terrorists. The second reason is Russia is not reliable - especially President Putin. Putin is a pathological liar. He has been lying all of the time. We have been having these negotiations with Russia for eight years within the framework of the so-called Minsk process. I was personally involved in this and I know what it is like to negotiate with Russia. It is absolutely hopeless. It is easier to negotiate with a wall than with Russian representatives.

For this reason, it is of no use. Our President has expressed our position very clearly. He said that serious negotiations can start only when Russia does five things. These include withdrawing all its troops from the whole territory of Ukraine, including Crimea. All criminals must be punished and Russia must be punished economically for all the damage done to our economy. These are among the necessary prerequisites before we can even raise negotiations. There is also no point in negotiating with Putin. He has proved many times that he is incapable of any serious negotiations. He only uses it for propagandistic goals. He is wholly unreliable as a partner.

It will be easier for me to answer the committee’s questions. Again, let me wholeheartedly thank Ireland for all of its help and support. I am also thankful for Ireland's support in our bid to become a member of the European Union. That is important for us. It is a security matter and will give us, if not security guarantees, perhaps political guarantees for our security.