A Russian strike against the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. A rescue operation is underway: crews are putting out the fire and searching for people who may have been trapped inside. All services are deployed. Today in Kyiv, a pharmaceutical company and gas stations were also attacked; in Dnipro, a business center; and in other cities and regions, civilian facilities, businesses, and communications infrastructure were targeted as well. Sadly, people have been killed… My condolences to their families and loved ones. Russia will definitely face a response to this. And every one of Ukraine’s partners must see from this terror, from these strikes, that supporting Ukraine means truly supporting people’s lives – supporting the principle that terror must never be normalized, anywhere. Russia must be held accountable for all of this and face real consequences. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine!

We all understand: sanctions against Russia really matter. This is definitely not the time to lift sanctions, to rescue Russian oligarchs from them, and definitely not the time for Europe to give Russia gifts. Usmanov, Fridman, and other Russian figures like them have not made their moves against the war so far. This is not the time for Europe to forget what is happening. We need new and stronger sanctions – ones that Russia cannot adapt to, including anti-ballistic sanctions against all Russian ballistic missile production, as well as sanctions that restrict Russian finances. In other words, measures that constrain the war. Lindsey Graham’s sanctions bill is still a bill, unfortunately, and not a law. It is important that it becomes law. I thank everyone around the world who supports this approach and who knows that strength works. From the evening address.