\u201cUnity and solidarity of the world behind Ukraine in response to Azov attack of Russia became like a cold shower for Moscow,\u201d President Petro Poroshenko said at the meeting with foreign diplomats.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful to all those who supported us in this difficult moment. Especially to those states, which became co-sponsors and supported the two important resolutions of the UN General Assembly \u2013 on human rights in the Crimea and on militarization of the Crimea and parts of the Black and Azov Seas. Your position has yet again confirmed that the Kremlin will pay a high price for its aggression. The day will come when this price will go too heavy for the Kremlin,\u201d the Head of State told the diplomats.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we will return both the temporary occupied Crimea and the occupied part of Donbas. It will definitely come true, which is confirmed by Ukraine\u2019s way to the restoration of historic justice \u2013 establishment of autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. And almost all of you congratulated Ukrainian people with this great event. Our road to Tomos was lengthy, uneasy and thorny. But we covered it with dignity,\u201d the President said and thanked the foreign diplomats for their congratulations. \u201cThis is the second act of Ukraine\u2019s independence, of our spiritual independence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The President especially emphasized the importance of close coordination in the Normandy format, which allowed weakening Russian aggression.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year gave no chance to the Russian aggression to jump off the hook of sanctions, which, despite the Kremlin\u2019s bravado, painfully hit at its ambitions and appetites. Not only did they weaken the machinery of Russian aggression. They did give Ukraine a precious time to grow stronger \u2013 politically, economically, and militarily,\u201d the President noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was assisted by our close coordination with Berlin and Paris \u2013 reliable partners of Ukraine in the Normandy format,\u201d the Head of State said and expressed the words of the most special gratitude to Chancellor Angela Merkel. \u201cIt would be hard to overestimate what she has done to avoid catastrophic scenarios, both for Ukraine and Europe,\u201d Petro Poroshenko noted.<\/p>\n