Dear Volodymyr,

This morning we honoured your fallen at the People's Memorial in Maidan Square. And today, I am also thinking of their comrades bravely holding the line in the trenches.

They fight for peace. They fight for a better future for their children. They fight for the simple dream of a free and sovereign Ukraine at the heart of a free Europe.

So let me conclude by saying to them: Europe will stand by you and stand with you until you have made that dream come true.

Long live Europe, and Slava Ukraini.

Ukraine is on a good way to become a member of the European Union. You all know that this is a merit-based process.

I must say Ukraine is outstanding in the speed of which it fulfills the necessary reforms. These are tough reforms, not easy reforms. And it is deeply impressive to see the enormous progress Ukraine is making despite fighting a war for their survival.

I understand very well that for you (Zelensky), a clear date is also important. The date you set (2027) is your benchmark that you want to match.

You know that from our side, dates by themselves are not possible. But of course, the support that you can reach your goal is absolutely clear on our side.

We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

If there is political will on all sides, the deal can be reached as soon as possible.

We will enter the negotiating room in Geneva with all sincerity and with goodwill. We hope that that goodwill and that good approach will be reciprocated by the Americans.

If there is a political will on all sides, I believe the deal can be reached as soon as possible.

You cannot contain a war once it is started.

How can one end a war with just one strike? That is a real gamble in our judgment. We hope that that will not be the case.

Everybody should be aware that a war can be started — but ending it is not easy.

The whole region will suffer as a result of an aggression against Iran.

If the U.S. attacks Iran, how can anybody expect Iran to be silent? We have to respond to U.S. assets in the region.

Our definite preference is to go along the line of peace. That is why the next Geneva meeting is very important. Why should we waste our time on something that will be detrimental to the whole region and to everybody?

Therefore, instead of war mongering, instead of sending troops, sending armada to our region, it is better to concentrate on diplomacy.

What is the purpose of sending troops, sending armada to our region?

Does it mean that they wanted to intimidate Iran? That is not going to happen. Iranians have proved to be resilient.

Therefore, it is better to concentrate on the real job, and that is diplomacy.

We must pursue a policy of de-risking — but decoupling from China would be a mistake.

With decoupling, we would only harm ourselves.

We would block our own economic opportunities instead of improving them.

The world would not become safer — and we would lose the chance to tackle global challenges together.

China has risen into the ranks of the great powers. No one can bypass China anymore.

Global political challenges cannot be managed today without Beijing.

China’s voice is heard — including in Moscow.

China has the opportunity to use its influence.

For peace and security in the Pacific, China is a decisive factor.

If we want to have a "great power politics," we have to do our homework.

This applies to the Federal Republic of Germany and the entire European Union.

This is why we invest in our competitiveness, our defence and our resilience. This makes us a stronger and better partner, also for China.

Competition is healthy as long as it is fair.

China and Germany have had positive experiences together over many decades. For us Germans, this was a very positive experience.

The prerequisite, however, is that our competition is fair and transparent.

In China, it is said that a horse does not demonstrate its strength alone, but only by pulling the wagon together with others.

I think that's a fitting image to begin my journey. I'm looking forward to this trip.

Pillared on the understandings forged in the previous round, Iran will resume talks with the U.S. in Geneva with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal—in the shortest possible time.

Our fundamental convictions are crystal clear: Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon; neither will we Iranians ever forgo our right to harness the dividends of peaceful nuclear technology for our people.

We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests. A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority.

We have proven that we will stop at nothing to guard our sovereignty with courage.

We bring the same courage to the negotiating table, where we will pursue a peaceful resolution to any differences.

We are challenged on one side by a wounded Shiite axis, but there is also the Sunni axis of the Muslim Brotherhood.

We have a strong interest in creating an axis of our own — an axis of countries that oppose both axes of extremist Islam.

This includes many countries. Some are visiting us these days; others we are visiting.

I am speaking about a full circle that embraces the Middle East.

I wanted to use the biblical expression appropriate for Purim — "from Hodu to Cush" — quite close, and everything in between, extending into the Mediterranean.

A new axis.