Ukraine calls on world not to ease sanctions against Russia until it frees all Ukrainian people and territories, including Crimea
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the world in his address at a diplomatic conference in The Hague not to ease sanctions against Russia until all of Ukraine’s territories are liberated.
As reported by European Pravda news outlet, the head of the Ukrainian state said that Russia must feel the consequences and be held accountable until it frees all Ukrainian people and all Ukrainian land.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is fighting for “the right to live, the right to live a normal life”, and that Europe must realise this also concerns its own security.
“Europe has a very, very long history of wars, and it cannot afford to treat this lightly,” the President said.
The Ukrainian leader also underlined that the EU must uphold all sanctions and other restrictions imposed on Russia.
“All pressure on Russia must remain in place as long as the occupation of our land continues. Russia must feel that it is a criminal and face consequences for that as long as our people remain in Russian captivity and until the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia are brought home”
Zelenskyy also said he expects further steps from the Council of Europe. He stated that Ukraine hopes the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine will truly commence its work, not just for Ukraine, but for everyone who desires peace in Europe.
By way of background, earlier, addressing colleagues from Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) member states during their meeting in Vienna, European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas called for steps to strip Russia of its desire to change borders by force. She reminded the assembly that Russia has invaded 19 countries over the past 100 years.
