President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked all countries and governments that supported Ukraine during the Russian military invasion.
He stated this in his video appeal.
"Ukrainians! Today there is important news. The United States has taken a step that will significantly weaken the occupiers, make them pay for aggression, and be responsible for the evil they have done. For all evil. America bans imports of oil, petroleum products, gas, and coal from Russia. I would like to personally thank the President of the United States of America, Biden, for this decision, for his leadership, for this most powerful signal to the world ... Russia will respect international law and will not lead war. Or it will not have the money to start a war. Counties will find another “gas station”, "Zelensky said.
He also reminded that the United Kingdom also imposes a ban on imports of oil and petroleum products from Russia.
"I am grateful to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the adherence to principles you expect from the British Prime Minister in difficult times. Speaking in the British Parliament today, I mentioned other difficult times, others but similar. 1940s, when tyranny threatened, as it thought, a small island. And it was sure that the island would not withstand brutal blows, bombings and blockades. And it turned out that the island could do more than that tyranny. Because it had wisdom. And endurance. And friends. And strength, "said Zelenskyy.
The President of Ukraine stressed that now our country also believes in the future - its own and its freedom in Europe.
"Look, the world does not believe in Russia's future. Countries do not talk about it. Not a word, not a prospect. They understand everything. They talk about us. They help us. They are preparing to support our reconstruction.
It will be after the war. Because everyone saw that for the people who defend themselves so heroically, this "after the war" will surely come. There will be a new Marshall Plan for Ukraine. The West will form this support package. The British Prime Minister said this today - a man of his word, a sincere friend of Ukraine, "Zelenskyy said.
The President stressed that it is now very important for the Russian government to realize that the world will follow the United States, Great Britain, the European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan, and other world free countries.
Sanctions cannot be circumvented. I am grateful to those Russians who support us, go out to the streets and fight. They fight daily for us and for themselves. Because they are fighting for peace. The war must end. We must sit down at the negotiating table. It is honest. It is subject-based. It is in the interests of people, bot not outdated murderous ambitions.
The President of Ukraine spoke today with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Bethel, and the President of France, Macron.
Zelenskyy also reminded that today the media spread reports that the UN allegedly does not consider the Russian invasion a war. The President thanked the Ukrainian diplomats who clarified everything.
"We soon got assurance, there would be no lies in the UN. There will be no incitement to the aggressor. The word 'war' will be heard on this platform. Let's see. We will not allow anyone in the world to ignore the suffering and murder of our people, our children," he said.
As a reminder, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, strong sanctions were imposed on the occupier, including the closure of stores and the cessation of supplies. In particular, due to the war in Ukraine, the American company Procter & Gamble stopped investing and advertising in Russia. The company will continue only the sale of basic hygiene products, but it will also be reduced.
Today, the Starbucks coffee chain and Coca-Cola have said they condemn the war against Ukraine and suspend operations in Russia. Earlier, McDonald's also announced that it would "temporarily close" its Russian restaurants.
You can read about how the world cuts Russia off from the global economy here.