Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with weapons, tighten sanctions against Russia, particularly close ports for Russian ships, and support our country in joining the European Union.
He said this in his speech to the States General – the Parliament of the Netherlands.
Zelenskyy says that the war in Ukraine is becoming a routine for many.
“…No matter how scary it may sound, people are already getting used to it. The world is beginning to adapt. They start to ignore everything they hear about the war. They are getting used to the news about the new bombing of our peaceful cities. About new missile strikes. They are getting used to the updated lists of those killed. Daily reports of the number of destroyed houses and shelled cities and communities no longer evoke emotions,” Zelenskyy said.
He reminded that in 2014 the world still did not fully understand why the Russian occupiers came to the Ukrainian land - the land of Crimea and partly the land of Donbas. “And you felt it. After they shot down a Malaysian Boeing flying from Amsterdam. There can be no doubt that this is a totally unjust war. This is a war that the Russian state cannot be forgiven. Hundreds and hundreds of crimes for which everyone must be held accountable. All those who gave criminal orders. Everyone who carried out these criminal orders. And all those who provided political cover for these criminal orders,” said Zelenskyy in his speech.
Zelensky stressed that the Dutch city of The Hague, the capital of international justice, knows exactly how to do it. But for that to happen, sanctions need to be stepped up.
“Together with other EU countries, you have to do everything possible so that Russia does not have the resources to continue this war, the war in Europe, and so that there is no political opportunity to hide criminals. Close your ports to Russian ships! Together with all other EU countries. Stop any trade with this country that has forgotten all the lessons of World War II!” he added.
The President called on the Netherlands to get ready faster to give up Russia's energy resources, so that “billions, billions of euros for them do not go to arms production and mass killings in Ukraine”.
He thanked for the support that Ukraine has already received from the Netherlands.
“From your society. From your state. This support is truly unprecedented. It is truly the support of a leader. But the war is so intense, Russian troops are so active that we need more. "Stingers" and "Panzerfausts" allow you to hold on, to fight. However, this is not a weapon of victory. We desperately need weapons that can make our skies safe, that we can use to unblock our cities where Russia is artificially creating famine,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine need such weapons that can drive the occupiers out of our land: aircraft, tanks, NASAMS air-defense systems, Spike anti-tank systems, shells, missiles, and more. “You have this list. And I hope you will find an opportunity to help us as much as you can, to help us with that,” the President remarked.
Finally, Zelenskyy invited the Netherlands to join Ukraine in its reconstruction: “I urge you to choose a city, a region of our state that can see your care, can feel what you can do”.
Let us remind that yesterday the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, announced that the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia would not become the reason for the automatic easing of sanctions against the Russian Federation.
Earlier, Rutte said he did not see the possibility of Ukraine's rapid accession to the EU, saying that such an accelerated accession procedure does not exist.