Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy believes that the new sanctions against russia should be such that the aggressor state “does not even talk about weapon of mass destruction.”
He stated this in his video address.
“Ukrainians! Our defenders! The 47th day of the Russian-Ukrainian war, this shameful invasion that is gradually wiping Russia out of international relations, is coming to an end. Invasion that makes it more and more toxic every day. Now it is only a matter of time before the Russian army with its own actions and war crimes forces everyone in the world to renounce all ties with the Russian Federation,” the President said.
Zelenskiy told that today he met with an expert group working on the creation of a special mechanism for pre-trial investigation and judicial review of all war crimes committed by the russian occupiers. The expert group was working on a legal way to bring the occupiers to justice, which would be as effective and as fast as possible.
“In order not to wait for decades until all international legal procedures are completed, but to accelerate the onset of justice. I expect that the options for creating such a special mechanism will be presented in the near future,” Zelenskiy pointed out.
The President also emphasized that today, the occupiers issued a new statement, which testifies to their preparation for a new stage of terror – the use of chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol. He pointed out that the possible use of chemical weapons by the russian military had already been discussed with world leaders. Zelenskiy stated that already at that time it meant that it was necessary to react to the russian aggression much tougher and faster.
The President reminded that the European Union started discussing the sixth package of sanctions against russia.
“It is time to make this package such that even a word about weapons of mass destruction is no longer heard from the russian side. An oil embargo against russia is mandatory. Any new package of sanctions against Russia that does not affect oil will be received in Moscow with a smile,” Zelenskiy emphasized.
He also told that he spoke about the need to strengthen the sanctions in his address to the parliament and people of the Republic of Korea. This week the President will continue this format of communication with partner countries. Tomorrow he will address the parliament of the Republic of Lithuania.
“By the way, Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė paid a visit to Ukraine today. I am grateful to her for the support, as well as to all the Lithuanian people,” Zelenskiy said.
Today he also discussed the issue of strengthening the sanctions with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte and the Prime Minister of Norway.
“I also held talks with the Chairperson of the African Union, President of Senegal. Informed him about the current situation in Ukraine, about the global threats posed by the russian invasion,” – Ukraine’s President added.
Note that on 8 April 2022, the fifth package of the European Union’s sanctions against russia imposed after the evidence of russian atrocities in Kyiv Oblast came into effect. It, particularly, includes the ban on purchase, import or transfer of coal and other solid minerals from the EU to russia starting from August 2022. Import of coal to the EU currently constitutes 8 bln. euro per year.
The House of Representatives of the Congress and the U.S. Senate voted for the law banning import of russian oil, gas, and coal, and submitted the law to Joe Buden for signature.
Today Andriy Yermak, Head of Office of the President of Ukraine, informed that the sixth package of sanctions was in the process of elaboration.