Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that russia's war against Ukraine could only end in russia's strategic defeat.
He stated this in a video address.
"I am grateful to all our defenders, men and women, who hold positions and teach russian soldiers to think that this war against Ukraine can only end in russia's strategic loss - sooner or later. Either the russian leadership will really seek peace or as a result of this war russia will leave the international arena forever," Zelenskyy said.
He also noted that today was a useful day for the Ukrainain state, for its protection from the russian attack. The Presidents of four states that are friends to Ukraine arrived in Kyiv.
"Those who have been helping us since the first days. Those who did not hesitate to give us weapons. Those who did not hesitate to impose sanctions. And those who are now pushing a tougher sanctions package against the russian federation by the European Union. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia. I was very glad to meet with the Presidents today. The talks were fruitful. It is important that the Presidents visited Borodyanka in Kyiv region, where they saw for themselves what the occupiers had done. For the Presidents, this is another argument to insist on truly severe sanctions against russia," - said Zelenskyy.
He also stressed the importance of tightening sanctions against the aggressor country. First of all, an oil embargo is needed. And Europe's clear readiness to give up all russian energy imports.
"The European Union must stop sponsoring the russian war machine," Zelenskyy said.
A group of international experts led by Michael McFaul and Andriy Ermak also considered the sanctions policy today. The group has been working for three weeks. Experts have prepared concrete proposals on how to remove sanctions loopholes russia constantly uses, and how to immediately strengthen sanctions to make them tangible for Moscow.
Earlier Zelenskyy emphasized that new sanctions have to be such that russia didn't even speak about the weapon of mass destruction.
On April 8, the fifth package of EU sanctions against russia came into force after evidence of russian atrocities in the Kyiv region. In particular, it prohibits the purchase, import or transfer of coal and other solid fuels to the EU from russia starting from August 2022. Coal imports to the EU now amount to 8 billion euros a year.
The House of Representatives and the US Senate voted to sign and submit to President Joe Biden a law that bans importing russian oil, gas, and coal.
The head of the Ukrainian Office of the President Andriy Yermak also reported that the sixth package of EU sanctions is already under development.