President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a video conference of the leaders of the Group of Seven.
This was reported by the presidential press service.
"We are meeting in this format today to define what needs to be done to stop russia's war against Ukraine.
Today, 8 May, is a key day of remembrance for all the victims of World War II, for the fragility of peace and the unacceptability of any anti-humanist regimes. But what is a memory for other people, for our people every day, unfortunately, is just news," Zelenskyy said.
He noted that yesterday in the village of Bilogorivka, Luhansk region, a russian bomb killed 60 people who were hiding from the bombing in the school building, which was attacked by russia.
“To do so is to follow the evil that the Nazis brought to Europe. The missile strikes on Odesa and other cities are following how the Nazis tried to bomb and destroy European cities by bombing. The deportation of more than 500,000 Ukrainians to russia and the so-called "filtration" camps set up by russian troops in the occupied territories of Ukraine is following the deportations and concentration camps that the Nazis built in Europe. Every day our people see and die from what must have been left in the distant past. This was not supposed to be back in Europe after 77 years. But, unfortunately, I state that it has turned back. That is why the solidarity of the whole free world is back. This is why the historical concepts of Lend-Lease and the Marshall Plan are back," he said.
Zelenskyy thanked the United States and European colleagues for their help. He noted that in order to defeat the enemy and protect the freedom of Ukraine and the world, three components are needed.
"First of all - the weapons. I am grateful to you for the defense assistance we have already received. Because, as in World War II, the fate of freedom is decided on the battlefield. So Ukraine must get all the weapons and defense equipment that will allow us to defeat the tyranny. In particular, the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS missile systems and other weapons that Ukraine has requested from your strong states. If we had them, we would have been able to save many people. In all those cities, in all those communities, who fell victim to the russian occupiers, such as Bilogorivka, which I mentioned at the beginning, or Mariupol," Zelenskyy said.
Second - sanctions against the aggressor country.
Third - the financial support to Ukraine now and for the recovery after the war.
"As long as the war continues, we need the support at the level of 5 bn dollars to 7 bn dollars a month. When the war is over, we will need more than 600 bn dollars to rebuild what was destroyed by russia. That's a lot for our country. It's not possible for Ukraine. But it is manageable for you. And for you, it's not going to be just an expenditure. Financial assistance to Ukraine and assistance with post-war reconstruction is the prevention of much bigger losses of the free world in the future," said Zelenskyy.
The leaders of the Group of Seven agreed on tough sanctions against Russia and promised to condemn the Putin and Lukashenko regimes.