Russian Aggression Targets Europe: Zelenskyy

Kyiv, April 10: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned the European nations that the Russia’s aggression was never limited to just Ukraine and the whole of Europe was a target.

During his late-night address on Saturday, Zelenskyy urged the West to impose a complete embargo on Russian energy products and to supply Ukraine with additional weapons. He said Russia’s use of force was “a catastrophe that will inevitably hit everyone”.

He further said, “This will be a hard battle, we believe in this fight and our victory. We are ready to simultaneously fight and look for diplomatic ways to put an end to this war”.

Ukranian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said Zelenskyy and Russian president Vladimir Putin would not meet until the country defeated Russia in the east, which would bolster its negotiating position, The Guardian reported.

“We are paying a very high price. But Russia must get rid of its imperial illusions,” Interfax Ukraine news agency quoted him as saying.

The Ukrainian officials have urged people in the east to evacuate the place. Zelenskyy also thanked the UK prime minister Boris Johnson for assisting the country with military support. “Boris was among those who didn’t doubt for a minute whether to support Ukraine. The leadership of Great Britain, in providing our country help in defence and also leadership in the sanctions policy, will always be in history… Ukraine will always be grateful for this to Boris and Britain for this,” the Ukrainian president said.

Johnson met with Zelenskyy in a surprise Saturday visit to Kyiv to outline the UK’s plan to provide further financial and military support, CNN reported.

Ihor Zhovkva, a senior diplomatic adviser to the President said that visit of the UK Prime Minister was very timely and important. The UK PM’s visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was “very timely and very important”, BBC quoted on Sunday Zhovkva as saying.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted:

NEW: Additional UK lethal aid to support Ukraine against Russia’s continued illegal assault:

➡️ 120 more armoured vehicles
➡️ New anti-ship missile systems
➡️ All in addition to the £100m of high-grade military equipment announced yesterday pic.twitter.com/4SQEHOCuNc

— Liz Truss (@trussliz) April 9, 2022

Zelensky said at a joint press conference with Johnson earlier on Saturday, “I am grateful to the UK that continues and intensifies the sanctions and also provides a significant support to Ukraine by reinforcing our defence capacities.” “The other democratic Western countries should follow the example of the UK,” he added.