2024-11-19 16:42:00
Update
November 19, 2024
17:42
President Ukraine“>Zelensky called on Europe to stand united to defend Ukraine and push Vladimir Putin towards “a just peace” as Russia escalates its aggression.
A thousand days after the start of the Russian invasion, on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Europe for its support, all urging them to remain united to continue supporting Ukraine and European nationsduring a videoconference speech to the European Parliament.
“Even with Kim Jong-un’s forces, Putin remains smaller than the united force of Europe.”
“None of the 1,000 days of this terrible war has become a day of betrayal of these shared values in Europe,” declared Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from kyiv. “Together, Ukraine, all of Europe, and our partners in America and around the world, succeeded in stopping Putin from taking Ukraine and defending the freedom of all European nations,” he added. .
Division signs
“Even with Kim Jong-un’s forces, Putin remains smaller than Europe’s united force“, he said. “I urge you not to forget that. Don’t forget what Europe is capable of. We can certainly push Russia towards a just peace.”
The Ukrainian leader made the call for unity as signs of divisions are increasing in the European camp on support for Ukraine, with the rise of the far right anda pro-Trump nationalist current.
Since the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, serious doubts have arisen about the continuation of American aid to Ukraine. The president-elect promised to impose peace “in 24 hours”. But his plans remain unknown, while Russia, taking advantage of the period of transition of power in Washington, intensifies its bombings and attacks against Ukraine.
“Money and power remain essential to Putin, they must be taken away from him”
“Putin will not stop himself”
“Every blow and every threat from Russia must be matched by firm sanctions,” Zelensky insisted. He spoke of the importance ofoil embargowhile circumvention of this measure, thanks to a ghost fleetstill provides significant income to Russia.
“Money and power remain essential to Putin, they must be taken away from him,” he added. But sanctions will not be enough. President Zelensky pleaded “meaningful” peace negotiations. For him, Russia will have no “real motivation to engage in meaningful negotiations without fire in its ammunition depots on Russian territorywithout destruction of Russian air bases, without loss of its missile and drone production capabilities and without its assets being confiscated.
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The Ukrainian president also warned that the contingent of 11,000 North Korean soldiers “could increase to 100,000 soldiers”calling for more support for his country. “We need to do more together,” he said. “Putin is focused on winning. It won’t stop on its own. The more time he has, the worse the conditions become.”
In passing, he addressed a snub to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who, in the middle of the electoral campaign, contacted President Putin without consultation last Friday, breaking his isolation. “Some European leaders are thinking about certain elections, and this is to the detriment of Ukraine,” he lamented.
The German leader also refuses to deliver long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, while the United States authorizes the use of similar weapons.
Insufficient Western aid
Zelensky, greatly applauded by the deputies, spoke just after the President of Parliament, Roberta Metsola. “We will continue to stand with Ukrainetoday, tomorrow and every day. As long as it takes,” she said. During the session, the majority of political group leaders reaffirmed their full support for Ukraine.
Since the start of the invasion, Europe has supported Ukraine by providing military, humanitarian, political and financial aid. for nearly 150 billion euros.
The Twenty-Seven also adopted 14 penalty packages against Russia, of which an oil embargo and the confiscation of Russian assets in Europe. The EU, with the support of its Parliament, has also started Ukraine’s accession negotiations.
Western aid enabled Ukraine to resist the Russian invader, but it proved insufficient to allow him to repel him. After his speech in the European Parliament, Zelensky addressed Ukrainian MPs, saying that Ukraine may have to wait until after Putin to restore its integritythus admitting, for the first time, that his country will “perhaps” have to accept for a time the loss of occupied territories.
This Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree expanding the possibilities of using nuclear weapons.
Ukrainian strike
The Ukrainian leader spoke before the European Parliament while President Joe Biden lifted restrictions that prevented kyiv from using U.S.-supplied weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.
Ukraine carried out a strike overnight from Monday to Tuesday against military installations in Russia, in the border region of Bryansk, with six American-made long-range ATACMS missiles. Five projectiles were destroyed and another damaged by Russian anti-aircraft defense. The attack, denounced by Russia, was confirmed by a Ukrainian source.
Russia promised an “appropriate” responsebelieving that the conflict had entered into “a new phase”. Putin signed a decree on Tuesday expanding the possibilities of using nuclear weaponsin the event of “a massive attack by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power”. A very clear reference to Ukraine and the United States.
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What are the proposed strategies by President Zelensky to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine?
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to be a focal point of international relations, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizing the urgent need for unified and robust responses to Russian aggression. In his recent statements, Zelensky called for firm sanctions against Russia, particularly highlighting the need for an oil embargo to limit Russia’s revenue sources. Despite existing sanctions, he noted that Russia has been able to circumvent them through a so-called “ghost fleet,” which hampers the effectiveness of international efforts to pressure Moscow.
Zelensky further emphasized the necessity of “meaningful” peace negotiations, positing that Russia lacks the motivation to engage sincerely without sustained military pressure. He argued that significant damage to Russian military resources—such as ammunition depots, air bases, and missile production capabilities—would be pivotal in creating the conditions for real negotiation.
Moreover, Zelensky warned of the growing military support for Russia, particularly the potential increase in North Korean soldiers aiding the Kremlin. He stressed that with time, the situation in Ukraine could deteriorate further, thereby intensifying the need for global support.
In a pointed remark, Zelensky critiqued certain European leaders, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for engaging with Putin during electoral campaigns, suggesting that such actions only serve to undermine Ukraine’s position. He also noted the reluctance of some European nations to provide advanced military support, such as long-range missiles, which are already being supplied by the United States.
Despite the substantial aid—amounting to nearly 150 billion euros—provided by the EU and its member states to Ukraine, Zelensky acknowledged that this support has not yet sufficed to repel Russian forces effectively. He intimated that Ukraine may have to tolerate the loss of some occupied territories until there is a change in the situation with Putin.
Zelensky’s calls for intensified international cooperation and support, combined with stringent actions against Russia, highlight the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the need for a united stance from Western nations.
