Zelenskyy Urges Greater Global Pressure on Russia

(MENAFN) On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that the conflict against Ukraine cannot truly conclude unless the international community intensifies its pressure on Russia, pointing to ongoing strikes and attempts to obstruct Ukraine’s maritime trade routes.

In a video address shared on social media, Zelenskyy reflected on the past week’s events, including Russian aerial assaults on the Odesa region.

He stressed that Moscow is working to block Ukraine’s access to sea routes.

“The world must not remain silent about this,” Zelenskyy said. “Everyone must see that without pressure on Russia, they have no intention of genuinely ending their aggression. The pressure must increase.”

Zelenskyy praised the European Union’s decision on Friday to collectively borrow €90 billion ($105 billion) to provide Ukraine with a loan over two years, describing it as a vital financial lifeline for the nation’s budget and defense needs.

“We are concluding this historic week for Ukraine – a significant diplomatic week. The main outcome is that we have secured €90 billion for Ukraine for two years. This is the key result of December and, in many respects, an important outcome of the entire year. Europe has taken a positive decision. We fought for this decision for a very long time, and I want to thank everyone who helped.”

He further explained that Ukraine will receive €45 billion annually for the next two years as part of the EU’s loan program, stressing that the repayment should ultimately come from frozen Russian assets.

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