Sanctions against Russia are valid, but even more tougher steps are needed in this direction - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes that sanctions against Russia are an important element of assistance to Ukraine in the fight against full-scale Russian aggression, but even tougher steps are needed, and the relevant proposals are working, in particular, the International Working Group of Yermak-Macfola. This was stated by the head of the Ukrainian state while communicating with media representatives after negotiations with Lithuanian President Gitanas Naudea.

“Sanctions are a great help from all European countries that still followed the way when they do not balance between Ukraine and Russia, but have fully recognized the aggression of the Russian Federation and started the path of sanction pressure. And it really helps. Even if Russia everywhere in the media says that they have no problems because of sanctions, it is not true, ”Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, answering the journalist's questions.

According to him, sanctions on the Russian Federation are operating, but more slowly than we would like Ukraine. "There are some points when one or another business of individual countries in the world does not want to lose contact with the Russian Federation and find ways to bypass sanctions," the President of Ukraine said. Volodymyr Zelensky also emphasized the importance that in the introduction of sanctions packages, all EU member states adhered to a single position.

“Yes, we see a weakening in the last sanction package. We want to strengthen. But not everything. The main thing is that countries have found a consensus that most of the states were able to find understanding with the minority of countries in Europe that did not want to apply a sanction package or did not want to have such a rigid package, ”he said. The head of state stressed that Ukraine is expecting harsh sanctions against Russia.

This also applies to the disconnection of the entire Banking system of the Russian Federation from SWIFT, and more decisive steps about the energy that Russia uses as a tool for blackmail. Proposals for sanctions against persons from the President of the Russian Federation are also underway. “This is done by the International Group of Yermak-Macfola. We pass it on the Foreign Ministry to our partners, all countries. We are constantly working on it.

Many different sanctions are offered, as well as an analysis of those sanctions that work or do not work. There are also details of how, through whom Russia specifically wants to bypass or bypasses certain sanctions, ”said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For his part, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausede said that a powerful sanction policy is a tool that can make Russia's war against Ukraine a shorter, and its consequences for our country are smaller.