The words that Zelensky said to the G7 leaders during today’s urgent meeting.
Addressing the G7 countries via video conference on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told them they could be a “large group of peacekeepers” by raising sanctions and creating a new association called U-24.
Earlier today, Zelensky also addressed virtually all NATO leaders.
“We can make your G7 group not just a great seven, but a great group of peacekeepers, a great seven peacekeepers. What do we need? Ukraine is very specific in answering this question. “Every week we have to increase sanctions against Russian aggression until it ends and peace is restored,” Zelensky told the G7 countries.
He added: “Next, we need to create a new system of security guarantees for Ukraine and our region.”
“Effective guarantees that can stop any aggression within 24 hours. Within 24 hours, we have proposed a group, a U-24. Something the world needs not only to prevent wars, but also to stop active hostilities that have already begun and also to provide support for those countries that are suffering from natural disasters or need support during pandemics or are facing migration or food crisis ”.
Zelensky asked the leaders how urgent summits should be held until the problems created by Russia are resolved.
“In recent years, Russia has created so many crises and so much instability that it has become a major problem for the world. “A problem that is only growing and we can not even guess how many such urgent summits should be held before the problems created by Russia are resolved,” Zelensky said at the G7 meeting.
The President of Ukraine warned the G7 countries that Russia’s actions in Ukraine are leading to a global food crisis.
“Russia has destroyed the global security architecture and dealt a severe blow to international relations. But this is just the beginning. This war could be followed by a global food crisis. The longer there is no peace on Ukrainian soil, the less food the world market will receive from Ukraine and many countries in Asia, Africa and even Europe may suffer extreme problems with access to basic food and food prices. This will definitely result in political destabilization and perhaps this was the goal of the Russian leadership. “I do not know,” said Zelensky.
“But we must act immediately. We must immediately stop the Russian troops and withdraw them from Ukraine. We need immediate peace before the world faces another level of trouble. “It is better to use sanctions against Russia now as much as possible to stop its military vehicle than later to deal with the consequences of a global food crisis,” he added.
Zelensky called for a “complete trade embargo” with Russia and to prevent Russia from using the GPS system.
“Unprecedented challenges call for a full embargo on trade with Russia. Russia should be deprived of the opportunity to use GPS in war. “It’s important that this system does not help Russian missiles and bombs destroy peaceful cities,” Zelensky said.
“Russian banks and especially the Central Bank of Russia must be completely blocked from the global financial system. “War criminals must be left without money and their frozen assets must also be turned into reparations,” he told the G7 countries.
“This is in our interest, it is in your interest. “It’s in the interest of all democracies, because democracies must be able to defend themselves. Life must triumph over death,” said Zelensky.
Ukraine’s president has again accused Russia of using phosphorous munitions, some of which are either banned or restricted under international law.