Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for international sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry, showing that Russia uses energy as a weapon, creating dependencies and blackmailing, and this tactic is also working in the case of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, which Moscow is using to threaten the world with a nuclear disaster. reports News.ro.

“It is important that global restrictive measures against the Russian nuclear industry have begun. This industry not only generates funds for the budget of the aggressor, but also contributes to the creation of dependence on other states, on whose territory supposedly “energy” nuclear projects are implemented. For the Kremlin, any energy is a weapon. For them, nuclear energy is also a weapon,” Zelenskyy said in his speech to his compatriots on Saturday evening.

“This is exactly what is happening at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which Russia uses as a weapon of blackmail at the global level to blackmail the world with a catastrophe,” explained Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In this context, he welcomed the fact that the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Japan and Canada formed an alliance “to eliminate the nuclear industry of a terrorist state from the world market.”

“The tougher the regime of sanctions against Russia, the more restrictions there are against the terrorist state and all those associated with it, against the entire Russian military economy, the faster the aggression will end. And I thank everyone in the world who understands this,” Zelensky said.

The President of Ukraine, like some European states, including Germany and Lithuania, is in favor of introducing sanctions at the EU level against the Russian nuclear industry, but at the moment such a package seems difficult to accept, since there are several states, led by Hungary, that depend on cooperation with Moscow in the field of atomic energy.

In any case, speaking about the sanctions, Zelenskyi said that three new decisions regarding the sanctions “of those who invest in and support Russian aggression” entered into force in Ukraine on Saturday, and clarified that it is about more than 320 companies, as well as about natural persons.

“First of all, this is another package of sanctions against the Russian military-industrial complex – companies that supply the terrorist army. This time, 322 companies were added to the sanctions lists – manufacturers of weapons, components, etc. The other two sanctions lists include individuals and organizations that help evade sanctions against Russia, own property of war criminals, and are involved in the destruction of freedom both in Russia and on our territory,” Zelenskyy said.

“Our sanctions packages are being worked out in detail, including synchronization with our partners,” the president said. “This is one of our main joint tasks – absolutely everyone who wants the war to end sooner, for our victory to be achieved sooner, the task is to eliminate any opportunity for Russia to circumvent sanctions. Any Russian scheme that allows him to circumvent sanctions adds time to this war, adds opportunities for the aggressor,” Zelenskyy said, advocating for new measures at the international level regarding sanctions against those who evade current restrictions.

Returning to the topic of supplying weapons to the Ukrainian front, the Kyiv leader mentioned new support packages from the US and Canada and welcomed the help to strengthen air defense from the Netherlands, as well as the joint decision with Denmark to supply tanks.

The President of Ukraine thanked Germany, suggesting that he expects new decisions from Berlin. “There are new steps that will bring more peace to our skies, and there may be new steps that will bring more peace to our country. We are waiting for these decisions,” Zelenskyi said.

He also thanked Estonia and Finland for new defense packages, and Slovakia for sending aircraft.

He also mentioned Switzerland, despite the fact that Bern’s policy of neutrality sometimes causes trouble for European partners, thanks to “new sanctions against Russian terrorists.”

“We are preparing for the fact that the next week in relations with our partners will be no less productive than this one. Each such result for Ukraine means saved lives of our people. This is the ability of our soldiers to protect lives, repel Russian attacks and prepare for active Ukrainian actions,” Zelenskyy said.

At the end of his speech, as usual, he thanked the frontline fighters, noting that there are four hot spots on the frontline: Maryinka, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and the Lyman district: “Fierce battles are going on there.” – said the President.

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