Russia's impunity for downing of MH17 led to invasion of Ukraine - Zelensky

He stated this in his address to the Australian Parliament, Ukrinform reports.

"We need to improve the capabilities of international institutions that were created for the accountability of war criminals and those who commit any criminal acts, for which they can be punished jointly by the whole world, not just by one state. If it was done in time, life in the world would be much safer," Zelensky said.

He recalled the tragedy of flight MH17, shot down by Russian occupiers in the sky over eastern Ukraine, which killed 298 people.

At the same time, he stressed that those who caused the tragedy have not yet been brought to justice.

"They are hiding in Russia. And, obviously, they received security guarantees from the Russian state. Has Russia paid compensation to the relatives of the victims? No. It still denies its guilt in the tragedy," Zelensky said.

He added that eight years have already passed and justice has not been restored, and no one knows how much longer it will take for at least one tragedy to receive a worthy response from the international community.

At the same time, Zelensky stressed that unpunished evil is returning "with a sense of omnipotence."

"If the world punished Russia for what it did in 2014, there would be none of the horrors of this invasion of Ukraine in 2022. We need to correct these terrible mistakes now," Zelensky said.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of an all-out invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying critical infrastructure, residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers, ballistic missiles and air bombs.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced. The country is repelling the invaders.