Even among countries that are friendly to Ukraine, there are those helping Russia to bypass sanctions – Zelensky

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with BBC for Eurovision News, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“In general, the sanctions had an effect, and the number of missiles reduced. Today, unfortunately, they have found a way through some partners – where they very cunningly help Russia – to circumvent sanctions, one way or another, including those sanctions that affect their defense industry,” Zelensky told.

In his words, the sanctions made Russia’s huge missile stocks to deplete.

“Sadly, they [missile stocks – Ed.] reduced, as they [Russians] used them to kill our people. But, fortunately, the amount of missiles in their warehouses decreased, same as domestically produced drones, and Iranian-manufactured drones too. Indeed, they had a large supply, and there are still many of them left, but their number has reduced,” the Head of State added.

President Zelensky believes that Russia’s policy of destroying everything and causing terror against civilians has remained unchanged. Russians were deliberately accumulating missiles to start launching massive attacks on Ukraine’s civil infrastructure, people, stores, schools, bus stops, etc. a few weeks before May 9.

In this regard, the Head of State emphasized the importance of imposing further sanctions on Russia and making them as powerful as possible, as well as working with those countries that are helping Russian invaders to bypass the restrictive measures.

“Our people are being killed, and there are countries that allow the sanctions to be circumvented. Absolutely different [sanctions] – those relating to banking and non-banking sectors, agriculture, energy, defense industry – there are many things. Unfortunately, among very friendly states, there are those who do this. And they understand what they are doing. They realize that our people are dying because of this. But, it seems to me that they do not care much, and it is necessary not to appeal to their morality but use certain tools – via relevant countries, as a union – and put pressure on them economically,” Zelensky noted.

A reminder that earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the EU would soon approve the 11th package of sanctions against Russia, imposing restrictions on the nuclear industry of the terrorist state.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine