Zelenskyy: Russia must end its aggression - it's only matter of time
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
New Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities clearly show who is the source of the war. However, sooner or later, Russia will have to stop its aggression, as it is harming itself, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement during his evening address.
President Zelenskyy reminded the public of the latest missile and drone attacks by the Russian army on Ukraine, which occurred overnight. According to the head of state, these strikes prove Russia’s unwillingness to end the war.
"Our proposal to halt the strikes and establish a ceasefire for at least 30 days remains on the table - we are not withdrawing this offer, which could give diplomacy a chance. But the world sees no response from Russia - no answer, except more strikes. This clearly and obviously demonstrates who the source of the war is," Zelenskyy said.
However, he emphasized that Russia will eventually have to end its aggression - it’s only a matter of time.
"War is a loss for everyone, including the aggressor. Sanctions against Russia for this war will continue to grow, and they are meaningful. Global justice will also prevail - often slowly, unfortunately, but importantly, inevitably," the president stressed.
Ceasefire proposal
The United States proposed a full 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia back in March. Ukraine immediately agreed, while Russia presented tough conditions for such a move.
Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov justified the refusal by claiming that Ukraine would use the truce to strengthen its forces with new weapons and troops. He also said there would be no one to monitor the ceasefire.
For his part, President Zelenskyy has emphasized that Russia could agree to a 30-day truce, but that would require pressure from the United States.
So far, Washington has not applied such pressure. Donald Trump has only threatened Russia with additional sanctions a few times.
EU sanctions
The European Union is preparing its 17th package of sanctions against Russia. The European Commission has already sent a draft package to member states. Among the new measures is a ban on exporting chemicals used in missile engines to Russia.
Additionally, 15 individuals and 45 companies tied to Russia’s military-industrial complex have been added to the blacklist. The EU aims to finalize the sanctions by July 1.
