Zelenskyy voiced hope for new US sanctions against Russia, as Trump holds greatest power
Photo: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Office of the President of Ukraine)
Additional pressure is needed on Vladimir Putin, and the greatest power in this regard belongs to US President Donald Trump, who can exert maximum pressure on the Kremlin leader, according to ABC News.
Zelenskyy stressed that everyone understands the need for additional pressure on Putin, but this pressure must primarily come from the United States. He agreed with Trump that some European partners continue to buy Russian oil and gas, which undermines sanctions. He argued that energy trade with Moscow must stop if the goal is to weaken Russia’s war machine.
"We all understand that we need additional pressure on Putin. We need pressure from the United States. And I said that I think that President Trump is right about the Europeans - I am very thankful to all the partners. But some of them, I mean, they continue to buy oil and Russian gas. And this is not fair…So we have to stop buying any kind of energy from Russia," he said.
According to him, the greatest leverage lies with the US and President Trump, who, he hopes, will finally deliver on promises to increase pressure on the Kremlin. Zelenskyy underlined that the White House holds the real power to act and that cutting Russia off from its "weapon" - energy - is essential to halting its aggression.
His remarks came shortly after Trump said on September 7 that he was ready to move to a "second stage" of sanctions against Russia, a statement made in response to a massive Russian strike on Ukrainian cities that killed four people and damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, including the Cabinet of Ministers.
Earlier, on September 2, Trump hinted he had learned "interesting things" about Russia’s war against Ukraine and promised to reveal them soon.
