By KYIV. Dec 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – In an appeal to the leaders of the G7 and the EU, Ukrainian business expressed concern that Russia could achieve the result of the destruction of the power infrastructure in the coming weeks, and to avoid this, business is asking for long-range strike weapons.
This is conntained in an appeal to the leaders of the G7 countries and the EU from the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (UUE), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine (CII of Ukraine), the Independent Association of Banks of Ukraine, the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, FBN Ukraine, CEO Club Ukraine, Board, IT Association of Ukraine, Lviv IT Cluster, Ukrainian Agribusiness Club, etc.
According to the appeal, on December 5, it was fifteenth time when Russia attacked on civilian energy infrastructure since the beginning of October.
"To prevent a humanitarian and economic catastrophe in Ukraine, one that would surely spill into neighbouring countries, Western leaders must urgently draw a credible red line over the continued bombardment of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. The Western response should include stronger military support and economic intervention. Specifically, weapons delivery to Ukraine must increase, namely long-range missiles, while radically enhanced sanctions must be imposed on the Russian economy and secondary sanctions introduced to close loopholes currently being exploited by the Kremlin," business said.
Lifting restrictions on targeting Russian military objects is critically important.
"Without this capability to conduct retaliatory actions, Putin might achieve his goal within several weeks (and so far he is on track) – denying tens of millions of Ukrainians electricity, heat, and water. Without Ukrainian retaliatory capability, many more civilians will die, more businesses will close, jobs will be lost, and Ukraine’s economy devastated," they said in the appeal.
This horrifying outcome only means that the cost of rebuilding and renewing Ukraine and its economy will cost billions more.
"It is not just Ukraine’s fate at stake today. Unless Putin is defeated once and for all, Moldova, Poland, the Baltic countries, and others will certainly be targeted next. Western leaders currently have a unique opportunity to defeat Putin in Ukraine without sacrificing any of their own troops. Ukrainians have proven themselves to be resilient, resistant, and resolute. We are ready to fight for our country’s survival and for Europe’s freedom. All we ask is for the West to give Ukraine the tools to finish the job and to save tens of millions of Ukrainians and their European neighbours from a winter without electricity, heat, and water," businessmen said in the appeal.
