By KYIV. Nov 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the participating countries of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and prepare a new sanctions package against it.
"Russia has staked on a genocidal policy – and therefore destroys our energy infrastructure. To ‘kill’ electricity, water and heat supply in winter – and this is Russia’s goal – is to put the lives of millions of people at direct risk. This is equivalent to the use of weapons of mass destruction – an absolute crime," he said, speaking by video link at the Assembly session on Monday.
Therefore, Zelensky said, "it would be right if you recognize Russia in your parliaments as a state-sponsor of terrorism, as the parliaments of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic did."
"It would be right if your countries constantly strengthen sanctions against Russia, which has become the complete opposite of our community and the most anti-European force in the world. It is the constant strengthening of sanctions that will not allow the terrorist state to adapt and find new ways to ensure its terror," he said.
Zelensky stated the need to adopt a new, ninth, EU sanctions package and new sanctions against Russia for terror – "immediately after the restriction of export prices for Russian energy resources."
“It would be right if we exclude the key terrorist plan of Russia and provide Ukraine with full protection of the sky. When Russian missiles, Iranian drones and any other instruments of terror fail to reach their intended targets, Russia will have to do what you and I need, namely follow our Formula for Peace," he said.
But for this, Ukraine, he noted, "needs to be provided with sufficient quantity and quality of air defense and missile defense systems, sufficient weight of defense and financial support. The terrorist state must see that it has no chance."
The Ukrainian formula for peace, voiced by Zelensky at the G-20 summit, includes radiation and nuclear security; food security; energy security; release of all prisoners and deportees; implementation of the UN Charter and restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and world order; withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities; return of justice; countering ecocide; prevention of escalation; and the last – recording the end of the war.
