Zelensky says European sanctions on Russia came ‘a little late’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked members of the European Council for imposing sanctions on Russia – but said it was “a little late”.

In his speech to the Council of Europe posted on Facebook late on Thursday, Zelensky said that if the sanctions were pre-emptive, there was a chance Russia would not have gone to war.

“You have blocked Nord Stream 2. We are grateful to you. And rightly so. But it was also a little late. Because if it had been in time, Russia would not have created a gas crisis. At least there was a chance,” he told the board.

Zelensky told member states: “The Russian military does not see what dignity is. They don’t know what consciousness is. They don’t understand why we value our freedom so much. This is what determines how the country will live”.

He said Russia has already destroyed 230 schools, 155 kindergartens and killed 128 children in Ukraine.

“Whole cities, villages. Only to ashes. Nothing remains,” he said, “the Russian military has killed journalists. Though they saw the ‘press’ indication on them. They may not have been taught to read. Just to kill.”

In his speech, Zelensky thanked member states for their support, but did not go so far as to thank Hungary, asking Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to “decide now” on his treatment of Russia.

“You [Orban] hesitate to impose sanctions or not? And do you hesitate to pass up the weapons or not? And do you hesitate to negotiate with Russia or not? There is no time to hesitate. It’s time to decide.”

Source: CNN Brasil

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