Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday asked the Dutch parliament for weapons, reconstruction aid and for the country to suspend all business with Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
“Stronger sanctions are needed so that Russia does not have a chance to carry out this war in Europe,” he told lawmakers via video call. “Stop all trade with Russia,” he declared.
Zelensky, the first foreign head of state to address a plenary session of the 150-member Dutch Chamber of Deputies, said the Netherlands must “be prepared to stop Russia’s energy from paying billions for the war”.
About 20% of Dutch natural gas comes from Russia, which has become an increasingly important trading partner for the Netherlands in recent years.
The Dutch, along with other European Union countries, including Germany, are looking for other sources of energy, but available alternatives are few and global supply is limited.
Zelensky urged the Dutch to “adopt a city” in Ukraine to focus post-war reconstruction efforts.
The Netherlands has provided Ukrainian forces with military equipment, including anti-tank rockets and Patriot air defense systems, as well as is supporting increased NATO presence along the military alliance’s eastern flank.
The Dutch have so far been unable to effectively freeze or seize tens of billions of euros of Russian assets registered in the Netherlands, due to complex tax structures that make it difficult to identify the ultimate owners of corporate stakes and property.
A letter from the Ministry of Finance sent to Parliament on March 22 said that 392 million euros ($431.24 million) in Russian assets and transactions had been frozen under EU sanctions imposed since the February 24 invasion.
Opposition Labor Party leader Lilianne Ploumen has called on Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government to urgently implement EU sanctions and quickly direct assets because “we can no longer justify this to Ukraine”.
In a reference to war crimes tribunals in the Netherlands, Zelensky appealed for justice.
“Those who gave the orders (to bomb Ukraine) must be called to account. In The Hague, city of the courts, people know this,” he said.
Photos — Destroyed blocks in Mariupol confirm heavy bombing in recent weeks
Source: CNN Brasil
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