Zelensky seeks tightening sanctions on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for expanding international sanctions against Russia due to the unprotested invasion Moscow launched against his country in 2022.

Zelensky made that call on 25 April, as he met in Kiev with British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt, with whom he spoke about the situation in Ukraine and the need to make it more difficult to avoid sanctions imposed on Russia.

“We dedicated special importance to sanctions policy”, wrote Zelensky on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“It is important to expand restrictive measures against Russia and avoid sanctions as impossible”, he added.

Zelensky thanked Britain for the new military aid package, which British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced earlier this week.

The largest $622 million package Britain has so far donated to Ukraine was made public by Sunaku during his visit to Poland on 23 April, making London's overall military aid promised to Kiev this year reach $3.71 billion.

Britain, one of Ukraine's key allies, also said it would send the largest military package to Kiev.

British Minister Hunt, during his visit to Ukraine, also met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Danys Schmyhal, with whom he talked about the content of the military aid package, which includes air defence systems, so that Ukraine can better protect cities from Russian air strikes.

Hunt's visit to Ukraine comes shortly after US President Joe Biden signed the $1 61 billion military aid package for Kiev on 24 April.

According to the American president, necessary assistance, including air protection systems, will be delivered within hours. / REL/