Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has called on European states to make efforts to prevent military escalation in the Middle East as tensions are rapidly growing.
He emphasised that we must do everything we can to prevent an “even greater international fire” in the region.
He said, “I thank everyone who is making every effort to maintain unity with Ukraine and within the European Union.
“I would like to emphasize unity in connection with the situation in the Middle East. We must do everything to prevent an even greater international fire in the Middle East.”
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He added, “the enemies of freedom are very interested in taking the free world to a second front, and we must clearly see this calculation and resist it together.
“I thank all the leaders whose active diplomacy is already working for the benefit of security.
“The sooner security dominates there in the Middle East, the sooner we will restore security here in Europe.”
He also called on the EU to expand long-term support programmes for Ukraine which will send a clear message to Vladimir Putin that his “aggression is in vain.”
President Zelensky said, “In a confrontation like the one Russia has unleashed, the winner is the one who proposes a long-term strategy.
“Russia must understand that its aggressive ambitions will endure less than our ability to protect freedom.
“Therefore, every approved program of such long-term support for Ukraine is a clear signal to Russia that its aggression is in vain and that no matter how many resources Putin spends on the war, he will not win.”
He added, “the Russian elite must see and feel this, so that it will be more difficult for the Russian dictator to maintain his position.
“Therefore, it is worth expanding our experience of long-term support programs. Each of these decisions is not easy. But each of them is the defense of freedom and our Europe. A safe Europe.”
At the same time, Zelenskyy thanked individual EU states for the long-term support programs already provided, including budgetary ones. In particular, according to him, among European countries there are already corresponding decisions on such programs from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and the European Commission.
“Outside the EU, I thank Norway, Japan and Switzerland for their long-term steps. A long-term step is being considered in the United States,” he concluded.
