Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United States to expand sanctions on Russian oil from two companies to the whole sector and appealed for long-range missiles to hit back at Russia.
Mr Zelenskyy was in London for talks with two dozen European leaders who have pledged military help to shield his country from future Russian aggression should a ceasefire be imposed after more than three years of war.
The meeting hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer aimed to step up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding momentum to recent measures including a new round of sanctions from the US and European countries on Russia’s vital oil and gas export earnings.
The “Coalition of the Willing” talks were held in London this week. (Reuters: Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The talks also addressed ways to help protect Ukraine’s power grid from Russia’s almost daily drone and missiles attacks as winter approaches.
The enhancement of Ukrainian air defences and the supply of longer-range missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia were also discussed.
Mr Zelenskyy has urged the US to send Tomahawk missiles, an idea US President Donald Trump has flirted with.
Oil sanctions ‘a big step’
The Ukrainian leader described Mr Trump’s imposition of oil sanctions this week as “a big step” but said more could be done.
Why Ukraine wants US Tomahawk missiles
“We have to apply pressure not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies,” Mr Zelenskyy said during a news conference at the Foreign Office in London.
“Besides, we are carrying out our own campaign of pressure with drones and missiles specifically targeting the Russian oil sector.”
Trump also put on hold a plan for a swift meeting with Putin in Budapest, because he did not want it to be a “waste of time”.
Mr Putin has so far resisted efforts to push him into negotiating a peace settlement with Mr Zelenskyy and has argued that the motives for Russia’s invasion of its smaller neighbour are legitimate.
Russia has also been adept at finding loopholes in Western sanctions.
Vladimir Putin has so far resisted efforts to negotiate a peace settlement with Ukraine. (Reuters: Sputnik/Alexander Shcherbak)
Putin exasperating Western leaders
Mr Putin’s stance has exasperated Western leaders.
“He’s rejected the opportunity for talks once again, instead making ludicrous demands for Ukrainian land, which he could not and has not taken by force,” Mr Starmer said at a news conference alongside Mr Zelenskyy and several other European leaders.
“Of course, that is a complete non-starter.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the US to send Tomahawk missiles. (Reuters: Kirsty Wigglesworth)
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Mr Putin’s goals remain unchanged but he “is running out of money, troops and ideas”.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also attended Friday’s meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”.
About 20 other leaders joined by video link.
AP