The president of Ukraine commended Australia for providing his country with “strong weapons” to confront Russian forces.
Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to the Lowy Institute, lauded Australia’s assistance in combating Putin’s ‘nuclear blackmail’
“The more weaponry and ammunition we acquire — artillery, drones, anti-aircraft defense, anti-tank, and anti-ship weapons — the more Russia feels responsible for breaking international law, and the aggressor will feel that he… has limited room for escalation,” Zelensky stated through videolink.
Mr. Zelensky also urged Australia to press the international community prior to a vital United Nations decision.
Mr. Zelensky lauded Australia for providing him with “big weapons” to battle Russian forces in his country.
The UN General Assembly will discuss a resolution of non-recognition and condemnation of Russia’s latest annexation effort next week, he added.
I am requesting Australia to utilize all of its influence to persuade as many nations as possible to vote for international law and against a Russian annexation, rather than remaining neutral.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticized Russia for holding “fake” referendums in places it is attempting to seize.
She said that the government had filed an intervention with the International Court of Justice in support of Ukraine’s claims that Russia had breached the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Mr. Zelensky asserted that Vladimir Putin will use “nuclear blackmail” to intimidate states from opposing Russia.
He stated that a criminal who did not receive enough punishment for his offenses would interpret this as “license” to commit other crimes.
The Ukrainian president stated that if the Russian president is not stopped, he will “devour” other states.
However, he also provoked outrage when he stated that NATO should execute preemptive attacks to prevent the use of nuclear weapons by Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky lauded Australia’s assistance in combating Putin’s ‘nuclear blackmail’ in a speech to the Lowy Institute.
What ought NATO to do? Make it hard for Russia to deploy nuclear weapons,’ Putin told a think institute in Australia.
Importantly, I plead once more to the world community for preventive strikes so that (the Russians) know what will happen if they (nuclear weapons) are used.
Mr. Zelensky did not specify the type of strikes he was referring to and made no mention of the need for nuclear strikes.
Russia swiftly denounced his remarks.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, stated, “Such words are nothing more than a call to ignite yet another world war with unexpected, terrible repercussions.