President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s allies to secure support for Kyiv and convince Russia that pressing on with the war would be futile. He made the comment during his evening address on Wednesday ahead of a key European Union summit focused on Moscow’s frozen assets.
"The outcome of these meetings – the outcome for Europe – must be such that Russia feels that its desire to continue fighting next year will be pointless, because Ukraine will have support," Zelenskyy said.
He called on partner countries to take a decision on using almost $250 billion in frozen Russian state assets held within the European Union - the majority of them at Belgium-based Euroclear — to underpin a loan for Ukraine.
"We need all our partners to have the courage to see the truth, acknowledge the truth and act accordingly," Zelenskyy said.
EU governments agreed last week to keep the assets frozen indefinitely, removing the need for a vote every six months. However, several European leaders have raised concerns about the legal risks associated with using the funds.
He also pushed back against claims, often voiced by U.S. allies, that Moscow was seeking a negotiated end to the conflict. Russia’s actions and messaging, he said, including formal military orders, pointed in the opposite direction.
"Allies in the United States often say that Russia seems to want to end the war. But Russia is sending completely different rhetoric and signals, including official orders to its army."
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin said Russia would seize more Ukrainian territory by force if Kyiv and European leaders - whom he derided - failed to engage with U.S.-backed proposals for a peace settlement.
As Türkiye seeks to play a more active diplomatic role in the South Caucasus following the second Karabakh war, questions are growing over what Presi...
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it ...
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills...
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrou...
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a European Council summit that is set to focus on some of the bloc’s most pressing political, eco...
As Türkiye seeks to play a more active diplomatic role in the South Caucasus following the second Karabakh war, questions are growing over what President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan means when he refers to taking “symbolic steps” towards regional normalisation.
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law and set out the direction for American military spending and strategy for the coming year.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a European Council summit that is set to focus on some of the bloc’s most pressing political, economic and security challenges.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
The fourth European Conference on Azerbaijani Studies was held in Vienna, Austria, on 5 December, by the European Network for Azerbaijani Studies and the Strategic Consultancy Group.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is visiting the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, 17 December, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their partnership.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a European Council summit that is set to focus on some of the bloc’s most pressing political, economic and security challenges.
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law and set out the direction for American military spending and strategy for the coming year.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda marking a deeply emotional moment for the nation.
The United States military has carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the second such attack in the space of a week and underscoring a sharp escalation in Washington’s anti-narcotics campaign.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment