The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, said this Friday in a message to the leaders of the European Union (EU) that his help has come latewhile US President Joe Biden has promised that the Alliance will “respond” to a potential use of chemical weapons.
Meanwhile, hostilities continue: Russia continues to try to establish a corridor between Donetsk and Crimea, besieging the city of Mariupol, the number of refugees almost reaches 3.7 million people and civilian deaths, according to the balance of Nations United, there are already 1,035.
(Also read: Zelensky calls for protests around the world against the invasion of Ukraine).
If it had been preventive, Russia would not have gone to war
Zelenski reproached the European leaders that the sanctions that have been approved against Russia throughout this month of invasion have come “a little late”, because they have not managed to prevent the war.
“They have approved sanctions. We are grateful. These are powerful steps. But it was a bit late. Because if it had been preventive, Russia would not have gone to war,” Zelensky told the heads of state and government of the European Union, during the intervention he made by videoconference at the summit that the Twenty-seven held in Brussels.
The European Union (EU) did not finalize a new package of sanctions against Russiawhile the United States and the United Kingdom did announce more reprisals against Moscow, one month after the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
(Also: What effects will the conflict between Russia and Ukraine trigger?).
In the conclusions approved at the end of the meeting, the EU once again asked Moscow to cease the attacks, allow the creation of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians, give access to humanitarian aid and release the hostages.
US President Joe Biden will travel to Poland this Fridaythe country that has received the largest number of Ukrainian refugees after the Russian invasion, where he will visit the town of Rzeszów, near the border with Ukraine.
Request for help from NATO
Zelensky wants the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the governing military alliance of powerful nations, to hand over Ukraine advanced combat aircraft, missile defense systems, tanks, armored vehicles and anti-ship missiles.
“In these three summits we will see who is a friend, who is a partner and who has betrayed us for money,” he said before last Thursday’s conclaves.
NATO members have maintained a steady shipment of weapons to Ukraine, but these are mainly defensive devices.
The United States has indicated that allies could supply anti-ship missiles and announced it will donate an additional $1 billion in humanitarian aid. He also proposed taking in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
(Keep reading: How I survived the 500kg bomb attack on the Mariupol theater).
Since the invasion began, more than 10 million Ukrainians – about a quarter of the country’s population – have been forced to flee their homes. Among the displaced there are 4.3 million children, according to Unicef.
“It is a sad reality that risks having lasting consequences for generations to come,” said Unicef Director General Catherine Russell.
Of the 10 million displaced, 3.7 million fled abroad, according to UN data.
EFE and AFP
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