Zelenskyy: Threat of nuclear attack puts global security at risk
Sydney, Australia, Mar 31 (EFE).- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Australian parliament Thursday that the increased threat of a nuclear attack puts global security at risk.
“For dozens of years there hasn’t been this threat of a nuclear attack as we have now because Russian representatives, official propagandists, are openly discussing the possibility of using nuclear weapons against those who do not want to subdue to Russian commands,” Zelenskyy said.
“The country that uses nuclear blackmail should receive sanctions that should show that this blackmail is destructive for the blackmailer,” he continued.
“If we don’t stop Russia now, if we don’t hold Russia accountable, then other countries in the world that are looking to (wage) a similar war against their neighbors will decide that such things are possible as well.
“The fate of global security is decided now.”
In his speech, Zelenskyy stressed the need to slap further sanctions on Russia and its allies and urged for a stiff blockade of Russian ships in all international ports.
“You have very good armored vehicles, Bushmasters, that could help Ukraine substantially, and other pieces of equipment that could strengthen our position in terms of weaponry,” he said in a direct request to the Australian parliament.
Zelenskyy called for those responsible for “war crimes” to be punished and referred to the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane on Ukrainian territory in July 2014.
The plane was struck by a Russian missile launched by pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people, mostly Ukrainians, Dutch and Australian nationals, an international investigation concluded.
“Unpunished evil comes back with inspiration,” Zelenskyy said.
“If the world had punished Russia in 2014 for what it did there would not be any of this terror in Ukraine in 2022” the president added.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who called Zelenskyy “a lion of democracy”, announced an additional 25 million Australian dollars ($18.7 million) in military aid for Ukraine.
Australia had already issued 156 million Australian dollars in aid to Ukraine as well as donations of military equipment. EFE
wat/ch/jt
