More than 20 nations supporting Ukraine have committed to removing Russian oil and gas from the global market to apply pressure on President Vladimir Putin to end the ongoing conflict. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced this pledge following a summit with the “coalition of the willing” in London. Recent sanctions from the UK and US have targeted Russia’s largest oil companies, while the European Union has focused on Moscow’s exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the summit, emphasized that increased pressure on Russia is essential for halting hostilities. However, no announcements were made regarding long-range missile deliveries to Ukraine. Zelensky has consistently argued that the provision of US-made Tomahawks and European missiles would heighten the costs for Moscow by targeting critical military infrastructure within Russia. During discussions in Washington, US President Donald Trump indicated he was not inclined to provide these missiles.
Putin has warned that the use of such weapons against Russian territory would provoke an overwhelming response. The conflict commenced with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
During a joint press conference, Starmer asserted that given Putin’s lack of commitment to peace, Ukraine’s allies have devised a strategic plan for continued support throughout the year. This plan includes targeting Russian sovereign assets to release funding for Ukraine’s defense, though specific details were not disclosed.
Additionally, EU leaders have agreed to provide financial support for Ukraine over the next two years but have not finalized decisions regarding the use of frozen Russian assets worth approximately €140 billion. Discussions at the summit also addressed enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses amid ongoing aerial assaults from Russia.
In Ukraine, many citizens remain focused on immediate challenges such as power outages and water shortages, exacerbated by recent air strikes. While leaders discuss strategies, some Ukrainians express skepticism about the likelihood of an early resolution to the conflict.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17p54edxljo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss