Zelensky asks the European Union for greater sanctions against Russia and financial aid

First modification: 09/05/2022 – 05:01

An urgent request. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a phone call for the bloc to allocate its next aid package to Ukraine. In addition, she demanded greater sanctions on Russia.

This was announced by the Ukrainian president through his Twitter account. “We discussed the allocation of the next tranche of macro (financial) aid from the European Union as soon as possible. We emphasized the need to prepare the eighth package of (Western) sanctions (on Russia), including the ban on issuing visas to Russian citizens” .

The dialogue took place a day after Zelenski assured that Europe and the United States expect a difficult winter.

“Russia is preparing a decisive energy blow throughout Europe and for this winter,” the president said.

A warning given in the framework of the closure of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, the main conduit for the supply of Russian gas to the European continent.

Thus, as reported by Reuters this Sunday, the energy ministers of the European Union will discuss alternatives to counteract the rise in energy prices. The meeting would take place next week and would seek solutions to stop the effects on European industry and for individuals who have seen the prices of their invoices rise.

Ukrainian Prime Minister asks Germany for more weapons

During his visit to Berlin, the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Schmyhal, thanked the help and solidarity provided by Germany to his country. At the same time, he called for more military hardware and leadership from the European country.

After a meeting with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German head of state, Schmyhal, assured on his Twitter account that he had “thanked the country’s president for the solidarity and support received from Germany.”

The Ukrainian prime minister also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. A meeting in which Schmyhal presented concrete proposals to allow the delivery of battle tanks and other military systems to Ukraine.

On the other hand, he took advantage of his visit to thank Germany for the reception of almost a million refugees who have arrived in that country since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

While the spokesman for the German government, Steffen Hebestreit, assured that points of view had been exchanged at the meeting on the military, humanitarian and economic situation in Ukraine.

Scholz assured that it is necessary to “plan the reconstruction” of Ukraine and “be prepared for this task in the long term”.

Schmyhal’s trip was also a step to ease the tension that had arisen between the two countries after Ukraine had assured that the presence of the German head of state was “unwanted”. Some statements by which Steinmeier canceled his trip to kyiv in April.

Largest convoy of grain ships sets sail from Ukraine

In parallel, Ukraine announced that 13 ships left the country’s ports with 282,500 tons of agricultural products for foreign markets.

This is the largest shipment since an agreement was sealed between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by Turkey and promoted by the United Nations, which allowed exports to resume from that country. One that has allowed the departure of 86 ships and two million tons of agricultural products.

The new convoy set sail from the Black Sea ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdenny and will reach eight countries.

The shipment of grains and agricultural products had been stopped since Russia controlled the Ukrainian outlet to the Black Sea. But the agreement, which sought to alleviate the food crisis that many countries were experiencing as Russia and Ukraine were the largest producers of grains and fertilizers worldwide, would allow kyiv to export 60 million tons of grains in eight or nine months.

With EFE and Reuters