Europe Asia News

Speaking to EU leaders at the Council of Europe meeting, Zelensky said he was addressing them at a critical moment when Russia is actively trying to weaponize the cold weather.

He stressed that Ukraine knows what must be done to prevent the worst scenarios, adding: “This requires decisive and urgent collective action.”

Zelensky stated: “The Russians want Ukraine to enter winter with power outages. Most Russian missile and drone attacks aim to destroy normal life in our cities and communities, force people to flee, or leave them completely without electricity.”

He added that pushing for stronger sanctions is not just about protecting Ukraine: “Sanctions limit Russia’s war machine and put pressure on those who influence politics – companies, Putin’s inner circle, Russian oligarchs, and the entire state system. The EU’s enlargement is also part of our collective defense and Europe’s geopolitical security. Just as Ukraine fulfills its promises, I ask you to find a way for the EU to fulfill its own.”