The president said that Russia could receive about $10 billion from easing US sanctions on oil, such decisions only strengthen Moscow’s ability to finance the war.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris said that the US decision to suspend sanctions on the sale of Russian oil and oil products loaded on ships until March 12 could bring Russia about $10 billion, informs the portal PromPolitInform.
On sanctions against the Russian Federation
According to Zelensky, even such a limited easing of sanctions can significantly replenish the Russian budget.
“Only one this relief from America can give Russia a war worth about $10 billion. This definitely does not help peace,” the President of Ukraine emphasized.
He stressed that the easing of sanctions against the Russian energy sector actually creates additional resources for the continuation of aggression against Ukraine.
“This will strengthen its military capabilities, because Moscow directs funds from the sale of energy resources to the production of weapons. This money, in particular, goes to the production of drones, which are massively used against Ukraine, and in other regions,” Zelensky said.
“Removing sanctions so that more drones arrive on you later, in my opinion, is not the right decision,” he commented on Trump’s decision.
About the request for Ukrainian drones
The President also said that Ukrainian expert groups have already sent to three states, and Kyiv is ready to help partners in the fight against Shahed. Requests come from the Middle East. Cooperation with the United States and Jordan is also being discussed. As of Friday, March 13, there is a request from six countries for the assistance of Ukrainian experts in the Middle East, there is a separate request for Jordan.
“At the end of the week, the military and the NSDC secretary will return, and the report will be complete… We will understand the amount of help that our partners expect from us,” Zelensky said.
In total, more than 10 countries turned to Kyiv for support in protecting against Iranian drones.
“Now we in Ukraine have the world’s largest expertise in countering the Shahed because of this war, certainly because of these massive attacks… It is not enough just to get interceptors somewhere, it is necessary that there is experience in their use. Our soldiers have such experience, there must be appropriate system work with radars, with the entire air defense system,” the president added.
Zelensky also stressed that the presence of interceptor drones does not guarantee effective protection without operators, software and a systematic approach to air defense. And it is precisely such a system of counteraction to drones that the Armed Forces of Ukraine currently have.
Macron recalled the help of the EU
French President Emmanuel Macron, in turn, said that the EU is now the main donor of assistance to Ukraine, the total amount of which from 2022 is approaching 200 billion euros. France promises Ukraine further comprehensive support.
“We will do everything possible to ensure that the loan of 90 billion euros, which was decided, was unlocked,” he said.
He also added that the preparation of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia is ongoing.
“France also plans to play a leading role in the fight against the Russian shadow fleet,” Macron emphasized.
Macron also condemned the attack on the French military base in Iraq. At the same time, he stressed that France in the region occupies an exclusively defensive position aimed at supporting the allies.
Defense cooperation between Ukraine and France
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron of Paris also discussed security issues of Ukraine and Europe, as well as the development of joint defense production. According to Zelensky, the main attention was paid to bilateral defense projects, in particular within the SAFE program. It was also about strengthening air defense and the development of combat aircraft.
“We talked about bilateral projects, about the SAFE program. All this is a significant potential that can strengthen both our states and the whole of Europe. Ukraine is grateful for the defense support of France during all these years. And today we have identified steps and concrete solutions that can give a strong result. This applies to air defense and military aviation,” Zelensky said.
