“The threat of a nuclear attack is not as great as it has been for decades, because Russian propagandists are openly discussing the possibility of using nuclear weapons against those who do not want to submit to (Russia’s) orders,” Zhelensky said in a statement. The speech was broadcast live and simultaneously translated by members of the Australian Parliament.
“The country that uses the nuclear threat must be subject to sanctions that prove that this threat is destructive to the blackmailer,” Zhelensky said.
During the video conference, the Ukrainian head of state asked for Australia’s help in intensifying sanctions against Moscow, as well as military equipment, including vehicles.
“You have good armored vehicles, bushmasters (Australian production) and other equipment that can help Ukraine significantly,” the Ukrainian head of state stressed.
Earlier, Canberra Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia would provide an additional $ 25 million (.7 16.7 million) in military aid to Ukraine.
The amount announced today is in addition to the 156 million Australian dollars (111 million euros) that Canberra has already sent to Kiev, including military supplies (death and defense).
Australia has imposed a series of sanctions on Belarus, an ally of Russia and Moscow, condemning the invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky, in the same speech, recalled that in July 2014, MH17 commercial plane was shot down by pro-Russian forces in Ukrainian territory, killing 298 people, most of them Dutch and Australian citizens.
“If we had punished Russia for what it did … the invasion would not have happened,” he told the Australian Parliament.
Zhelensky maintains relations with the parliaments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine on February 24 that killed at least 1,189 civilians, including 108 children, and wounded 1,901, including 142 children. Very high.
The war has displaced more than 10 million people, including more than 4 million refugees in neighboring countries and nearly 6.5 million internally displaced people.
The UN estimates that about 13 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance.
The Russian invasion was generally condemned by the international community, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and strengthening economic and political sanctions on Moscow.