Volodymyr Zelensky slams Europe as NATO foreign ministers meet

NATO leaders are meeting for urgent talks as Europe is condemned for its hesitancy to slap Russia with further consequences.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned hesitancy in Europe over barring Russian energy imports, arguing some leaders were more worried about business losses than about war crimes.

The European Union is poised to implement a fifth round of sanctions cutting off Russian coal imports, while NATO and G7 foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels for further steps on co-ordinated action.

New “rhetoric” about sanctions had emerged, Zelensky told the Irish parliament, “but I cannot tolerate any indecisiveness after everything we have gone through in Ukraine and everything that Russian troops have done.

“We still need to convince Europe that Russian oil cannot feed the Russian military machine with new sources of funding,” Zelensky added, calling also for the total exclusion of Russian banks from Western finance.

Pope Francis holding a flag of Ukraine that comes from the city of Bucha during the weekly general audience in The Vatican. Picture: VATICAN MEDIA / AFP

NATO’s position surrounding Ukraine is relatively unchanged despite global horror at pictures of mass civilian killings in the outskirts of Kyiv.

While it fundamentally supports Ukraine it is hesitant to put troops on the group or planes in the sky, for fear of throwing the globe into another World War.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance expects a new Russian push in “coming weeks”.

After withdrawing most of its troops from northern Ukraine, Moscow aims to capture the “entire” Donbas region in the east, with the aim of creating a land corridor from Russia to annexed Crimea.

“The only thing we are lacking is the principled approach of some leaders — political leaders, business leaders — who still think that war and war crimes are not as horrific as financial losses,” Zelensky said, speaking through an interpreter.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on giant screens as he addresses members of the lower and upper houses of the Irish parliament in Dublin. Picture: MAXWELLS / AFP

Field engineers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine conduct mine clearing among destroyed vehicles on a street of Bucha. Picture: Genya SAVILOV / AFP

Some EU countries, notably Germany, have been reluctant to hit all Russian energy exports because of the damage it would do to their own economies.

The UK however is urging tougher sanctions.

But pressure has been building following the reports of mass civilian deaths in Bucha and other places in Ukraine formerly held by Russian troops.

The EU must impose oil and gas sanctions on Russia “sooner or later”, European Council chief Charles Michel told MEPs in Strasbourg.

European Council President Charles Michel during a debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting regarding Russian invasion of Ukraine at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Picture: Frederick FLORIN / AFP

Zelensky’s video address to the Irish parliament was his latest to foreign politicians appealing for economic, military and diplomatic support against Russia.

He detailed incessant Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine including in the devastated city of Mariupol, where he said even melt snow was no longer available for people to use as drinking water.

Through its bombardment and siege tactics, Russia was using “hunger as a weapon” against Ukrainians and by extension against countries in North Africa and Asia that relied on imports of cereals from Ukraine.

“The country doing this doesn’t deserve to be in the circle of civilised countries,” Zelensky said.

“Russia hasn’t yet abandoned their plans,” he added.

“They are still looking to subdue and occupy all Ukraine’s people.”

Last month, western leaders gathered in unprecedented emergency meetings to discuss overhauling the alliance’s eastern defences.

Described as historic and one of the most important talks to date, leaders including Mr Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Brussels for a one day trio of meetings.

The US announced it would take in up to 100,000 Ukraine war refugees and pledged $1bn in extra humanitarian aid for those impacted.