Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky praises Australia for sending him ‘heavy weapons’ to combat Vladimir Putin’s ‘nuclear blackmail’ as war with Russia threatens to escalate
- Volodymyr Zelensky praised Australia’s help in a speech to the Lowy Institute
- He also called on Australia to pressure the international community for a UN vote.
- However, he caused controversy after suggesting that NATO should attack Russia.
Ukraine’s president has praised Australia for sending him ‘heavy weapons’ to fight Russian forces in his country.
Speaking to the Lowy Institute, Volodymyr Zelensky praised Australia’s help in combating Putin’s ‘nuclear blackmail’.
“The more weapons and ammunition we receive (artillery, drones, air defense, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons), the more Russia feels a responsibility to violate international law, and ultimately the aggressor will feel that… he has little room. for any climbing element,’ Zelensky said, via video link.
Zelensky also called on Australia to put pressure on the international community ahead of a crucial vote at the United Nations.
Zelensky praised Australia for sending him “heavy weapons” to fight Russian forces in his country.
“Next week, the UN General Assembly will consider a resolution of non-recognition and condemnation of yet another attempted annexation of territory by Russia,” he said.
“I ask Australia to use all its influence to convince as many countries as possible not to remain neutral and vote in favor of international law and against Russia’s annexation.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has harshly criticized Russia for the ‘bogus’ referendums it has held in the regions it tries to claim.
He also announced that the government had filed an intervention in the International Court of Justice supporting Ukraine’s claims that Russia violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Zelensky said that Vladimir Putin would use ‘nuclear blackmail’ to cow nations from taking on Russia.
He said that a criminal who did not receive the proper punishment for his crimes would perceive it as “permission” to reoffend.
The Ukrainian president said that if he did not stop, the Russian president would also ‘consume’ other nations.
However, he also sparked protests after he suggested that NATO should launch pre-emptive strikes to rule out any Russian use of nuclear weapons.
Speaking to the Lowy Institute, Volodymyr Zelensky praised Australia’s help in combating Putin’s ‘nuclear blackmail’.
What should NATO do? Make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons,’ he told the Australian think tank.
“Importantly, I once again appeal to the international community…preemptive strikes so that (the Russians) know what will happen to them if they use (nuclear weapons).”
Zelensky did not go into detail about what kind of strikes he was referring to and made no reference to the need for nuclear strikes.
Russia was quick to denounce his comments.
“Such statements are nothing more than a call to start another world war with unpredictable and monstrous consequences,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
