- Ukrainian President Calls for Stronger Action Against Russian Oil and Gas Revenues, Warns Against Allowing the War to Fade from International Attention
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States and the international community to intensify pressure on Russia, warning that Moscow could seek to exploit shifting international attention and Ukraine’s air defence challenges to continue its attacks.
Zelenskyy said Russia was counting on the world’s attention being diverted towards the US congressional midterm elections, potentially overshadowing the continuing war in Ukraine and the country’s urgent need for stronger air defence capabilities, including Patriot missile systems.
He warned that Ukraine’s security situation must not be neglected at a time when Russian attacks continue to threaten civilians, cities and critical infrastructure.
Zelenskyy Calls for a Clear Message to Moscow
The Ukrainian president stressed that the international community must send Russia an unmistakable message that military aggression and attacks on civilians would not produce strategic or economic gains.
“We need signals from the world to Russia that will make them feel that terror is no good, that it will bring no gains, and that as long as this war continues, their oil will burn, and they will not be able to make money doing business with the world,” Zelenskyy said.
His remarks underscored Kyiv’s position that sustained international pressure is essential to limiting Russia’s capacity to finance and continue its military campaign.
Oil and Gas Revenues at the Centre of Pressure Strategy
Zelenskyy emphasised that Russia’s oil and gas revenues should remain a central focus of international efforts to constrain Moscow’s war-making capabilities.
He urged governments not to weaken measures targeting Russia’s energy income, arguing that economic pressure must remain consistent for as long as the war continues.
According to the Ukrainian president, the objective should be to leave Moscow with no viable alternative to ending its military campaign and pursuing peace.
His comments reflect Kyiv’s longstanding argument that restrictions on Russian energy earnings, alongside military assistance and coordinated diplomatic action, can help reduce the resources available to sustain the conflict.
Appeal to Washington and the International Community
Zelenskyy called on the United States and other international partners to maintain their commitment to Ukraine’s defence, stressing that Russian attacks must not be allowed to continue without meaningful consequences.
“America can do this, the world can do this. These Russian killings must be stopped. And we in Ukraine are quite rightly responding to every Russian attack on our people and our cities,” he said.
The Ukrainian president’s appeal comes amid continuing demands for air defence systems and ammunition to protect Ukrainian population centres and essential infrastructure against Russian strikes.
Ukraine Calls for Sustained International Solidarity
Zelenskyy’s message highlighted Kyiv’s concern that competing international priorities could diminish attention to the war and weaken support for Ukraine at a critical moment.
For Ukraine, maintaining international solidarity involves more than diplomatic statements. It requires continued defensive assistance, coordinated economic measures against Russia and sustained efforts to ensure that attacks on Ukrainian territory do not become an accepted feature of the international security landscape.
The Ukrainian leadership maintains that a durable peace must be supported by measures that discourage further aggression and ensure that the costs of continuing the war outweigh any perceived benefits for Moscow.
As the conflict continues, Kyiv is urging its partners to remain focused on protecting civilians, strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and maintaining pressure on Russia until a credible path towards ending the war emerges.
BY: The Times Union – STANISLAV POHORILOV
