NATO stresses Ukraine's military support Zelensky: Russia uses hunger as a weapon

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed Ukraine's need for urgent military aid, while Russia faces a new package of sanctions described by the US President as "devastating", while the Ukrainian president demands that sanctions include the energy sector.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed, on Wednesday, Ukraine's need for urgent military aid, while Russia faces a new package of sanctions described by the US President as "devastating", and the Ukrainian president demands that the sanctions include the energy sector.

Stoltenberg explained that they will discuss the attacks on civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, saying: "What is happening shows the nature of the war that Russian President Vladimir Putin is continuing, as targeting civilians is a war crime."

Stoltenberg stressed that they will monitor the latest situation in Ukraine with NATO member states, stressing that the necessary action will be taken to punish those who target civilians.

He pointed out that Russia is moving its forces towards northern Ukraine in order to strengthen its units and advance further east, adding: "We are waiting for a major ground operation," and added: "It is important that NATO allies agree to provide greater support to Ukraine with heavy and light ammunition."

He also expressed his belief that Putin does not intend to give up his intention to impose control over all of Ukraine, saying: "Therefore we must prepare in the long term, support Ukraine, maintain sanctions against Russia and strengthen our defense system."

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of targeting his country's agricultural sector and using hunger as a "weapon" against its people, noting that Russia struck a new fuel storage depot.

"The Russians destroy things that sustain people's livelihoods, such as fuel depots, food stores, agricultural equipment, and mining fields," he added.

He also explained that the Russians closed all Ukrainian seaports, in addition to the ships carrying agricultural goods for export, wondering: "Why are they doing this? For them, hunger is also a weapon against our ordinary citizens, and an instrument of control."

Zelensky called for "more sanctions to be imposed on Russia," saying: "They still aspire to subjugate and occupy all the Ukrainian people, and we want to do everything we can to make sure that Russia will start looking for peace and leave us alone."

Zelensky denounced the Europeans' reluctance to ban Russian energy imports, noting that some leaders are more keen on business than war crimes.

He said that a new discourse on sanctions appeared in Europe, adding, "But I cannot tolerate any hesitation after everything we went through in Ukraine and everything the Russian soldiers did."

In a related context, US President Joe Biden linked the new US sanctions announced on Russia today to the atrocities in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, saying: "I made it clear that Russia will pay a heavy and immediate price for its atrocities in Bucha."

Earlier on Wednesday, the United States announced a new package of economic and financial sanctions, which it described as "devastating", against Russia, targeting major banks and Putin's two daughters.

The United States also intends to impose other sanctions on Russia, in coordination with the European Union and the Group of Seven major industrialized countries, aimed in particular at "preventing any new investment" in Russia, according to a source familiar with the file, who told AFP.

These punitive measures also include "enhanced sanctions against financial institutions and public companies in Russia, and sanctions against Russian government officials and their relatives."

On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, which was followed by angry international reactions and the imposition of "tough" economic and financial sanctions on Moscow.

To end the operation, Russia requires Ukraine to abandon any plans to join military entities, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and to adhere to complete neutrality, which Kyiv considers an "interference in its sovereignty."