Ukrainian president Volodymir Zelensky has called on Cyprus and other countries of the European Union to close their ports to Russian ships. He did so in a video address to the Parliament of Cyprus.
“We ask that all Cypriot ports be closed to all Russian ships,” Zelensky said. “This should also be a joint decision of the European Union.”
The ambassadors of the EU member states approved on Thursday evening, after Zelensky’s speech was already over, a new package of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on Russian ships in European ports. The Ukrainian president thanked Cyprus for the humanitarian assistance it provided to his country and once again described the Russian atrocities committed in Ukraine. He also showed video footage. He called on policymakers not to allow such crimes to happen.