Renew: 11/06/2022 16:02
Issued by: 11/06/2022, 16:02
Kyiv/Singapore – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, speaking remotely to conference attendees in Singapore, said that the outcome of Russia’s current war against Ukraine will affect not only his homeland, but also the future international order of the world.
Ukrainian forces are trying to push the Russians out of the areas they occupied at the start of the war and are resisting fierce attacks by Russian forces in the east of the country, especially near the city of Severodonetsk. Zelenskyy praised the aid of the West and its Asian allies so far and said it was vital that partner countries did not slack off in providing aid to belligerent Ukraine.
“I thank you for your support, but this support is intended not only for Ukraine, but also for you,” the Ukrainian president said, according to Reuters. “The future rules of this world, along with the boundaries of what is possible, are being decided on the Ukrainian battlefield,” he added.
He pointed out that Russia, by blocking ports on the Black and Azov Seas, prevents the export of Ukrainian food to world markets, which is damaging not only Ukraine, but the whole world.
“If we are unable to export our food as a result of the Russian blockade, the world will face an acute and serious food crisis and hunger in many Asian and African countries,” he warned.
Zelenskyy directly linked Russia’s actions to rising commodity prices, saying that Russia first blocked energy from raising their prices, and now they are doing the same with food.
Russia has called its war against Ukraine, now in its 108th day, a “special operation” and says its aim is not to occupy the territory but to “demilitarize” and “denazify” neighboring countries.
Zelenskyy told 575 delegates from four dozen countries that the Ukrainian army had no intention of penetrating Russia. “Please remember that a war is going on on our territory. Ukraine is dying. We don’t want Russian land,” he said.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Singapore Kateryna Zelenková stressed the importance of further international assistance. “We understand it will take time, but time is what we don’t have,” he said, according to Reuters.
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