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Zelensky says European sanctions on Russia were "a little late"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the European Council in a video posted to Facebook late Thursday night March 24

25 March 2022 07:51 (UTC +04:00)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European Council members for putting sanctions on Russia -- but said “it was a little late,” APA reports citing CNN.

In his address to the European Council posted to Facebook late Thursday night, Zelensky said if the sanctions had been preventative, there was a chance Russia would not have gone to war.

“You blocked Nord Stream 2. We are grateful to you. And rightly so. But it was also a little late. Because if it had been in time, Russia would not have created a gas crisis. At least there was a chance,” he told the council.

Zelensky told member states: "The Russian military does not see what dignity is. They do not know what conscience is. They do not understand why we value our freedom so much. This is what determines how the country will live."

He said Russia has already destroyed 230 schools, 155 kindergartens and killed 128 children in Ukraine.

“Whole cities, villages. Just to ashes. Nothing remains,” he said, “The Russian military killed journalists. Although they saw the inscription "Press" on them. They may not have been taught to read. Only to kill.”

In his address, Zelensky thanked member states for their support but stopped short of thanking Hungary, calling on Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban to “decide already” on its treatment of Russia.

“You hesitate whether to impose sanctions or not? And you hesitate whether to let weapons through or not? And you hesitate whether to trade with Russia or not? There is no time to hesitate. It's time to decide already.”