SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, talking remotely on the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, mentioned the end result of the conflict in his nation affected not simply Ukraine, however the way forward for worldwide order.
His nation is searching for to push the Russians out of areas it has managed since early within the conflict, and is defending in opposition to ferocious Russian assaults within the nation’s east, notably across the metropolis of Sievierodonetsk.
Noting the help so removed from the West and its Asian allies, Zelenskiy – addressing the occasion by way of video hyperlink from an undisclosed location in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv – mentioned it was crucial that the nations sending assist don’t let up.
“I’m grateful for your help… however this help isn’t solely for Ukraine, however for you as properly,” he mentioned. “It is on the battlefields of Ukraine that the long run guidelines of this world are being determined together with the boundaries of the potential.”
He famous that Russia is obstructing ports within the Black Sea and Azov Sea, conserving Ukrainian meals exports from the world market. That hurts not simply Ukrainians, however the complete world, he mentioned.
“If … on account of Russian blockades we’re unable to export our foodstuffs, the world will face an acute and extreme meals disaster and famine in lots of international locations in Asia and Africa,” he mentioned.
Zelenskiy instantly linked Russian actions to hovering commodity costs, saying it blocked power first to make costs soar, and was now doing so with meals.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that it says isn’t designed to occupy territory however to destroy its southern neighbour’s army capabilities and seize what it regards as harmful nationalists.
Speaking to 575 delegates from 40 international locations, Zelenskiy mentioned his army had no ambitions to maneuver into Russian territory: “Please keep in mind the conflict is being waged on our soil. People in Ukraine are dying. … We don’t need to go to Russian soil.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to Singapore, Kateryna Zelenko, pressed house the urgency of further assist.
“We understand it will take time, but time is what we don’t have,” she mentioned.
(Reporting by Chen Lin and Kanupriya Kapoor; Writing by Gerry Doyle; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
