Kyiv/Beijing: Ukraine’s leader declared victory to be inevitable as the country’s Western allies tightened sanctions against Russia on the anniversary of its invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainians had been proven to be invincible over a year of “pain, sorrow, faith and unity”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a ceremony in Kyiv on Friday.Credit:AP
“We withstand all threats, shelling, cluster bombs, cruise missiles, kamikaze drones, blackouts and cold … and we will do everything to gain victory this year,” Zelensky said. “If our partners respect all their promises and deadlines, victory inevitably awaits us.”
He reiterated calls for more Western weaponry and attended an online summit with US President Joe Biden and other leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies who pledged to intensify their support.
Washington announced a new $US2 billion ($3 billion) package of military aid for Ukraine, and a raft of additional sanctions and tariffs hitting Russia’s mining and metals industries, as well as companies from third countries accused of supplying Moscow with restricted goods.
Among the steps were placing visa restrictions on Russian military members, freezing assets of allies of President Vladimir Putin, effectively banning aluminum imports from Russia, curbing Russian banking and arms-making activity and putting the country’s second-largest mobile phone company Megafon on a trade blacklist.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media during a press conference in Kyiv.Credit:Getty
The G7 said it would never recognise the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s eastern and Crimea regions.
“A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never erase the people’s love of liberty,” tweeted Biden. “Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia. Never.”
Among the new steps, G7 allies planned to form an “Enforcement Coordination Mechanism,” at first chaired by the United States, to counter Russian attempts to circumvent the sanctions.
Zelensky responded to China’s call on Friday for a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, welcoming Beijing’s involvement but cautiously saying the plan’s success would depend on actions not words.
Beijing claims to have a neutral stance on the war, which it refuses to criticise, but has also said it has a “no limits friendship” with Russia.
Zelensky said his main goal was make sure China doesn’t supply weapons to Russia. He also said he’d like to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping: “I believe that it will benefit our countries and the security of the world.”
For Ukrainians who have spent much of the year in bomb shelters and supporting the war effort any way they can, the anniversary meant reflection.
“I buried my son who died in military service. I also buried my husband. I think it’s very clear to you, I’m on my own now and it’s very, very hard,” said Valentyna Krysan, 75, a shop employee in Kyiv.
Zelensky urged Australia to reopen its embassy in Kyiv during his first internationally televised live news conference after the ceremony. He heaped pressure on China, Latin America and African countries to pick their side in the war in the 2.5-hour question and answer session.
He asked the Australian government to return its diplomats to the capital so that he could shake the hand of the ambassador for the Bushmaster armoured vehicles that Australia donated.
China abstained on Thursday when the UN General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces.
The 12-point paper also urges measures to prevent attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, keep nuclear facilities safe, establish humanitarian corridors for civilians and ensure the export of grain. It called for an end to the “Cold War mentality” — China’s standard term for what it regards as U.S. hegemony, and maintenance of alliances such as NATO.
“Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis.” the proposal said. It offered no details on what form talks should take but said “China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.”
The World Bank announced $US2.5 billion in additional grant financing for Ukraine to support the country’s budget and to maintain essential services amid the Russian invasion.
European Union countries were unable for a third day running on Friday to agree on new sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine a year ago, with Poland rejecting Italy’s demand for laxer new curbs on rubber imports, diplomats said.
Poland said the proposed restrictions on EU imports of Russia rubber included such a big quota of imports exempted and such long transition periods that they would have no effect in practice.
Other EU countries were baffled that Warsaw – a leading Russia hawk in the bloc – was risking having no new sanctions announced on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s attack against Ukraine over just one element of a broader package.
In Russia, where publicly criticising the war is punishable by long jail terms, a human rights group said dozens of people were detained by police for actions to commemorate victims of the invasion, in some cases just for placing flowers.
There were no official public events and the mood was muted.
“I really want peace, I really want it all to end as soon as possible,” said Vera, a pensioner.
Igor, walking through Moscow, said Russia must win: “We’re looking forward to it ending successfully. That’s all we can expect. We have no other options.”
Reuters, AP
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